Choosing a photographer

[Skyman]

The Photographer I had booked to shoot my upcoming wedding has fallen through as he has been offered a Job interstate and is moving. I used to work in the photographic industry, so I knew fairly well who was good and affordable and who wasn't. I have lost most of those old contacts over the years and now I have no Idea. I have been looking online, but it is an absolute minefield and there is no way I have the time to contact every phtographer who's online portfolio looks interesting (and we all know that it is easy enough to pull together a good looking portfolio if you shoot enough images) it is the shots that weren't thrown away but didn't make the portfolio book that are the ones that count. So how do you choose a photographer? obviously there are a lot of things that may or may not go into it but I am after a mid priced good photographer, I wouldn't have thought that would be as hard to find as it is.:mad2:

Incidentally I am guessing this thread will have a lot of people posting saying use me use me, well unless you are willing to fly to Sydney Australia at your own expense I can't do that

[mjs1973]

Do you have any friends or coworkers who recently got married? That is always a good place to start.

[another view]

and we all know that it is easy enough to pull together a good looking portfolio if you shoot enough images

True - if someone looks like a possibility enough so that you want to meet with them, then as to see a portfolio based on shots from one recent wedding. Also, you should be able to connect on a personal level - I'd guess that's a bit more important than a more proficient photographer who is from another planet. Remember, you're doing business with them too... Casually bringing up the topic of backup equipment might shed some light on how they work too.

How to narrow the list to the people you want to meet with? I'd say a first impression is something to consider. Judging a photographer by their website (design and layout, not images) might be like judging a book by it's cover - but might show you a little bit about the person. Look at the shots and see if every one in their portfolio is from a different wedding - I'd say that's probably not a good sign although it might be intentional (showing that they have done many weddings).