Walk a mile in my underpants

It’s no secret that I spent more time and energy searching for a wedding photographer than many people spend searching for a bride. I easily screened 100 portfolios before I narrowed the field to a handfull of  favorites.

Why so much trouble? Of all the things you buy for your wedding, the photos are the only thing that lasts. So I was a little (ok, a lot) picky about choosing a great photographer.

Since the Great American Wedding Photographer Hunt, I’ve had a few friends ask for  recommendations. So, I figured I’d share some of my favorites.

First – a disclaimer. My criteria was: an eye for photojournalism, a range of talent (from macro details to sweeping wide angle views, from black and white, to vivid color) and a willingness to travel to Baltimore. Because of that last requirement, most of these photographers are based in the North East, although I did stumble across a few other great photographers from further West.

Without further adieu, here are my favorites:

OUR PHOTOGRAPHER:
Susan Stripling, New York
http://www.susanstriplingblog.com/

I can’t possibly recommend Susan enough. Her images are stunning, her colors are vibrant, and she was a joy to spend our wedding day with. (Don’t underestimate the importance of this last point. You spend a LOT of your day with your photographer, so make sure your personalities are a good match). If you’d like a reference for Susan, I’d be happy to answer any questions.

THE OTHER INCREDIBLY TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHERS:
(in no particular order)

Punam Bean, New York
http://www.punambeanweddings.com/

Cliff Mautner, Philadelphia
http://www.cmphotography.com/

Shane Carpenter, Baltimore
http://www.shanecarpenterweddings.com/

Kevin Hulett, Utah
http://www.kevinhulett.com/Weddings.html

Kevin shot my friend Helen’s wedding in Paris. He did a great job, and he’s one of the nicest guys you’ll meet.

Pen / Carlson, Chicago

http://www.pencarlsonblog.com/

LemonLime Photography, Kansas City
http://blog.lemonlimephoto.com/