Your wedding day is one of the most personal experiences of your life. It's your day, you matter, so why would you choose someone that you didn't like personally to take those all important photographs.

When organising my own wedding, I didn't necessarily choose the cheapest option in floristry, catering, etc., I chose people that suited me, that I liked and would be on "my" team on the big day! The same applied to choosing a photographer. I not only liked the photos he'd taken in the past, I'd been a bridesmaid at a wedding he was working at and seen the way he worked and liked it. If you get the chance ask if you can pop round to a function (s)he's working at. See if you like his/her style.

If you have a particularly lively flowergirl or page, you want to know that your photographer has the patience and creativity to deal with the candid shots that it might have to be in order to get them in any photos at all Many photographers offer a second photographer or take on a "candid" photography themselves to snap the informal shots that sometimes people find as important or more important than the formal family shots.

Visually speaking you know what you like in terms of images taken, and hopefully you will have seen plenty of those in the photographer's portfolio. However, if you have a particular desire for more black and white photography, or sepia then let the photographer know as the closer to your dream photos that individual can get the more successful they will be in pleasing you.

There are a variety of ways in which photographers work. Some offer packages where they will take a set number of photographs, some take as many as you want and offer them on a per photograph bought basis. If you are working on a budget then make sure what is included and what is important to you. Some of the options involve you getting more photos yourself from the photographer based on other relatives buying photographs too.

What I wished I had at my wedding was someone taking impromptu shots of people who are friends or distant family and don't necessarily feature in the formal shot format. If you know someone who enjoys taking photographs and would take on the job, then ask them if they'd like to do that for you. Most people will be flattered. I've taken photographs for friends from their hair in curlers at the house to the evening reception, capturing the more natural things that take place. One tip though, ask a couple of friends if possible, then they can enjoy more the day and you get two different perspectives. Whether you ask a professional to take this on, or a friend, it will give you a completely different aspect of your big day from the "official" shots.

Learn more about this author, Lesley Rigg.
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