Hiring a photographer is not actually as hard as it may seem. There are several important points to remember in order to hire the best photographer for the specific job, to obtain the desired results, and to get the best overall value and best bang for your buck.

• Photographers should not require all monies up front, but up to 50% of the total fee could be collected as a deposit.

• Do not settle on anything. There are tons of photographers out there and there should be one that can do what you want, albeit at the right cost.

• These are photos of YOU. Make sure you get what you want.

To get started in hiring a photographer, you must first consider several things. How much money to spend on a photographer, what is wanted from the photographer as far as image production goes, what ideas for specific shots are wanted from the photographer, and what photo style desired from the photographer. Make a list of the answers to the above questions. With this information, talking to photographers about what you want and matching it with what the photographer offers is easier. Determine what is most important for the shoot. Whatever is most important should come up first in the interview. If the photographer can't fulfill that request, there's no point in wasting your time or their's.

While hiring a photographer isn't necessarily hard, contacting, interviewing, and viewing portfolios could potentially be time consuming. Planning at least a week or two before the event is recommended. This would give enough time to set up appointments with each possible photographer and hire the right one for the job.

To find potential photographers, ask around: family, friends, neighbors. Word of mouth goes a long, long way. While the photographer a neighbor used for their child's wedding might not be the one for your event, it is the best starting point. The next best option to finding photographers is the Internet. Search for photographers in your local area by typing "photographers in city, state" into a search engine. Established photographers should have a well designed website with an easy to view portfolio. Some may even include the ability to contact them or set up appointments online. Lastly, check the phone book if it still exists in your area. If a print phone book isn't available, YellowPages.com is a good place to search local listings. Set up appointments with each potential photographer at either their studio, your location (home, office), a public place (like a coffee shop), or even the desired shoot location. You should also try and clear up your most important desire prior to setting up the appointment. If money is an issue, asking the photographer up front what their prices are and determining if their offerings match your budget should determine if you set an appointment with them. That goes for location shoots too. If you want to shoot in a certain location but the photographer won't shoot there, there's no point talking with them further.

Armed with the list of desires, talk with each photographer about what they offer. View the photographer's portfolio. Each photographer should have sample pictures for you to view. Pay close attention to how the portfolio is displayed and shown. Loose photos or pictures that are displayed in cheaply made albums could indicate a lack of professionalism and inattention to detail. Also, photos printed on thin paper or all small in size could mean a low quality product. Ask where and when the photos were taken. If they were taken years ago, ask to see recent shots. If they were taken a long way away, like the opposite coast, ask to see some from the local area.

Ask each photographer about the products they offer. If you want every image on a CD, is that available? How about everything printed and what sizes they offer? Also, ask about what post-processing they provide and if there is additional cost. One stray hair or odd wrinkle can make or break a photo and if it can be fixed, is the photographer capable of doing that?

Present the photographer with some ideas of your own. Pay attention to how receptive they are to them. Being at ease with a photographer and a photographer being open to your own thoughts on what photos you'd like to have taken makes the whole experience comfortable. Being comfortable and at ease during the shoot will create much better photographs.

Finally, ask about a contract and payment. What is in the contract and when is it signed? Typically photographers retain all rights to the photos they take, but the contract can be written in such a way to allow for the reprinting, posting, or otherwise using the photos in ways you might want. Would the photographer sell your photos for advertising or in magazines and if so, are you compensated? Is that information a part of the contract? As for payment, is there a deposit required? How much and when is it collected? When is any additional money collected and how long after the shoot are proofs and prints available?

With the information now collected from each photographer, examine their answers and what they have to offer. Does the information match what you want in terms of price, location, image options, etc? Did you feel comfortable with the photographer? Was the photographer receptive to your ideas and desires for the shoot? If the answers are all resounding yes, pick that photographer.

The final step is to sign the contract and make any deposits or payments required. Set up a date and time for the shoot and then have fun!