Photographs are the ever lasting reminder of your wedding day. They record the atmosphere of your wedding, your dress, colours, venues and guests. They will be on display in your home, and the homes of family and friends, or those who were unable to attend. They are a record of the most special day of your life for you to look back on with your children if they weren’t born at the time.

It is important then to find a photographer who is qualified, experienced and aware of the requirements for your special day. You need to feel absolutely sure that the photographer you choose will capture the essence of your ceremony and be able to make you and your guests look the best you can.

You will find there are many photographers available to you. Photographers are a varied group specialising only in weddings or doing weddings as a sideline. Some do little or no advertising, others advertise in many places. You may consider asking friends and family for recommendations.

There is a professional Guild of Wedding Photographers to which some photographers choose to belong that publishes a list of it's members. Although it is not an exhaustive list of good wedding photographers, it could prove a very useful reference point if you have difficulties locating a suitable one.

Once you have decided on a firm date for your wedding you can begin approaching your choice of photographers to see if they are available. It is worth starting your search for a photographer early, as the better photographers will become booked up quickly. It is important that you view photographer's work before you book them for your wedding. Never book over the phone with out seeing any work they have done previously.

Having found a photographer that suits your requirements you need to discuss a price for the job. You will find that you generally get what you pay for and the more experienced photographers are likely to charge more, but this is not always the case.

Make sure you ask each photographer to quote for the same job otherwise you will not be able to compare quotations accurately. There are some variables in the cost of a wedding photographer: how long you want the photographer to attend, the approximate number of photographs taken, the number of shots to be included in the package that is offered to you and the type of album the final photographs will be presented in. Make sure that the photographer anticipates taking more shots than they intend presenting to you, as this leaves less opportunity for error.

Always make sure that the content of the photographs, not the number of shots or the size of the prints is what you are considering. You can always enlarge a print, or have your photographs digitally changed to include fewer people, highlight one particular section or even to change the look of the weather. The possibilities are endless if you are dealing with a good print, but nothing can change a set of photographs that do not have the content you wanted originally.

Finally, make sure the photographer explains their quote and tells you of any extras that may be involved in advance. Every wedding operates on some kind of budget, and keeping track of your spending is easier if you have the full picture up front.