We have put together a guide that will help you when choosing a wedding photographer in Connecticut. Here are a couple of things to stick to which will help you in your decision. Find plenty of professional wedding photographers in Connecticut in our Directory.

Ask your friends and their friends

The number one resource in finding a good wedding photographer is to use the experiences of your friends and contacts. Ask the people you know who have recently been married what wedding photography they used. Word of mouth is very important in any business but especially in the wedding photography industry. The reputation is crucial.

Wedding photographers that offer bad services and poor unprofessional work will (should) soon be out of business, while those photographers which produce high quality photography and have good service will prosper. Find out what questions to ask a wedding photographer

So by all means ask around, and find out who your friends or family used for their wedding, and whether the experience they had with their photographer was a positive one. If you can, look at their wedding album and at any re-prints or enlargements they purchased, or they might even have an online web gallery that you could view.

Use the Internet and Google wedding photographers

Use the Internet as a tool to research wedding photographers. Internet as a resource on finding a good wedding photographer is becoming more and more important. Apart from researching wedding photographer web sites, online wedding forums contain lots of information on wedding photographers. You can find reviews, photos and feedback on the Internet. Using the Internet could be seen as an extension of asking your friends and relatives about their experiences with their wedding photographers on their wedding day. However, you shouldn’t believe everything you find or read on the Internet. Internet and grains of salt go together. A bad review of a wedding photographer doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a photographer you shouldn’t use. A bad review could be sabotage from a competitor. And vice versa; a good review could in fact be a product placement by the photographer him/herself.

Scrutinize the photographers and their portfolios

One of the most, if not the most important part when deciding on what wedding photographer to choose, is to base the decision on the photos they take. Here it is important that you are very critical when viewing their previous work. You need to be in touch with your heart, expectations and dreams. Don’t be afraid to ask a million questions. After all, it is your money and ideally you and the photographer should be in sync. More about the personality between you and the photographer will come further down. The good thing about choosing wedding photography is that there are plenty of photographers to choose from. You will without doubt find someone who matches your expectations, dreams and style.

You have to ask yourself this; What is your first impression, do you really like the photos or does something make you hesitant? Do the photos you are viewing bring out emotions in you? Do they make you laugh, cry or do you melt? What do you think of the album, its design, layout and construction? Are the colors what you like, are they bright and clear and are all pictures in focus? Are the shots technically good, how is the level of details in the photos? Are the photos well exposed? Are the group photos nicely composed? Do the poses of the bride and groom look fake, un-natural, spontaneous or too set-up?

There is a lot to consider here, but please trust your instincts and tune in to what you like and whether the photos you are seeing match up well! If they don’t, you might be best to look elsewhere.

Research their photography business

Large wedding photography businesses will usually have a number of different photographers. If you are choosing a larger photography business you need to check and see which of the photographers(s) will be doing your wedding and you have to make sure you get to see their individual portfolio. When choosing a larger photography studio it is all too often the case that you end up with an apprentice for some or all of your wedding day. Sometimes choosing a smaller operator can be a better option. You know exactly who you get on the day and the level of service is often a lot higher as you only deal with this one person. Also, there is usually a huge price difference between large and small wedding photography businesses. Large is not always better.

Look for awards, memberships, accreditations, and other forms of industry associations in a wedding photography business. You don’t win awards for doing bad work! Usually a good business will be a member of one or more associations. Finally, you can check the education and training your photographer has had, as there are a range of photography education levels and photographer accreditations.

Get personal with the photographer

The personality of a wedding photographer is a very important thing. If you could you would want yourself do take the wedding photos as you are the only one who truly knows what you want in the photos. Ideally you want someone whom you feel relaxed with, someone you can relate to and get on well with. This is important because you will spend a lot of time of on the wedding day with your photographer.

A good photographer is not only able to take spectacular photos and capture your wedding day, but they will do so with patience, friendliness and professionalism. Some photographers will try to tell you want you want, while others will be more accommodating by making suggestions and asking you what you want. Some might be domineering, and some photographers will even try to ru(i)n your wedding day. It is always good to meet a few of different photographers beforehand, as this will help you decide on what personality you like and hopefully will help you make sure you get someone you can get along with.

Choose a local wedding photographer

Choosing a local wedding photographer in Connecticut is always a good option for more than one reason. You and the photographer will spend time together time and again before the wedding. To some degree also after the wedding has taken place. When you have the option to go and pick up the wedding albums. The closer you and the wedding photographer are located from each other is usually the better option.

Another reason why you should prefer a local wedding photographer is because some photographers charge you for their travel. Some will charge you to go and meet with you and they will charge you to go to a wedding outside their normal area. Also, you are doing your local community a favor by choosing a local wedding photography. Check local directories, yellow pages, the Internet, wedding expos etc. for local wedding photographers in Connecticut.

Wedding photography equipment

A professional wedding photographer usually uses professional photography equipment. Photography equipment can give you a hint on skills and professionalism. Although even the best photography equipment is not a measure of good skills. Pricey photography gear is useless in the hands of a novice, which is a good reason not to trust a wedding photographer just because he has a “good camera”. The photography equipment shouldn’t be the only decider, but together with a photographer’s certificates and accreditations it can point you in the right direction.

Unless you have a good knowledge of photography and photo equipment, asking a photographer technical questions might lead to answers beyond your understanding. Sometimes asking the basics of what they use (e.g. film versus digital) and if they carry back-up gear, what lenses they use etc.