From there I flew into St Louis to spend a little time with my father and my grandson, Conner. Just snapshots but I cannot pass up the chance to show off Conner.

Often, bridal magazines will include lists of questions to pose to potential photographers and most of those questions are legitimate inquiries when it comes to choosing the person you will use to record that most special day. One, though, I just don’t get: What kind of equipment do you use?

The last time you went to a fine restaurant and enjoyed anexcellent meal as you were leaving did you inquire as to the brand of stove the chef was using? Not likely. Equipment is a very important aspect of wedding photography but whether the photographer is using Canon or Nikon or Fuji is not really the important thing. First, does he/she have sufficient back-up equipment in case something breaks? Second, and most important, what can the photographer do with that equipment? The only way to determine that is to take the time to look at the work that is produced. It has been said that “the proof is in the pudding” and really, it makes no difference what stove was used to cook that pudding. Just as a great chef has a great palate so a great photographer has a great eye. What kind of eye does the person you are considering have? Take a close look at the style, detail, ability to capture the emotion and “feel” of the day.

What is photojournalism? Next time.