First of all, the best way that a bride can pre-judge the competency of a wedding photographer is to have a recommendation from someone whose opinion she trusts. If she has more than one recommendation, that's even better... especially if the same photographer's name comes from different sources. Next, a phone call is appropriate which should begin by confirming the availability of the photographer on your wedding day. An appointment should be scheduled to review the work of the photographer. At the meeting, the first assessment you should make is whether or not you feel comfortable in the presence of the photographer. Is he interested in you and your wedding or is he more interested in getting a deposit from you.
If you are going to spend a good portion of the most important day of your life with this person, it should be someone with whom you will enjoy sharing that time. Also at this meeting, you should see a complete coverage of a single wedding. That's a lot more important than seeing beautiful highlights from many different weddings. When looking through the complete coverage, evaluate the work by placing yourself in the position that this could have been your wedding coverage.
When you have found the photographer that meets your needs, make the commitment as soon as possible. The best photographers book-up quickly. Any Professional Photographer who is a member of a professional association (Local, State or National) has a code of ethics he/she must abide by. This should be an important factor in your decision.
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