Choosing a wedding photographer

The Fixer gets a lot of complaints about wedding photography -- everything from poor quality to non-delivery of prints after the wedding. Here are some tips for choosing a good photographer for your special day:

-- Ask your family, friends and co-workers for recommendations.

-- Check the companies out with your local Better Business Bureau. Then, call their references.

-- Schedule interviews with two or three photographers to get a feel for the types of services they offer, the quality of their work and fees.

-- Ask if the the photographer is the one who will be photographing your wedding. If so, that should be in the contract. If not, request to meet personally with the photographer who will be shooting your wedding - and review that photographer's portfolio.

-- Ask: Is the photo package fixed or customized? How many photos are included? What about reprints, enlargements and albums? What's the time-frame for delivery of proofs and other products? Is there a Web site to view your images? Can you keep the proofs or negatives? What is the payment schedule? And what's the policy on cancellations and refunds?

-- Above all: Get everything in writing. Source: Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois