Since choosing a photographer is not an everyday event, nor is your wedding, Bob Oliphant answers the most frequently asked questions about wedding photography.

What are the advantages of hiring a professional?

A professional photographer will be on time - arriving at your wedding promptly, and getting the results to you in a timely manner. A professional has the right equipment and film for photographing your wedding. Experience counts in wedding photography. An experienced wedding photographer will be at ease at your wedding.  A professional's experience in  working with individuals, couples, and groups will make the formal photography go smoothly. When you think about the cost of photography, remember that the photographer's fee is only part of your investment: You, your parents, your extended family and your friends will be investing time with the photographer during your wedding. Time and moments you can never recapture if missed by your wedding photographer.

 I want a professional to photograph my wedding. What do I do next?

Visit several photographers.  Notice their personality as much as their images. Look for a good fit in personality, style, and goals.  Once you have found a personal and artistic match discuss prices, retainers, packages, quantity of pictures and so forth.

Shouldn't I be asking "What do I get and how much does it cost?"

When shopping for clothes you look at the style and quality before you look at the price tag. That saves you time and disappointment. If a photographer's work and style suit you, together you and the photographer can find  a package to suit your budget. Remember, the images from your wedding day will become a family heirloom for future generations to enjoy and cherish. They are not expensive - they are priceless.

How much should wedding photography cost?

Prices range from $950 to $10,000, and up! Photographs (video tape has a shelf-life of ten years or less) will be your only permanent record of the day. You want great photographs (or you would not have read so far), so be prepared to spend a minimum of $1,000 for a small wedding on a weekday or Sunday, and $1,500 and up for Saturdays. Additional copies of images, an 8x10 for example, will cost $20 to $40 each. Expect better photographers to charge the higher rates. If you are looking for a bargain and shop via phone for pricing, you are following a recipe for poor to mediocre photography. Photography usually runs between nine and fifteen percent of the total wedding budget. When couples value photography highly and are on a limited budget, they will spend up to 30% of their wedding budget on photography.

We're having a small wedding, with thirty people, and only wanted to spend $500 on pictures. What can we do?

The first thing to do if you want a professional photographer under these circumstances is to be flexible. A true wedding professional only can only work so many weekends a year, and reasonably expects one or two large weddings per weekend from May through October.. If he/she reserves a prime Saturday in October for you, then larger weddings will have to be turned away. If your budget is small, choose a Friday evening or a Sunday afternoon for your wedding. Florists, caterers, and photographers like to fill these less than "prime times" with smaller events and will frequently be flexible with their pricing. When you are limiting yourself to a smaller photo budget you do not have to  expect lower quality photographs if you are willing to be flexible as to date and time.

How much time will should I have the photographer spend at my wedding?

That is really up to you. You can have the photographer meet you where you are getting dressed, and keep taking pictures until you leave the reception. Or you may just want a few hours of photography, with a few formal photographs and some pictures of the ceremony. If you choose a high quality professional, the price difference between short and full coverage will be small. Most typical coverage starts two or three hours before the ceremony and ends after the cake, garter and bouquet.

What are proofs?

Color proofs are made with the identical paper and chemistry as final pictures. However, only on final pictures can you have retouching and cropping.

Do I get to keep the proofs?

Some photographers include the proofs in the price of their photography, others sell them separately. Some keep the proofs, putting them in the final album or simply not selling them. When you first see your proofs, you take them home and keep them for a few weeks. I recommend you order your album and reprints quickly - your photographer will have ways of helping you to avoid procrastinating. The price list should state explicitly the price of the proofs, which may be sold either individually or only as a complete set.

What about getting an album?

Most photographers offer "Packages," each package having a set number of hours, images, and a certain number of final pictures in an album. An album is essential for preserving your wedding images for the future. A photographer who offers to sell you images without an a quality wedding album is not doing  you a service. Consider ordering parents' albums, also. If your parents vision is less than perfect, they would really appreciate getting an album with large photographs so that the faces are easy to see!

Who chooses the pictures that go in the album?

After looking at all the proofs, the bride and groom usually decide what goes in the album. The photographer may let you specify the sequence and size of the pictures, so that the album really shows the wedding the way you want to see it, with important images enlarged, and related candids grouped together.

What else should I know about albums?

Each manufacturer makes a variety of styles, so if you are picky about albums, note which styles and manufacturers appeal to you. It really  is a matter of taste. The style to avoid is a non-reversible album. Reversible simply means that you don't have to flip the album sideways to look at horizontal pictures.

