Photographers... What do we really need?

Hi everyone, I've been lurking around reading some posts and getting some really great ideas from everyone. I finally booked my RH and made the first deposit (Is it me or was writing that check both scary and exciting!?!?! - I've never written that big a check... )

So I think our next step is to get a photographer and I don't know what we need or what is too much? We met with our first photog and he was great. Really nice and professional. His work was amazing but the price tage was HUGE!!! He was offering almost 1000 pics. Some people told us that was too many others not enough. What do you guys suggest?

What other things should I ask for or know about? I'm kinda doing this on my own and am at a total loss. Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated!!!

Just my two cents...

Most important thing is your vibe you get from the photographer. Other than your husband being there - the photog is the most important person there...what he captures and shows of your day will be forever.

Second - the quality of the work. Do you want someone who does mostly posey, posey pics or do you want someone to catch the more candid events that make the wedding unique? Once you decide on a style of photographer, the body of their work will be the important factor.

Third - figure out if you want albums, want to make your own albums, want proofs, or just raw images on a CD to do what you want with them at a later date. For me personally, it was to find someone with the talent to capture my images and then i'll do what i want with them...make my own albums, make my own enlargements. If you choose to go this route, make SURE you are the OWNER of the copyright of your own photos!!!

Fourth - figure out what you can afford - based on number 2 you have a lot of different options.

What I did was read a TON of reviews on certain photographers on here and then got in touch with a few, to find out their pricing. If someone's packages were WAY out of my league, that's life - delete.

Some of them after emailing, I called them and if we didn't vibe, I let it go. If they said something I didn't like - toodles... We finally found our guy and I can tell you based on experience, when you find the right one - you'll walk out with your FH saying to each other, perfect, or that's done..

We met in person with two and the first one - we were both like, um.....NO... The second - we walked out and knew for sure we were done!!!

Good luck and sorry this is so long!

Definitely try out a few before you make your decision and ask to see pics they shot at CBC. I saw 5 photographers and FH and I are deciding between Thomas Paul and George from Right Angle. They were both so excellent!!!! They both shoot top quality photos. Butttt I think we are going to make a decision based on personality...and who we clicked with and had the most fun with during the meeting!

With respect to what you REALLY need.

FH and I are planning on getting a photoalbum for ourselves either traditional with approximatley 60 pics or Magazine style with approximately 40 sides.

An engagement shoot with a portrait to display at our wedding.

A coupld of portraits of us from the wedding for the house, tons of 5X7's to send to relatives and close friends, 150 Thank you cards, and all our proofs and CD.

We are getting two 5X7 parent albums with about 36 pics in each album. Our parents are worse than kids....if we don't get them the best they will be extremely upset, especially considering the amount they are helping us with the wedding!!!!

Lastly, we are getting a video with whichever photographer we go with.

Now, whether you NEEEED all of this???? absolutely not. All you need is a family member to take pics.

Buttt do you want to show off your wedding albums? Do you want to take creative shots on your wedding day?
Do you want to please the guests that gave you tons of money by sending them a real photo to thank them instead of the flimsy thank you cards?

Basically, it's what you and FH want and what your personalities are! Good Luck with your search. I'm pooped from all this. We visited 5 photographers in a 3 week time span!!