Here are a few tips for the bride and groom to be on how to get the best out of your photographer.

Meet the photographer before you book

The photographer will probably be the only stranger who will be with you for the whole of your wedding day, so it is a good idea to meet him before you book to make he is easy to get along with.  A grumpy photographer with 20 years of experience is no good if he just makes you feel awkward all day.

If booking from a large studio, make sure you meet the actual photographer who will shoot your wedding and not just any sales rep whom you might get along with like a house of fire, but won’t actually be there on the day.

Another reason for a face to face meeting is so you can see a portfolio in the flesh, no amount of web gallery or DVD presentations can substitute a real print or frame in real life.

Know what you want

The best way to avoid disappointment is to know what you want. A good photographer should be comfortable with producing a full range of styles of shots, but if you don’t tell him what you are looking for then what he produce on the day may not meet your expectations even if the photos are perfectly good.  Just as you will work with a good caterer to produce a menu you like, you should try to work with the photographer to help produce photos you really want.

I would suggest you keep the number of formal shots to only close family and the main wedding party, not only is a endless list of lined up group shots boring to look at, it is also tiring and boring for you too. So trim that list down and give yourself more time to party!

Give your photographer time

If you really want some great photos to remember your day with, you need to give your photographer time to work with. Schedule a block of time from the day exclusively for the photographer. Every fantastic photo you see in wedding or fashion magazines would have been painstakingly created.

Posed or Reportage

Most couples nowadays ask for natural looking shots and mistakenly think that means no posing.  In fact a large proportion of prize winning natural looking wedding photos are “posed”, or what I call directed, where the photographer finds the location, places the couple there and give directions on how to make the most of the location. So again, work with the photographer, let him direct you on how best to stand to show off your dress, or where to stand to capture the atmosphere best.

All in the details

To tell a full story of your wedding day, make sure your photographer captures all the details too, not just the cake, but also the table decorations, the flowers, the favours, cars, and possibly even the expensive food!

Engagement / Pre-Wedding Shoot

If you are strangers with the photographer, you will feel awkward in front of the camera for half the day. Insist on a pre-wedding shoot with your photographer so you get to know each other a little before the big day. This also give the photographer some idea of your best sides and how much directions and help he might need to give you on the day. Lastly, it’s always nice to get a professional shot of you and your partner during your engagement.

A wedding photo may not be appropriate for the living room wall, but a casual lifestyle engagement photo will be perfect to show off your love for each other without going overboard.

more to come…

I will add to this post as and when I get time and ideas… till then, hope your wedding plans go smoothly. Please let me know of your own tips via comments.