[tinglee888]

I am going to get married in Atlanta but I'm residing in LA. As recommended by my friends I can search in some wedding websites and filter for prices within my budget, and so far I went to many websites and found some photographers.

Just wondering who may suggest the procedure you find photographers? How do you look at their ratings and if they're trustworthed?

Thanks,
Excited bride to be.

[Wedding Queen and MOG]

Dear Excited Bride -

Check the Better Business Bureau to first see if the service provider has any complaints against them. If they have a clean record then meet with them and view their work. Ask if you can contact the couple in the work that you like. Getting a referral list isn't always that helpful because, obviously, they won't be providing you with any unsatisfied customers.

Here are a few articles that may be useful to you:

How to Select Your Photographer

Wedding Video Tips

Georgia Top Wedding Sites

[Visual Media]

Dear Excited Bride --

It sounds as though you've already recognized that, being a "distance bride," you're going to need to do extra homework in making arrangements for your Atlanta wedding. That's a good realization. At least the fact that you're having your wedding in a major metropolitan area is a plus, because it gives you a larger pool of experienced photographers to choose from.

The Forum Moderator offered some helpful links. Here are some other suggestions:

As you're browsing the web sites of different photographers, looking for styles you like, also look for information on how long they've been in business. Chances are that someone who has been on the scene a long time in an area like Atlanta has done so by making their customers happy -- and by getting repeat business.

Also look for phone numbers (and e-mail addressses). I always recommend that brides have personal contact with potential photographers and videographers. Remember, you'll be spending a lot of time with them on a supremely important day in your life. It's essential that you have a comfortable working relationship.

Moreover, the interaction won't end when you leave on your honeymoon. You'll be involved later in choosing photos, ordering prints and albums, and arranging for additional prints for family members. So don't just look for someone on the basis of whether they are "within your budget." Call people, talk with them, ask them questions -- and then choose someone you feel good about working with.

Certainly it's important to be mindful of expenses. But remember to think long-term when you're considering photography and videography. Your wedding cake will only be a memory after the reception is over, but you'll have your photos and videos for a lifetime. Don't shortchange yourself. The whole point of having a photographer and a videographer at your wedding is to capture the moments so you can relive them for years. I'd be willing to bet that, on your tenth anniversary, you wouldn't feel happy saying, "Well, yes, the pictures really aren't that great -- but wow, think of the bargain we got on the package price!" Your children will be looking at the photo album, not at your old check stub.

And on the subject of investing wisely, I just glanced at one of the travel websites and saw that round-trip air fare between LA and Atlanta is about $300. When you feel you've got your vendors pretty well lined up, and you're ready to seal some deals, it might be well worth the trouble to fly back and do that in person -- just to make sure you've made the right choices. Sure, it's an extra expense: But it might save you thousands of dollars worth of headaches later.