How to choose the Correct Wedding Photographer

How do you choose the best wedding photographer? What steps should you take to ensure that your perfect day is recorded as perfect. Should you use film or digital?

Your photos are your visible memories of the day, a photographer is there to capture the moments you remember fondly, as you remember them and then capture all those magical moments you never witnessed.

Here are NewlyWeds-UK's top tips:

1. Budget

Set your budget. It is very easy to get carried away, and the chances are you probably will - so make sure you have allocated money in your budget for a photographer, any additional photos you will want, and possible travelling costs.

2. Friend or Employed?

Decide if you would like a friend or family member to be your photographer. It may be that someone you know is a photographer or takes pictures for a hobby. Then you just need to decide if you would like them to see the day through a lens or if you would prefer them to just enjoy the day as a guest. It may be polite just to explain your thoughts to them and ask their opinion - they could be honoured to be asked, or they may prefer the responsibility to go to someone else!

3. The Brief

If you have decided to go for a professional photographer then the next step is to get some idea of what you are looking for. It is a good idea to do some research: Look for photographers in your local area - in a directory or on notice boards. If you know someone who got married recently then why not ask them - word of mouth is quite often the best recommendation you could have.

4. Portfolio

Each photographer will have a portfolio you can look through, you can look through your friends or colleagues albums - get some idea of the style of photographs you like; romantic, classical, modern, creative, bizarre, posed or non-posed. Do you prefer the pictures taken with a long lens, where the people in the picture aren't even aware they are being photographed? These are quite often the best shots.

5. Face to Face meeting

Now you need to bring together your wedding photographer preferences with your wedding photo preferences. Do you want to use someone local? Would you prefer a female photographer? You may find that you like a certain photographer, and another's portfolio. It is worth setting up a meeting to decide if you like and more importantly you can work with them? It is worth taking along a few examples of styles you would like, a list of the posed and structured photos you require, along with a rough timing schedule.

6. Questions to ask:
• Will you be the photographer on the day?
• How many photographers will there be?
• Are there any travelling costs?
• Do you use film or digital or a combination?
• How many photos do we get?
• Do we get proof sheets?
• Do you give us a CD with images on?
• How much extra are reprints?
• When do relatives and friends need to order extra copies by?
• Do you provide any additional services such as videography?
• Do you provide any extra products such as enlarging pictures onto canvas?
• Who will own the copyright to the pictures?
7. Decision Made

Put down your deposit to secure the day with them, and relax, that's another ticked off your to-do list.