Searching for a wedding photographer...

I am taking this aspect of wedding planning VERY seriously. We have friends who are photographers (even professional photographers), but I really want to have someone present specifically for that purpose.

If you know us and are reading this, then you already know that we are a family of artists. I am a cartoonist and Nick (my fiance) is an electronic artist of sorts. He made my iPhone app and my comics website and colors my comics. So we've been looking for a talented photographer whose sense of style and artistic eye we like. Although I'm focusing my search in the Upstate New York area, as that is where our wedding will be, I'm keeping my eyes open for super-talented artists in other areas. I'd be willing to pay travel to get someone there whose work we truly admire.

These are the criteria I've been using while looking for a photographer:

-sense of style and artistic eye I appreciate. And is able to capture in my wedding photos - the romance I've seen in photos I've been collecting of weddings (see link below to Flickr album)

-who can captivate both the wedding AND the beauty of Letchworth State Park. This may be illustrated through photos they've taken in that specific park or of a nature portfolio.

-who would be willing to give us the raw images (my fiance Nick, being an electronic artist, can do color-correcting and editing of the photos)

-who is confident enough to direct our gregarious family into some posed shots (including directing my very fun-loving fiance into some more serious poses)

-passes the Nick screening (I'm not sure exactly what his criteria is actually)

If we like the person but end up needing to pay travel expenses, I'm hoping we'll be able to negotiate for a price that we can afford for the work, especially by minimizing the work needed (directing and taking the photos). We can even provide a hard drive to make things as simple as possible.

I've spent DAYS and DAYS on this search already.

One great resource I've come across is an Association of Photojournalists. I've found a number of very talented photographers there and would recommend that site to others.

Another thing I've been doing, is keeping an album on Flickr where I save wedding images I come across on the web that I like as examples of what I want from the photographer. Of course, much of wedding photography is protected on the internet and thus I haven't added those images to my public collection.

Some other ways I'm considering incorporating photography into our wedding... I'd like to create a sign-in / guest book for the wedding with photos in it of me and Nick. I think I'd be more likely to look back and read the sweet messages from friends and family if they were mixed in with photos. I'd also love to have a photobooth - both for entertainment at the wedding and as another means of getting photos of our guests.

So... We'll see how much of this vision I can bring to life! Cross your fingers for me.