In the Winter/Fall 2003 issue of The Knot's Wedding Pages Magazine, 14 questions and suggestions were offered for choosing a photographer that is the right fit for you. In response to that information, Here are my answers, and I hope to have the opportunity to expand on these answers, and talk further with you. Please call (202) 544-4578.

What's the photographer's primary style - traditional, candid, or posed? (Go for someone whose forte matches your taste.)

Elsewhere in my website, I discuss my style, experience, and approach. In brief, I am a photojournalist, so except for posing pictures that you specifically request (before/after ceremony groups of the wedding party, family members, college friends, or others you have in mind.) It is my belief that I am there to document your day as it happens, not create situations which didn't occur. So, those shots of the bride and groom running through a field? The groomsmen carrying the groom, or kissing on a swing? You won't see me taking those photos, unless they actually happen!

What's the photographer's philosophy about shooting weddings? (This idea will give you an idea of his or her expertise and passion for the work.)

Because I am a working photographer, and during the week I am making images which appear in newspapers, on magazine covers, and for Fortune 500 companies, I really enjoy coming out to photograph a wedding, because it is part of what I do, not all that I do. I am not a "wedding mill" shooting multiple weddings a day, I am excited because your wedding won't be "...just some other wedding at the same reception site I was at last weekend..." I'll be fresh, and that will show in the passion and pleasure I put into capturing the moments of your day.

Does the photographer shoot in color, black-and-white, or both?

It used to be, that we would have to choose one film, or another, in order to get the results this question presumes. As you can clearly see from my website, and which will become even more clear once you review, in person, my wedding portfolio, that you can have both black-and-white and color from the same image. You don't have to choose.

How independent is the photographer? Does the photographer prefer that you describe exactly what you want, or would he or she rather have free rein to capture the festivities on film? (This point determines how you will work together.)

I consider it a minimum requirement that I not need someone to hold my hand in order to make good photographs at your wedding. That said, I certainly appreciate (and often get) suggestions beforehand and during the day's events about good pictures. If you want a posed photo of your college friends or your aunt's family who's not been together for 5 years, please let me know. If there is a special couple on the dance floor, like someone whom you know will be engaged in the next few months, or two family members chatting at a table who have not spoken to each other for years, having someone point these things out is always appreciated, and no doubt someone will! If you'd like us to work from a list of "must have" photos, we'll do so by request, and because it's your day, we'll look to the maid of honor or best man to facilitate those photos.

How many weddings will the photographer shoot on your wedding weekend? (Or even your wedding day)?

I have yet to shoot more than one wedding a weekend, and I feel that shooting more than one wedding in a single day means giving half an effort to both, so that's just not something I would do. If you would like this in writing, we're happy to include it in our contract.

Will the photographer you talk with be the one who actually takes your wedding pictures? (This is critical! Each photographer's style is unique.)

Yes. As I have previously mentioned, I am not a "wedding mill" with a stable of photographers booking the best first, and the worst last. I am the only one doing the wedding photography. However, if I am hit by a car the day before your wedding, I have extremely well qualified colleagues whom I will call to make sure you have photographs of your day!

Has the photographer shot many weddings? (Experts say a wedding neophyte is a risk. You want someone who's experienced with wedding mechanics and won't miss key moments.)

Yes. In thirteen years, I have provided wedding photography services to over a hundred couples, so I know how the ceremony and reception will likely progress.

How does the photographer determine price? By the number and kind of prints you think you'll want, the hours spent on your wedding, the developing time, or a combination of the above? How many rolls of film will be shot, and how many proofs and final prints will result? Are packages available? Can you get a price list?

Elsewhere in this website are outlined the packages I offer, and what's included. In short, my coverage is not set to a limited number of hours or rolls of film.

Is the photographer open to a list of must-take photos (pictures you definitely want shot)?

Absolutely! If you have a list like this, just let me know. Please put them in order of importance to you, and as I mentioned in a previous answer, we'll coordinate with the maid of honor or best man to make them happen.

What kinds of cameras does the photographer use? (This will aquaint you with his or her experience and knowledge)

This question is often used by photographers who say "if the other photographers you are talking to aren't shooting medium format, they're not professionals like we are...". This is simply not true. We have a wide array of tools to draw from and choose the one(s) best suited to your wedding. I own a complete six lens Hasselblad camera kit with lenses ranging from fisheye to zoom, and a three lens Mamiya camera kit with lenses from wide angle to zoom, the same cameras these other photographers will tout as "the only cameras serious wedding photographers use...". I use them for some magazine work, but not normally for weddings. Gone are the days when photojournalists covered the news with these types of cameras. The cameras I use to photograph your wedding are the same cameras I use to cover the news with. professional grade 35mm (or digital) cameras. If, however, you are insistent upon my using my Hasselblad or Mamiya cameras, I will, for a surcharge.

What kind of lighting and other equipment (such as tripods) does the photographer use? Does he or she bring backup equipment in case of emergency?

For posed photos after the ceremony, we bring lighting, umbrellas, and stands. For ceremonies in dark churches, I'll bring a tripod to shoot from the back of the church with, and I absolutely have backup cameras should something go wrong with our primary camera (which, to date, never has.)

Does the photographer develop his or her own film? How long are negatives kept? Can you buy your negatives?

I have spent my career honing my skills behind the lens, and I trust people who make their career in the darkroom, and processing film, so I do not develop my own film. I trust Kodak and Fuji to make it, and just the right lab to process it. I focus on creating the images behind the lens. As to the negatives, I have negatives on file and accessible since I began my career in 1989, and my work will continue to be available, they're not destroyed or discarded after a certain period of time. And no, we don't sell our negatives, and it's not about money. It's about producing a quality product. Just as you wouldn't expect a mechanic's shop manual when a repair is done expecting you could do the next auto repair yourself, I don't sell or otherwise turn over negatives from the weddings I photograph. If I did, the attention to detail, and skills used to make the images that will hang on your wall, on your desk, and in your wedding album would likely not be used when you took your negatives to the local one-hour lab to be done by someone who doesn't care about the results as I do, and who knows just what the best results can be from each image made.

Carefully examine each photographer's past work ("the book"). Be sure you're looking at prints shot by this particular photographer, not by other professionals employed by the same studio. Notice whether photos are framed and centered well, photos are over- or underexposed, lighting is effective, details are visible, and people look comfortable and relaxed.

Yes, I only show work I made, and it would be deceptive if I did otherwise.