You only get one chance - so demand the best!

The cake has been cut, the bouquet tossed & the dress lovingly packed away. Your wedding day may be over but it will never be forgotten & your wedding photos are the one tangible item that remains to remind you of every moment of your precious day. There really are no second chances with wedding photographs & unfortunately there are numerous ways in which they can be ruined by unprofessional amateurs, poorly skilled part-time photographers or well-meaning friends. "Horror stories" are plentiful & surveys consistently show that such couples would rather have spent three times as much as they did rather than relive their awful photography experience.

"It is unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much you loose a little money, that is all. When you pay to little, you sometimes loose everything.... The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little & getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better." - John Ruskin, Artist & Philosopher

So how can you make sure you get the pick of the bunch, rather than a bad apple?

Simply check your proposed photographer against the following criteria:

1. Are they a member of the AIPP?

Choose a photographer that is a member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP). This is your guarantee that the photographer is a fulltime professional of high standards & ethical conduct that also has proper insurance & back-up equipment etc.

2. Are they passionate about their craft?

Choose a photographer that has an genuine enthusiasm for the work they will do for you.Make sure they love their job & will be just as passionate about your wedding as you are!

3. Do they use the latest technology & techniques?

Photography equipment & techniques are changing all the time. Is your photographer keeping up-to-date, or are they stuck in the past? Make sure your photographer can give you the latest, cutting edge, high quality results, and that they can produce fresh, modern images.

4. What sort of after-wedding services do they provide?

In recent times many new photographers have entered the market offering low-priced "shoot-to-burn" packages. This means that the only work they do is on your wedding day.Your finished product is photos that have been dumped directly from the camera to a disc. Retouching is usually only done (if at all) when you order an enlargement.

5. Will they create something unique & special?

Creativity is an important part of a photographers work. If you want some wedding photos that are real works of art, rather than just snapshots or tired old poses, then make sure you can see fresh ideas in the photographers work. If all their images look the same in each wedding or the same as every other photographers, chances are they are jaded & just going through the motions of set poses week after week. Find a photographer that has the passion & talent to create something fresh & unique just for you.

6. Will you feel comfortable with them on the day?

Because you will be working so closely with your photographer all day, they can really enhance your day or totally spoil it. Make sure they have good people skills & you get on well together.

7. Do they have extensive experience?

Weddings are the most challenging form of photography there is - people constantly moving, light changing from minute to minute, emotions running high.... Does your photographer have the necessary experience to deal with all these factors & produce great results no matter what happens? This is one reason why weddings should never be entrusted to family or friends to shoot.

8. Can they help you look your best?

Do they have the posing & photographic skills to draw out your personality, disguise the things you don’t like about yourself & enhance your best features?

We hope these 8 points will help you as you search for the right photographer for you....

Courtesy of Fusion Photography