Sample #4

Choosing Your Pictures, Finding Your Photographer

As we are almost over with preparing your reception, now is time to consider the future. What will you remember from your wedding?

Choose your pictures before the wedding

First, you need to set up a list of the pictures you want.

As a bonus, I've included a document with most of the pictures you may wish to request. I recommend you start from there, then complete it with specific ones.

When discussing with your photographer, you should hand him your list as a minimum. Then, leave him the freedom to capture extra instant moments.

Can your friends do it?

Wondering whether you should ask your friends to take all your pictures? I recommend you don’t.

Consider all the efforts you put on this dream day. You want to remember the very best of it. Thefore, hiring a "pr"o will be of the essence. Here are several reasons for not asking your friends to take the main pictures :

- Unless they are professional themselves, your friends will probably lack the skills to make profesionnal looking pictures. The difference is often very easy to tell.

- Experience is everything. The gift of good photographers is their ability to capture the instant. Someone who’s been working on hundreds of weddings will know where to look at, feel what has to be shot (in addition to your list).

- Even if you ask a friend who's found of pictures, chances are he'll get bored after the first hour, and will want to just enjoy the party instead.

Finding the right person

The easiest way to find your wedding photographer is by asking your married friends for recommandations. Yet, as your may have different feelings, keep an eye on other possibilities.

You can notably search the web to get a list of photographers near your home. As most artists now have websites, you'll get a first look at their work without even the need to move.

(Continued in the book...)