The difficult part is over, right? You've wooed, flirted, and asked (or answered) "the question." You've chosen a date, picked a location, and selected a band. Now all that remains would be a few minor details prior to deciding to can, in the end, make the leap. Right?

When you like many couples, your next item from your list is the wedding photographer. Can't possibly be a lot of work... I live in Atlanta how many professional wedding photographers could there be? The result: a great deal. How do you find them? And after you have, how do you choose?

At this time when technologies along with the Internet have made it easier for photographers to enter the field and harder to stay ahead of the group, brides and grooms are facing a sea of websites, all with a minimum of a number of pretty images. Some claim grandeur ("Readily available international travel and destination weddings!" or "Award-winning wedding photographer!"). Others dangle affordable prices. Just what matters most?

Step one: Do a list.

Because there are 100 wedding photographers in your area, that does not imply all 100 will do a job you'll be content using. Choose numerous names, and look at their work... who works that resonates with you? Whose work clicks with your vision of the day? If you love funky/artsy photography, then those photographers primarily offering traditional wedding portraiture probably shouldn’t go on your list, and vice versa.

Where do you start? Allow me to share a couple of suggestions:

Who are friends and family using? Is he or she happy with the images, services and product they've received? But don't limit your list to merely these names... especially if it's been a whole year roughly since they used them... the wedding photography field changes fast!

Who does your venue recommend? Venues which have good experiences with photographers usually keep their names readily available. Bear in mind, though, that these lists are subjective and may or may not include the best talent around.

Ask your wedding planner... these professionals assist different photographers constantly, and since they know that their reputation may hang on how well the photographer they recommend performs, they're generally likely to point you toward good, solid photographers.

Look at wedding photography websites like photographik.org

And lastly, when all else fails, Google knows pretty much everything.

Remember, the important thing is to obtain a good idea of what's available and compile a fair list of names that you'd feel at ease with.

Step two: Narrow it down.

Once you've a fair number of names in front of you, it's time to start crossing some off. How do you do that?

There are various factors that go into selecting a photographer and every couple could have different priorities at the top. How good is their work? What sort of albums/prints/engagement sessions/etc. can they offer? What do they cost? Do they have established businesses, or is he just venturing out? Only you can know what’s most significant to you, but here are several ideas that could help:

Quality matters! Proceed through your list and look at each photographer's blog, if he or she has one. A blog will let you see the kind of quality and consistency that the photographer will deliver, week after week, wedding after wedding... not simply the 20 best images they've ever taken and put on their website. If their work doesn't inspire you, move on.

Yes, price is a consideration... but a quick word on that: inside a year, or five, or ten, when the cake, food, and dancing are all a memory, your photographs will likely be how you remember your wedding day day. I've heard many couples say they wish they'd spent a little more on a better photographer.

Step three: Meet'em!

After all this work, now is the time to meet your top choices. Give them a call and set up a time to sit down face to face, go over more of their work, and become familiar with each other. You'll want to see what their albums look like (this enables you to see complete weddings, not cherry-picked images), mention their packages, and get a vibe for the way they'll tackle the wedding day.

You will need to obtain a sense of their business. There are lots of lists of questions to ask available online, I won't repeat them here. Simply put, ensure you’re content with their amount of experience and that they've everything in place (insurance? equipment?) to guarantee your photography comes off problem-free.

But greatest goals for this meeting is to obtain a sense of their personality. You should have your photographer near you for most of your wedding day, and although some are superior to others at blending in the background, choosing someone you enjoy being around will make your day that much more fun and relaxed. Do you click together with your photographer? If you do, odds are you’ll love your photos. Does your photographer drive you crazy? In that case, you'll likely remember that each time you take a look at the images, regardless of how good they may be.