You'll be surprised at how quickly your wedding day will go and you will want beautiful photographs so you can relive the special moments. Great wedding photos will also be a delight to share with your friends and family in the weeks after your wedding. And of course, you'll love sharing them in the years to come with your children and grandchildren.

When considering which photographer is right for you, it is essential that you meet with as many as possible to discuss their work and view their portfolios. You will also need to find out what their packages include. The packages vary greatly so find out how many hours they will shoot for, how many locations they will visit, how many pictures they will shoot and how many pictures you will receive. 

The trend these days is for candid, relaxed, fun shots rather than the posed, formal group shots of the past. Digital photography especially allows for this and your photographer may take hundreds of photos, many of which you many not even notice being taken.

Each photographer will have their personal 'shot list',  the photos they will be looking to take. If you have certain shots in mind, such as photos with each family member or pics of some special details - your shoes, your flowers, rings or table decorations, let your photographer know so these are included.

The beauty of digital photography is that special effects such as sepia tone, black & white or duo tone are done in production without the need for the photographer to shoot with different films. Any photo can be altered in the studio allowing for a huge flexibility in the creation of albums.

Good photographs take time, both on the day and in the production of your proofs and albums. On the day be sure to allocate sufficient time in your schedule so your photographer isn't rushed, check with them as to how much time they require. It's also best to plan no more than two locations for your post-ceremony photo session.

Your images should be ready to view within a few weeks of the wedding and will come either on proof sheets or as an album for you to select your favourite images for the final album. You may also be offered a DVD slideshow and CDs of selected images.

Rates between photographers vary greatly, and ultimately you get what you pay for. Those on a budget should look for packages with shorter time coverage, but with all the basics - shots of your preparations, the ceremony, group shots and the beginning of your reception photographed.

Albums of candid or stylised shots may require two photographers working non-stop from the moment you start getting ready until the end of the reception. This will be followed by many hours in the studio sorting through hundreds of images, selecting the best for your proof sheets. Obviously, the more time a photographer spends with you and in production, the more expensive the package.

And do look after your photographer, after spending all day with you, he or she will really appreciate a meal at your reception, especially if you wish them to work late into the evening.
 

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