Should we get plastic covered pages to protect the pictures?

Plastic gets in the way of the image. It creates reflections and lessens the clarity. Plastic will show scratches and trap moisture on the print surface.

What about black and white photography?

This is purely a matter of preference. If you just love black and white photography, make sure your photographer uses black and white film, rather than color film, to produce your black and white prints. I have seen good black and white prints made from color negatives, but I prefer hand-printed black and white. There is a timeless look and feel in black and white film that cannot be matched with color images. Yes, black and white is a little more expensive.

My mom likes soft focus pictures, but I want sharp photos?

Except for mood shots and some portraits, pictures should be sharp. A soft filter can be flattering in a close-up photo. You might tell your photographer that you want a few pictures done soft-focus and the rest sharp. Then, when you get the proofs, you have your choice for each pose.

Everybody says to go with photojournalism. Is it the best?

There are many stories and vignettes at a wedding: the Bride getting ready, the ring bearer being coaxed to walk up the aisle, the bride's mother watching the father-daughter dance. Moments like these, when photographed, are Wedding Photojournalism. But, capturing moments does not tell the bigger stories: Relationships and Fantasy. A posed loving photograph of the bride and her grandmother captures the relationship, and this is a photo that will have meaning for generations. The bride and groom in an idyllic setting has that fantasy quality that we all seek. The truth of the wedding day is revealed in a  beautiful blend of these styles.

I just hate posed pictures - I always look so stiff and unnatural in them.

I know what you mean. Everyone has posed pictures taken that look like that. However, the person behind the camera was probably given minimal training and had no real interest in photography. Most posed portraits in the Canada/USA are taken under such circumstances. If you have gotten this far in this FAQ, you probably are going to be looking at professional photographers, who will be far more skilled. Unless you are a fashion model, you probably will look better posed - assuming you have a true craftsman behind the camera.

Should we do the formals before or after the ceremony?

Some couples think it is bad luck to see each other before the ceremony. If following this tradition is important to you, all of the photos of the bride and groom together can be done afterwards, but solo shots can be done before. Getting all the formals done at the beginning has several advantages: Flowers, clothing and make-up are fresh, and you can carefully budget time for formals. (And, if your ceremony ends after dark, the only time for natural light pictures of the two of you will be before the ceremony!)  If the photographer does not want to do it your way, then find a different photographer!

Shouldn't my photographer have a back-up in case he/she is sick on my wedding day?

That would be ideal, but consider the plight of the backup photographer who has to turn down weddings just in case she/he is needed for yours? Professionals are part of a network of photographers, and do have many people they can call in an emergency. No doubt as your wedding approaches you will have many far more significant worries. Let your photographer manage this problem.

Some photographers ask that no one else take pictures during the formal photography. Is that reasonable?

Yes. If the photographer is trying to work quickly through a series of formal pictures, a snap-shooter might slow the process. A problem arises when there are several cameras aimed at a formal group - the subjects will be looking at different lenses. The diverted attention will ruin the professional's picture. Or, if the professional is using a light-sensing trigger device ("slave") on a second flash, other flashes will trigger this flash, ruining the pictures [that you are paying for] and wasting battery power. Time is of the essence in wedding photography. There are many other reasons why a professional might ask others to refrain from picture taking during formals. On the other hand, many guests find snapping a few pictures a pleasant part of attending weddings, so it should not be a big deal for your professional to be relaxed and let people snap away when formals are over. Ideally, guests should show respect for the bridal party and photographer and put down their cameras during the formal photos.

I want to make copies of my photos. Does my photographer really own the copyright of his/her pictures? Do I still have to pay the photographer if I make the copies myself at a copy shop?

Yes and yes. According to federal law, images produced by a professional photographer are copyrighted the moment they are created. Federal law prohibits copying or reproducing copyrighted material without permission from the owner of the copyright, i.e., the photographer. If you copy or scan your photos, the photographer should be paid just as if you were buying reprints. If you or your videographer transfer the proofs to videotape, the photographer should be paid just as if you were buying reprints. If you don't feel comfortable paying for these copies, find a photographer whose work is so good that you are glad to pay. When I really appreciate something I purchase, like a fabulous meal, an antique, a good pair of shoes, or even medical care, I do not mind paying a premium for getting the highest quality. Look for the photographer who will provide you the satisfaction of paying for a job well done.