Second only to selecting your venue, selecting your " target="_self" Hudson Valley wedding photographer is the most important choice you have to make for your wedding day.  You want your wedding photographer to be professional and easy-going.  But above all you want your wedding photographer to be talented.  They should possess a keen knowledge of photography and be able to use that knowledge in post production to give you more than a friend with a digital camera.  There are a lot of things to keep in mind when figuring out which photographer is best for you.

Know what kind of style you are looking for before you even meet with any Hudson Valley wedding photographers.  What types of photos do you want to look back on through the years?  Do you want a structured album filled with poses or are you interested in more artistic photographs?  Be mindful of the photographers capabilities.  There are Hudson Valley photographers that can do only one style and others who beautifully blend art and photojournalism with traditional wedding photography. Let them know what percentage of each style you expect.

The " target="_self" Hudson Valley wedding photographer you choose should be experienced.  When you meet with them, they should be able to show you recent images from full weddings - start to finish. The work that they present you with during the meeting should be their own, not a compilation from photographers they have working for them.  In order to accurately assess style and skill level, you have to be sure what you are seeing is what you are going to get.

You want your wedding day to go smoothly.  So it's important that you get along well.  Think about the kind of person you want next to you throughout the most important day of your life.  Do not pick a photographer who gives you any kind of bad vibe.  This person is the person who controls the timing of your entire day.  You want someone patient and able to handle anything that comes their way.

Everyone has heard a horror story where the photographer that showed up to shoot a wedding wasn't the photographer the bride and groom met with.  There are greedy Hudson Valley photographers who book themselves in more than one place on one day and have an "associate" show up in their place. Ask for a guarantee in your contract that the photographer you meet with is the one who shoots your wedding.  When considering a second photographer, be mindful that the second photographer is not going to be as talented as the first.  A talented photographer doesn't rely on a second shooter for very much.  One can always be provided, but more pictures don't always mean more good pictures.  If you are on a budget, reconsider the importance of a second photographer.

Sometimes wedding packages are set in stone, sometimes they can be customized.  Make sure things are well explained so you both have similar expectations.  Consider if you want albums, proof books, large prints or on-line galleries.  Find out how long it takes the photographer to deliver the final product.

Make sure you shop within your budget and have reasonable expectations for the money you are willing to spend.  Like any specialist, photographers charge more for their skill level, so the best photographers will usually cost more than the mediocre ones. Understand what you are agreeing to, what everything will cost and what you will get in the end.  A reputable photographer will be up front, clear and honest about everything from the beginning.