I believe the most important things on the wedding day is you and your partners appearance - so you both look and feel amazing on your big day! Do this by ensuring your outfits are perfect, your pampered and have had your nails and hair done and makeup professionally applied. Also its essential your have a photographer to capture all those magic moments, and make you feel relaxed and comfortable. After-all most married couples have pictures of the happy couple or group shot on display, not the table decorations or favours etc which we tend to get caught up in.

It goes without saying that you need to look at a photographers portfolio to ensure their photography style and images are going to capture your day. But I believe there are a few other things you should also consider before booking a photographer for your big day.

How experienced are they?
We all have a friend who's great with a camera, but are they going to be able to know the layout of the day and be able to predict and ensure they are in the perfect place to capture each moment of your wedding day perfectly? Are they going to be able to arrange your family and friends in your requested group shots? Also will they be happy to be taking photos for the whole day, or do you want them to be able to relax and enjoy your wedding day?
Also when looking a photographers website / social media pages - are all the photos of the same wedding, or lots of different brides and grooms? Are they all of the same venue?

If the photographer has photographed the wedding of a friend or a wedding you have been a bridesmaid or groomsmen for - make sure you still take a good look at their portfolio and remember how they were on the wedding day, did they make you feel comfortable and relaxed?

How organised are they?
Are you confident they are going to arrive on time? Have they obtained all the information to obtain the required personal shots before your wedding day, or are they going to have a brief chat with you on the wedding morning when you are getting ready so its fresh in their mind? What is their turnaround time for your images? I've known photographers who blog photos live from your wedding day, to photographers who won't edit and return the images to you for 4 months.

Do you and your partner get on with them?
I think its nice to meet the photographer in person before you book them, they will be a big part of your day so you need to be able to get on with him/her. I've always found that couples who have had a engagement shoot are more relaxed and comfortable in your photographers presence.
Do you want a photographer who is loud and dominate the wedding, or a quiet photo ninja that you won't notice?
Would you prefer a female photographer when your getting ready to take photos of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready and dressed?

What package do they offer?
Would you like wedding preparations photographed? Personally I have seen so many heartwarming emotional moments where the dad sees the bride which has brought tears to my eyes. Would you like a second photographer to capture both parties getting ready on the morning, plus the wedding guests arriving?

Do they include albums - would you like these for family / friends as presents, or would you prefer all digital so you can upload them to your social media?

How formal would you like your photos - do you want lots of formal group shots? Or would you prefer mostly relaxed shots of family and friends enjoying your wedding?

You get what you pay for!
Any photographer will tell you that the wedding market is saturated with wedding photographers. This range from amateur that have a decent camera and took a few pictures of a friends wedding and now market themselves at wedding fairs. To full time photographers that have won awards and competitions and are fully training in different styles and techniques, and experiance having photographed lots of weddings they will know and be able to guide you through the day, knowing when and how to capture every moment perfectly. Also remember you are not just paying for the photographer for the time working on your wedding day, the fee also covers all the time spent in the run up including consultations and preparations along with the hours / days after the wedding to edit the images, upload and send them to you. Everyone has a budget, unfortunately most wedding do not come under budget - is the photography and memories of the day something you want to compromise on?

The main thing in to remember is you all should enjoy the wedding celebrations - try and find a photographer you are join to enjoy their company on your wedding day, who is going to make you feel comfortable and compliment your wedding style within a comfortable budget. I think after the venue, this is one of the most important things to get booked - photographers can be booked up a few years in advanced so its good to get a photographer booked in good time and not rush into booking someone.

 I hope you have a wonderful wedding celebrations, if I can help with wedding hair and makeup please get in touch or to visit my webpage click here.

Jackie, Jax-Glam Beauty
Wedding Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist.