You can know how good a wedding photographer is only after he has been chosen and you have received the photos from him. It is therefore evident that your decision will largely be a matter of faith. Those who think price is the sole determining factor in selecting a wedding photographer are on the wrong track; they should remember that price is important, but you don't know the quality of the product you are paying for. So it is better if you follow a few general guidelines before choosing a photographer.

In most cases, recommendations of friends and relatives are of great help. After you prepare a list of wedding photography professionals following their recommendations, you should meet each of them and have a look at their portfolios. You can collect the names of good photographers for weddings from other sources also.

If you can't meet all of them personally, visit their websites and review their portfolios. After a thorough review, shortlist them and talk to them personally, on phone or through e-mail. Find out whether he will be available to be your wedding photographer on that particular day, which areas are his specialties (candid, traditional, photojournalism, combination, film or digital etc.) and how much he will charge you for the job. In return, be sure what you are going to get from them. While judging the samples, trust your own instincts. It is only you who will know what you like. When you see a picture, you only can say, "Yeah! This is exactly what I am looking for."

From this interaction, you will have a fair idea of the wedding photographer's personality. Remember he is going to be with you all day; you will definitely not choose someone who you won't feel comfortable with. No matter how good his photographs are, a photographer with a bad personality can ruin your day. So select someone you feel good about who has experience at weddings.

Once you have found a wedding photographer who meets all these requirements, start working the budget back into the equation.

For more planning ideas for your wedding, visit My Wedding Blog