1. Choosing your photographer
- Make sure you pick a photographer whose work fits with your own idea of good wedding photography. There is little point in selecting a photojournalist if you want a more conventional or traditional album.
 Rapport is important – make the photographer is someone you’re comfortable to have around you and your guests. A good photographer will capture the detail of your day discretely, but can also direct group photography pleasantly and efficiently.
- If you want someone who will be flexible and responsive to your needs, then avoid tightly defined packages of standard shots and schedules unless you are working with a tight budget.
- Be sure that promotional shots are representative of those that will be captured on the day – try to look at a complete album, so you know quality is consistent.
- Choose a photographer who will listen and take the lead from you in the planning and not lay down ‘policy’. This will be indicative of how they may perform on the day.
2. Planning the photography
- Describe how you’d like to see your wedding documented and what is of greatest importance to you. If the photographer is good he/she will respond by planning around these expectations.
- Consider light availability, particularly for autumn/winter weddings. Photography needs light and flash photography is not as flattering. Think through when important stages – like speeches – will happen and what the light availability will be. It’s important that your expectations are realistic.
- Think through alternative plans if the weather is not suitable for outdoor shots. Also, consider the space requirements of doing large group shots inside.
If possible, spend time at the venue weighing this up.
When would you like the photographer there? Early, to capture the preparations, or late, to capture the dancing? Remember the previous comments about lighting though.
- Photojournalism-style photography creates dynamic and spontaneous shots, but remember that you may want to look back on some group shots of family and friends in years to come, so don’t rule this out all together, and remember that some planning for this will be required. Think through who might help organise photography on the day. Could a bridesmaid or best man (who knows all the main family members) help in gathering people for shots?
3. On the day...
 If the previous two stages have been fulfilled, you should have nothing to worry about on the day. The photographer will be fully briefed, so you can focus on enjoying your day. However, if you see the potential for a great image during the day, your photographer should be adaptable and happy to work under your instructions.
4. Making your selection
- When selecting images from preview proofs you should consider the overall look of your album Consider selecting images that help convey the atmosphere of the day; a detail of the dress or a table setting; a view from a window at your reception venue; a detail of your car. While these may not say much in isolation the effect in an album can be to produce a three dimensional impression of the day.
- Try selecting images by ruling out the ones you don’t want in the album and highlighting those you can’t do without but leave the final selection to the photographer, who is experienced in telling a story visually.
- Remember that with digital technology you no longer have to decide whether images are to be colour or black and white before they are shot. It is now possible to decide on one or the other, or a mixture of both, after you have seen your proofs.
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