Most of you know that I am a wedding photographer, and I started Together In Style in an effort to share ideas and insight for couples trying to make sense of the endless amounts of information coming out of magazines, wedding related websites, etc... Today, as a bride, or engaged couple it can be overwhelming to look at the wedding industry as a whole because there is just so much information out there. The majority of the information is created by writers rather than professionals, and that is where TIS is different because it is based on real world experience, and interviews are simply editorial from the honest perspective of other professionals rather than advertorial which is unfortunately what drives so many publications and websites out there.

As a photography mentor, I receive calls and emails on a regular basis from photographers trying to figure out how to become successful in the industry, or often about techniques, etc... But in the past year the calls have gotten stranger and stranger. Just this week an obvious new photographer called and said "I just photographed my first wedding" with nervous excitement... But the next words out of their mouth was really disturbing.. "how do I get them off my camera and onto a disk?"

I understand that you have to start somewhere and I myself started with nothing more than a camera and a dream. But, I never went out and practiced on real weddings. It would shock most photographers and brides to be just how many phone calls myself and other experts receive in which, a so called "professional photographer", calls and doesn't know how to open an image in Photoshop, get photographs off of their digital camera, or have the first clue what they are doing.

For those that want to break into the wedding industry, please.. please... learn how to use your camera and tools first. Practice in situations that can be re-taken, on friends, or family members, and the like. Work with another pro at weddings before you take on the challenge of photographing one. This day is simply to precious for couples to be blindsided by learning the hard way about the importance of photography.

For engaged couples out there, the unfortunate truth is that the photography industry is dramatically over saturated with new photographers due to the excitement of digital photography as a medium. It took me nearly a decade, working everyday behind a camera, before I really knew inside and out how to use camera, lights, and lenses with confidence. And, truth be told, my work still doubles in quality every year. This is a field that even with a lifetime of experience, you never stop learning, and that is what makes it so great. I can appreciate not having a budget for a top professional photographer. But, it is important to be aware that there are a great deal of photographers out there right now that simply have no business photographing weddings.

Search with care and don't be afraid to ask any and every question that concerns you. I read a lot of "questions to ask" written in bridal publications. Most of which are ridiculous, and sadly, a joke among those in the know in our industry. Before you go to an interview with a photographer, think about what is most important to you and write it down. What is important to you personally is what should matter most. The truth is that you really need to follow your gut instinct, and if you are uncomfortable in any way, get through it by asking for the answer from whomever you are interviewing. Those that are confident will not only be understanding, but are usually passionate about educating and sharing information to help you rather than to sell you....