We understand how confusing and frustrating it can be choosing the right photographer. While all professional wedding photographers are in the business of taking pictures - the similarities end there. There is a wide range in levels of personalized services photographers offer. Asking a wedding photographer on the telephone "how much do you charge" is not unlike calling a clothing store to ask, "how much are your dresses?" In the end, if you don't like the dress or it doesn't fit - it doesn't really matter how much it costs. Unfortunately, the differences in photography may not be quite as obvious. Their pricing structures and quality are different and cannot be directly compared. You will find many that metaphorically sell fast food hamburgers and a few that sell prime rib. Here are some hints to help teach you what to look for and what to compare.

In wedding photography, like any other business, the cost of human labor is one of the most costly components of the total expense. How much a photographer charges for his/her time depends on the experience and reputation of your photographer and the extras that come with your package.

The photographer's preparation time for your wedding day is variable. The more sophisticated his/her equipment and techniques, the more time it takes to plan and prepare. This includes testing and assembling equipment sets, recharging batteries, loading and unloading vehicles, etc. You do want your photographer to thoroughly test each piece of his gear before your wedding don't you? Some don't.

An engagement photo session, in the studio or at some scenic, outdoor location may be included. A cosmetic makeover and/or hairstyling may or may not be included as well as one or more clothing changes allowed.

A pre-bridal photo session, in the studio or at some scenic, outdoor location may also be included. Pre-bridals are highly stylized; glamorous portraits intended to accentuate the beauty of the bride and her wedding gown. A cosmetic makeover and/or hairstyling may or may not be included.

The time spent taking pictures on your wedding day is variable as is the total number of images taken. Some photographers charge by the hour and offer a set limit on the number of photos or locations. Others essentially devote their entire day (and evening) to photographing your wedding events with no limit on what they will or will not photograph. It's just as important to know what they don't photograph as what they do.

Some wedding studios have an assistant working with them throughout the wedding day, while others work alone. Some work with an assistant that only function as a 'go-fer' while others offer two fulltime photographers to more completely document your day. It's difficult for one photographer to be in more than one place at the same time or to see everything that occurs.

Some wedding photographers spend hours editing and assembling your proof album, while others simply present the bride with rolls of film or a handful of pictures. Some offer additional proofing services such as a private on-line web site for your distant friends and relatives while others don't.

Some photographers spend hours at a light table, carefully attaching each negative to a specialized cropping mask prior to submission to a professional wedding lab for reprints and enlargements. Others bypass this procedure and just order full-frame prints from a consumer photo lab without any cropping or special instructions to improve the layout or composition. Some photographers process and print the photos in their own darkroom giving them complete control over the pictures quality. Some studios mail out your film to professional labs for processing and printing while others only use local lab work. There is always a risk associated with mailing priceless wedding film or negatives cross-country. Post Office X-ray machines can damage unprocessed film or they could get lost. Some photographers have insurance to cover such loses while others don?t. Some photographers spend hours in the layout and assembly of your photo album(s). Others leave this task up to you to be done by yourself with little or no assistance.

The owners of some studios insist on working with you personally while others delegate the responsibility to hourly staff members or even outside freelance photographers.

All of these steps require time and extra effort spent by your photographer and/or staff. To do a total wedding photography package properly requires an average of 40 or more hours devoted to each and every wedding client.

While all of the foregoing items explain the variables of time and effort spent by the photographer, they do not address the issue of talent, skill, and technique or experience level. The time and labor of an expert full time photographer is more valuable on a per-hour basis than that of a raw beginner or weekend only hobbyist photographer. These important points will reflect in both the aesthetic and technical quality of your wedding images and need to be carefully considered.

The second most influential factor in the cost of wedding photography is the type of equipment the photographer uses. Simple techniques require only simple, low-cost equipment. But sophisticated photo techniques require elaborate equipment - and more of it. A photographer who uses a $3,000 camera will likely charge more than one who uses a $300 consumer grade camera. With many photographers moving into digital photography, the choices, pricing and especially quality issues are becoming even more confusing. The quality differences in digital photography can change dramatically from photographer to photographer depending on how good their cameras are. Digital cameras run the entire gamut from a few hundred dollars for consumer grade models to $10,000 for top pro brands.

Some photographers use multiple flash units firing in synchronization to give the resulting photos the illusion of depth and dimension. This extra step alone makes a tremendous difference in the visual appeal of photographic images. Specialized lighting techniques require advanced levels of skill, and multiply the photographer's equipment costs. Bringing more equipment to the wedding generally necessitates using an assistant to help load, unload, setup and use the additional equipment. An assistant or second photographer will help make your photo sessions move much more smoothly and pain free.

All experienced professionals have at least one back up for each critical piece of equipment he/she brings to a wedding. If they use a $3,000 camera, they surely have 1 or more spares available in case of equipment failure. (Pro digital cameras can run as much as $10,000) However, a less experienced photographer using less sophisticated equipment may have no back up at all. The more expensive cameras not only take far better quality photos, they are also far more reliable. (Doubly so for digital) Professional photographers that rely on their equipment for once in lifetime photos should have their cameras professionally serviced and adjusted annually. Not all are willing to invest in the added cost of sending them back to the factory every year or carry multiple very expensive backups.

After human labor and equipment costs, other variables arise in the areas of business overhead and costs of materials. Some spend a lot on advertising, others don't. Some pay dues to a professional trade association, others don't. Some routinely attend training seminars or otherwise endure training costs to keep their skills current; others don't. Some carry errors and omissions insurance to protect your wedding investment, while others don't.

Some photographers may shoot 500-900 or more exposures on your wedding day - others may shoot 100 or less. Some use constantly refrigerated professional grade film and have it processed and printed by a custom lab that specializes in weddings. Other photographers use whatever consumer grade film is currently on sale and have it processed at a consumer discount store for much less. There is not only an attendant difference in overall quality but also the important lifetime guarantee against fading or discolorization that ONLY comes with professional film and processing.

Wedding albums range in price from about $25.00 up to $400.00 or more. Some albums have plastic hinges that the pages clip into while others are library bound with the pages actually sewn in. Cost depends on the quality of materials and how it is assembled. As usual, you should get what you pay for. Ask a lot of questions to find out if the photographer is offering what you are looking for. Compare at least 3 photographers before making a decision. Don?t go to fast food photographers if you are looking for prime rib, and vise versa. Keep all this in mind and it will make your decision making much easier.