Finding the perfect wedding photographer. Your wedding is one of those times when you must hire a professional wedding photographer. Don't take a chance on Uncle Fred; just because he has a fancy camera doesn't mean he is experienced in professional wedding photography. To find your wedding photographer you have to be ready to look at some pictures. Not just any pictures, but wedding photography from actual events, not just pictures from the photographer's web site. Photographers only use the best shots they have on their web site. What you want to see is the hundreds of pictures from an actual wedding. At Lifetime In Focus ( lifetimeinfocus.com ) you can search for and find a photographer in your state or city, then look at actual weddings that photographer has photographed. Some photographers shoot fewer pictures but better pictures. Some photographers take a thousand images but you have to shift through all of those images to find those you want to keep. Some people like seeing thousands of pictures. It is a personal decision. Questions to ask you wedding photographer There are lots of questions to ask your prospective photographer. Do you shoot digital or film or a combination of both; do you shoot alone or do you have an assistant who photographs with you; do you give us the digital files; do you post online; can we view our pictures on our computer; can we share pictures on a computer; can we buy pictures online; can friends and family buy pictures online; do you have an online store for sharing and viewing photographs; do you offer albums; does your online storefront have a slideshow; can I get pictures in black and white or a sepia tone; do prints in black & white ( B/W ) cost extra; do you photograph in a traditional style or a photojournalist style or a combination of both; does your standard package include pictures on-line; do I get a complete set of proof prints; how many hours do you shoot; do you come yourself or do you send someone else; am I looking at pictures you took or those from someone else in your company; and are my pictures true photographic prints or inkjet, because you want to make sure you are getting true photographic prints that will last a lifetime. What photographers should be looking for in an online partner. What should photographers look for in an online store to sell wedding pictures, engagement photos, special event pictures (bar mitzvah pictures, bat mitzvah pictures, birthday party pictures, dinner party pictures, sorority and fraternity pictures, sports event photos, cruise ship photos, graduation pictures, sweet 16 photos, etc) and portraits? Even non-profit organizations can make extra money by posting pictures online. Lifetime In Focus ( lifetimeinfocus.com ) offers a service similar to Pictage, Collage.net, Digilabs, Printroom, Labprints, LifePics Pro, and other online storefronts. Lifetime In Focus works strictly on a commission basis. Most, except for LifetimeInFocus.com, charge a monthly or annual fee plus a percentage and print charges. Some online services do not have their own photolabs. LifetimeInFocus.com does all of its own printing in its own lab on Fuji Crystal Archive photographic papers. Digital wedding pictures should be printed on true photographic papers. Digital photos should be printed on true photographic paper. Most online services connected to a photo lab print on true photographic paper. Many photographers that print their own work use inkjet printers which may not be very archival. Boulder Pro Photo developed Lifetime In Focus ( lifetimeinfocus.com ). It is best is to use a professional photolab like Boulder Pro Photo that has developed its own online ordering service after years of experience. Some labs like Boulder Pro Photo, Millers, Express Photo, and McKenna Pro Photo have their own online ordering service and some let you use a third party service which feeds work to them. The problem with third party services is that there is little accountability. Also, you want an online storefront that can support you with products like albums, album binding, photo books, proofing, custom enlargements, blowups, mounting, framing and most important customer service. Customer service can be the key to a successful online shopping service partnership. Many issues can be quickly dealt with by your photolab or online storefront without the customer having to contact the photographer. Lifetime In Focus has a link to contact us right on the front page. If Sally, the bride, sees a picture she wants removed from the viewing site she can contact us directly and the image can be instantly removed without bothering the photographer. Many customer questions are resolved without contacting the photographer. Even if the photographer is on vacation the online storefront keeps selling, printing, shipping and handling customers.