by Rich Harrington

Created on: February 28, 2009

It is the most important day of your life. The beginning of a new life together and you have gathered your friends from far and wide to join you at this important event. Even if the cake wasn't perfect or the ring bearer dropped his pillow, you will still have your memories and the photos for years to come.The photos are one of the most important part of any wedding. But there are so many people out there, who to choose.

One tip is to do some research and set a budget. Photographers can range from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars. You are paying for experience and for reputation. Also find out how much the finished photos will be to get copies. It is a nice idea to give copies of photos from your wedding to important guests, but they can be quite expensive. Sometimes, the photographer will sell you the negatives so you can make as many copies as you like. However, this is an expensive option.

One wedding photographer we talked to had a name and had done some high end weddings. She sent me to her web page to review her photos. They were not what we had in mind. They were very staged, very arty, very chic. Since we weren't putting on a play and she was very expensive, we decided not to use her. One look at the portfolio should give you an idea of the level of work. Since you will see various weddings, do all the photos look alike? Are they all fixed poses? Is there any movement and do they look like what you want your wedding to look like. Experience can let the photographer work with the moment better than an new wedding photographer, so understand you want photos that will reflect you for years to come.

You should be able to get recommendations from previous weddings. Be aware, that he or she will tell you about the good weddings, but a conversation with the bride or groom might get more information about your potential photographer. Ask at bridal shops and flower shops if they know of any good or bad photographers. You might hear about someone to avoid.

Another tip is to meet the photographer well before the wedding. Discuss the location and any restrictions you might have. The photographer will also look at lighting issues and recommend changes to makeup or to basic lighting. It is great to hear the photographer had shot weddings there before and understood some of the nuances of the location.

The photographer should also ask what type of dress he or she should wear. If the men are in tuxes, I would imagine a male photographer will be in a tux. Female photographers will be dressed discretely, but in similar styles to the guests.

Make sure someone in the wedding party is 'in charge' of the photographer. The photographer should have that person's cell phone and visa versa. This way if there is a problem or a change, the party can make small changes in the schedule. This also allows the bride and groom to not worry about one more thing. When the photographer arrives, the person in charge can then inform you that it is all under control.

Years after the wedding, it is a great feeling to pull the wedding album down and look at it and remember. Seeing old friends and perhaps relatives that are no longer with you is a great experience. And seeing photos that reflect the mood of the wedding can let you relive your happiest day.

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