Choose Your Style
Get your hands on as many wedding pictures as you possibly can. Look online, in bridal magazines or on mantles and desktops -- wherever wedding pictures may be. Sneak a peek at your best friend's album (something tells us you won't have to twist her arm). The point is, familiarize yourself with all the photo styles out there: formal portraits, candid photojournalism, black-and-white, color and sepia prints. Try to identify the styles that intrigue you, and that you'd like to see in your own wedding album. You'll want your photographer to excel in the style you love best.
Video
Do you want one? We know many brides forego hiring a professional videographer, but we think the question deserves some thought. Here's why: Believe us when we say it is a true treasure to have such significant moments, full of such significant people, on permanent record. And for a different reason than you may think. Someday you might want to introduce your children to your friends and family as they were when you wed. And nothing captures our gestures, our voices and our loved ones like video or film.
Set a Budget
Ask yourself this key question: In the grand scheme of things, how important is it to have great wedding photos? While fantasy weddings sometimes have sky-high photo budgets of $15,000 or more, most of us down-to-earth types spend between $1,500 to $4,000 on our pics. While that adds up to a significant portion of any wedding budget, remember the trade-off is a beautiful visual record that will not only last forever, but will increase in sentimental value as the years go by.
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