Whether you are looking for a wedding, commercial or portrait photographer, the selection process should be the same.  Many people believe all photographers are alike and that price is the important factor.  This is not so.  Most people who hire on the basis of price end up being vastly disappointed with what they get.  The proper procedure is to review the person's work, talk with them to form a subjective opinion how you and they will get along, and then compare prices.

Reviewing the work:  Your questions to yourself should be:             a)   Do I like this photographer's style of shooting?       b)   Do I think the photographer understands what I want?    c)   Is the photographer capable of doing what I want?            d)   Does the photographer have the proper equipment?

Getting to know the photographer:  Your questions should be:        a)   Can I get along with this person easliy?    b)   Will this photographer be good to work with?    c)    Is this person trustworthy and reliable?    d)    Is this person honest?         e)    Does this person really understand my needs and will he (she)meet my expectations? 

Picking the best choice:  How do I know?             Based on the answers to the above questions you will have eliminated the majority of the people you have contacted.  The remainder will have impressed you with their style, work ethics, personality and quality.  At this point (finally) it becomes a numbers issue.  All of the ones left in the running can equally satisfy your needs, so pick the least expensive - unless there is one who really stands out from the rest.  In that case you need to decide if the outstanding features are worth the additional cost.