If you're looking for a wedding photographer, especially on My Denver Photographers, you've probably noticed something - there are a lot of great photographers out there! Sifting through them is obviously about how that photographer fits into your budget, whether their schedule is open, and whether your personalities are a good match. But often, we find brides are lost on the most important piece of the puzzle - how do you know who will make the best pictures?

There are three key elements to look for in any photographer's portfolio.  They are:

1. Style
2. Consistency
3. Variety

Let's take a look at each of those elements in detail.

Style

The most important factor in a photography portfolio, and also the most difficult to describe, is its artistic style. One way to think about style is to ask where the pictures would be most at home -- do they look like a magazine cover? Like abstract art? Like a National Geographic article? Like fashion design?

When you understand a photographer's style, you get a better sense for how you will be photographed on your special day.  To figure out what style you like best, try to understand what you like about other, non-wedding photographs.  Once you nail that down, it will be easier to compare photographers on that basis.

Obviously, a great photographer will have lots of pictures that are "different" from one another, but the best studios always have a kind of signature style that runs throughout their galleries, like the dishes served at a fine restaurant.

Consistency

Just as important as knowing what a photographer is capable of, is knowing that he or she will deliver that talent for you, on your day. How can you be sure that those amazing shots you're looking at from the portfolio will be similar to what is delivered to you?

Fortunately, there's a very good barometer for how consistent a photographer is, and that is their blog. Check it! Take a look at the recent posts to determine whether the photographer's work remains at a high level. Make sure the photographer is posting at least once a month, and that the blog is still active.

Beyond that, there isn't a whole lot of guarantee that you will get exactly the same shots you've seen on the portfolio, but relax! This is art. Your wedding is as unique as you are, and your images will be too. If the photographer is a master of his or her craft, your images will be as special and artistic as anything you've seen.

Variety

No two weddings are ever alike, and each one presents its own set of challenges. You want a photographer who is capable of rolling with the punches, and creating wonderful images regardless of the circumstances. Outdoor rain? Low light inside? High ceilings? Low ceilings? The experienced photographer has been through it all, and knows how to find beautiful shots anywhere.

So as you're sifting through a portfolio, keep an eye out for that kind of variety. Do all the shots seem to have occurred in the same types of environments, or is there a variety?

In the end, let your eyes be your guide. You only get one chance to make your wedding album the way you want it to be. Find what looks good to you, and never look back.