The hiring of a professional photographer is of utmost importance. The photographer will be capturing the precious memories and moments of your big day and preserve them for a lifetime. This is one of the most important days in your life and you want everything to be perfect.

**Your consultant at A Bride Beautiful, can recommend an experienced, professional photographer whose style appeals to you. Ask to see the portfolios of several photographers and ask for referrals.

**Photographers have different styles. A popular style is the photo-journalistic approach. Photographs can be romantic, elegant, and classic or have a very simple traditional style. Choose one that will capture your wedding as you would want it to be remembered.

**It is of vital importance to meet with your photographer before the wedding. Choose a photographer you are comfortable with so you feel at ease on your wedding day when photographed. You should also feel comfortable enough to make suggestions. There must be a good rapport between the wedding couple and the photographer.

**You need to discuss which and how many photographs you would like to have taken. It is advisable to request several shots of moments you deem very important. Many photographers offer different packages.

**It is customary to have shots taken with the bride’s family and separate shots with the groom’s family. You can also provide the photographer with a list of names of persons you would like photographed.

**Shots that are usually desired and of importance, in addition to ceremony photos, are of the cutting of the wedding cake, the signing of the register, the opening dance and the exchange of rings

**You could also request studio shots taken with your fiancé or portrait shots of you prior to the wedding day. Studio shots of the bride and groom taken after the wedding can also be requested.

**Ensure the photographer is familiar with the proceedings of the day and familiarize him or her with the venue and time of day or night different shots that need to be taken.

**Finally you must have a written agreement with the photographer. In the agreement you can stipulate the payment details, number and sizes of photographs and exact times photographer is required and where.