Photographs are great for reminders of happy, memorable occasions, a souvenir of a particular time in our life we are proud of, for us to look back on fondly. Weddings are arguably the single most important and memorable day of our lives, and whilst the day itself maybe over all too soon, decent photographs will be a sweet reminder.


Be it because of the excitement and organising of the big day, financial considerations, or just general apathy, far too many couples underestimate their wedding photographer, arbitrarily choosing a name who doesn’t perform quite as well as they would hope. This is a real shame, with some basic planning and preliminary groundwork, you can save disappointment for your special day.


Organising a wedding is a very stressful affair, so it will pay dividends to be organised from the beginning. Therefore, think about looking for a photographer when you are engaged, and take the time to examine their studios and portfolios of wedding photos. Most importantly, see what kind of rapport you have with each photographer, a friendly photographer will make all the difference!


Don’t hesitate to ask questions about a prospective photographers experience, how many weddings have they attended. Not only is this crucial in terms of their technical skill and ability, but also for the way the photographer conducts himself. An experienced photographer will be able to work in the background, without being intrusive and able to deal with emotions and excitement of the day, and be professional enough to work around the day and its pace.


It is a simple and obvious point, but getting anything and everything that you agree with your photographer in writing will benefit both of you in the long run. This way you both will have a clear idea as to time scale involved, the times etc so as to minimise delays and stress on the big day. When you do finalise your wedding date, make sure to confirm this with your photographer, whilst your wedding will last one day, a photographers schedule is very hectic, more well-known and established photographers can be booked up to a year in advance.


Shop around. Whilst you maybe tempted to simply proceed with the first photographer you find, prices charged will vary significantly, and with a little shopping around and haggling, you can make huge savings. Whilst it may be tempting to simply go for a professional photographer, these guys will tend to charge an absolute premium price. Employing a smaller scale photographer can pay off huge dividends in the end.


Make sure to organise the photographs before the wedding or at the very least before the alcohol is served! Drunken uncles, frayed tempers, food stains and the like all can be avoided by getting the photographs dealt with before the food is out a particular concern where children are concerned.
Make sure you are totally clear as to how long it will take for the photographs to develop, some photographers will have this in a matter of days, others will take weeks. Shop around to get the best photographer for your particular needs.