Photography

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A wonderful album of photographs makes a fantastic momento of your wonderful day, so make sure you find a good photographer to capture those special moments.

They need to be prepared to listen to your ideas, and you need to be willing to accept their professionalism. Usually they know how long it will take to organise line-ups of family and friends, for instance.

Discuss the various styles of photos with them. Perhaps you want formal group and couple shots, maybe reportage-style (when the photographer mingles with the party and takes informal pictures), or perhaps you would like a mixture of both?

Always confirm your expectations in writing, and do give them a list of any line-ups.

Organise a friend who knows most of the guests to help the photographer gather people for these.

Check the pricing and when you will see the pictures. Some photographers charge by the hour as well as a fee for each picture taken; others just for the day; others only for photos ordered.

Check if you will be able to have a disc or the negatives too or if all photos have to be ordered through them.

Perhaps you want pictures of the bride getting ready, or maybe there will be time for portraits to be taken of the bride and groom and particular family or friends during a quiet moment at the wedding?

It’s great to ask friends if you can have copies of their shots, but don’t be too expectant of disposable cameras left on tables, unless you attach a tag to each one asking guests to ensure everyone at the table is photographed and where the camera should be put for safe keeping at the end of the wedding.