WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

As I am a wedding photographer, it would be very difficult for me to run a section appraising photographic services ........ partly because I don't bump into other professional photographers at weddings and partly because it would be very difficult to be objective about it all !

What I will offer very briefly is my view that before the wedding, photography will probably rank well down the priority list for most couples but after the wedding it will be right up there near or even at the top. Once the big day is over, you'll have each other, you'll have the rings and you'll have the photos and that's it ..... the rest are memories and those memories will fade over the years unless, of course, you have the right photos to bring them back.

In all circumstances, I would encourage couples to check out the suppliers, create a short list, meet the short-listed photographers, look at some actual prints and see if the photographer is somebody you can work with and share your big day with.

You may well be working to an ideal budget for photography but, if you are, don't make the mistake of cramming as much into that budget as you can because 95% of your decision should be based solely on the quality of the images and their ability to tell the story of your day as you want it told. Albums, DVDs, thank-you cards, proofs and all the other add-ons are fine but they won't make up for poor photos.

If you find the right photographer but he/she is outside of your budget, don't be afraid to ask them what they might offer for the budget you have. You may not get so many add-ons but you might get the important thing which is the skills of the photographer and the capturing of your day as you'd like it captured.

I promise you that you will value the photography at your wedding massively in the years following the big day so make sure you get it right ...... prioritise and get the right person no matter what it takes !

Paul Young, Nene Digital Weddings ( www.nenedigitalweddings.co.uk )