Friends and family. They're your best resources (next to us, of course) for ideas and inspiration. Unfortunately, even the best of friends can sometimes pass along bad advice. We've put together some of the most common myths about wedding photography. Here are a few "tips" you might want to think twice about.  
 
 
1. Friends and family with cameras are enough. Choose this route and we guarantee -- GUARANTEE -- that you will miss many precious moments you won't be able to retrieve. Even if you have guests who are professional photographers, they will be caught up in the emotion of your event, just as you will. A professional photographer is paid to be sure that you don't miss a single special picture. Moreover, a pro is equipped to deal with poor lighting, fast movements and impulsive photo ops -- all without getting in the way of the celebration. 
 
2. Photographers shouldn't keep your negatives.
Lots of brides are surprised to hear that photographers hold on to wedding negatives. The reality is, keeping the negatives is a practice most professional abide by. The reason: Your negatives are fragile and require special handling to avoid scratches and other irreparable damage. And remember, your photographer makes a living by selling reprints to you, your friends and your family. Most photographers will keep your negatives in a fire-proof safe for about two years before selling them to you for an additional fee. If it's important to you, make sure you find out how long negatives are stored, and when and if you will be given the option to purchase them.  
 
3. No one takes pictures before the wedding.
Not true! In fact, many couples elect to take all their posed pictures before the wedding -- and are glad they did. Your posed picture session can easily take an hour or two, and that's a lot of reception to miss. Besides, chances are that your mom (and maybe your dad, grandparents and sister, too) will have a good cry and emerge from the ceremony with makeup that is no longer so fresh and eyes that are red and brimming. Not the perfect photo op! Bottom line? It's up to you -- plenty of couples feel very strongly that the groom should first see his bride in her gown when she walks down the aisle. If that's the case, consider having your own set of pics taken with your side of the family and your attendants before the wedding.