Outstanding wedding pictures start with an outstanding photographer...so make your choice carefully. Get recommendations from friends, then interview at least three candidates. In addition to examining their work, be attuned to their personality. It's vital that you feel comfortable with the photographer, as you'll spend more time with them than any vendor at the wedding. Also, find out what kind of camera they use. Medium-format cameras are better for producing large, high-contrast prints, with the Hasselblad and Bronica being two of the very best brands. If you want prints larger than 8 by 10, the 35 millimeter camera isn't a good choice, since its pictures become grainy above that size. Make sure you get an adequate number of proofs to choose from, so you can weed out the bad shots. For a typical wedding and four-hour reception, you'll want at least 150 to 200 exposures; be wary of packages that fall below that number. Finally, ask what type of wedding album will be used to display your pictures. The paper should be acid-free, and the plastic should be 'archival quality Mylar;' other plastics may contain chemicals that will eventually damage the photographs.
