I had a couple who came to visit me a few weeks back for some advice and recommendations for photographers; they had already approached a couple of photographers and got a feel for what they were after but wanted a second opinion. I thought I'd share my thoughts here...

Choosing a wedding photographer is just as important as choosing that perfect wedding dress. For some having the perfect pictures of every single moment of their day is the most important part of their wedding, for others simply capturing the special moments is more than enough.

There are a number of things to consider when picking your photographer however once you have gone through the wheels of motion of picking the top 3 photographers from your list, there is one piece of advice I feel is the most important when making that final decision and that is to ensure the photographer you decide to go with, is someone that both you and your partner are comfortable and feel at ease with when the camera is on you. Not only will you have the 200-500 guests eyes' on you on your big day but you will constantly have a camera in front of you.  You could choose to have the most expensive photographer on the market but you just don't get along with each other on the day. If that photographer cant make you laugh and smile, and get the best out of you, you can almost forget about those special moments captured perfectly. 

If you decide to choose a photographer purely because they came from a referral, remember they may work well with the couple that recommended them, but he/she may not gel well with you. It is important the photographer understands you as a couple and knows what your limits are during your one to one meeting with the photographer. If either you or your partner is not comfortable with a photographer, choosing an alternative photographer whom you are both comfortable with will give you the best results. 

As a couple, you have a responsibility too! It is important you help the photographer by providing as much information about what you want to see in the end product because without your input, it could end up being a complete disaster.

Finally, just enjoy yourself, if you look happy then your wedding photographs will look great!

For anyone who may want additional tips on how to choose your photographer here's a list of some of the questions you should be asking your photographer (there are plenty of articles online that can provide you with more details):

• Whats packages do they offer, compare the packages
• What is included in their wedding package
• Do you work with an assistant/team
• If you need more than one photographer can they provide additional photographers and at what additional cost
• Confirm who your shooters will be
• Do they have a portfolio that they can show you
• What is their style of photography
• How soon after your wedding will you get to see my proofs
• Do you get to keep the proofs or do you have to purchase them
• Are there any cancellation fees
• Do they have insurance - public liability and idemnity insurance
• How many photos do they generally take
• Ask About Your Rights - Most contracts stipulate that the photographer owns the rights to all photos taken at the wedding, even the ones of you. In other words, the photographer can use them promotionally (on their website or blog, submit them for publication and even use them in ads). That also means that you can't just post the digital proofs they send you -- most photographers have a policy that you can only share watermarked images or images with their credit on them. Also, unless you negotiate otherwise, if you want to print the images yourselves or order an album from another source, you'll have to buy the rights to the images