Weddings

One of the most important parts of planning a wedding is making sure you end up with great photos to share with your family and friends for years to come. That is why it is so vitally important to plan ahead when it comes to your photography. Here are some tips for making sure everything goes smoothly on the big day:

Do your homework - Research photographers and photography styles as soon as you have a date for the wedding. Ask your friends, coworkers, and family members about their experience. Read blogs, websites, and magazines for ideas on what you really want. If you don' t know exactly what you want, it will be impossible to explain it to the photographer.

Do more homework - When you start narrowing down your photographer choices, be critical of their past work. Look at their portfolio and ask them to put you in contact with past clients. A good photographer will not have any problem doing this for you. Share your vision and make sure you and the photographer are on the same level and understand each other. Remember, this is the person who will be following you around closely on your big day.

Schedule a follow up consultation - Your photographer must become a friend of yours. This is a professional relationship that is also very personal. If you and your photographer have not sat down at least twice before the big day, you won't know for sure if you both agree on what it is you really want.

Compare packages - Make sure you understand what comes in the standard package and what requires extra fees. Ask about how many hours of shooting are included, so you can plan accordingly. Consider paying extra if you think you may need more time, to avoid an overtime charge later.

Schedule an engagement shoot - This is the best way to get acquainted with the photographer and his or her style of shooting. You can get a feel for how they work and what their work turns out to look like. You will make sure you and the photographer work well together before the big day.

Practice in the mirror - Lift up that chin and try to look natural doing it. You want to have the best results in your pictures, so practice ahead of time in the mirror to see what you look like from different angles. You will be nervous, so you may not always be smiling, but at least the photos will be of your face and not the top of your head.

Relax and enjoy - This is your big day and you should enjoy it. You did your homework ahead of time and trust your photographer, so there is no need to worry about anything. Ask you maid of honor to handle getting some groups together for some photos, so that is another thing you don't have to worry about. Have her meet the photographer ahead of time so they can coordinate it.

The most important event of your life is going to be a stressful time, but you can make it less stressful by planning ahead. Start doing your research early.