Wedding tips... how to get what you want from your wedding photographer

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2. How to...find your photographer

You probably won't have bought the first wedding dress you tried on, so make sure you choose your photographer with the same careful consideration. Your recently married friends may have loved or hated their photographer, so they could point you in the right direction or warn you about bad experiences. You could also ask your venue or other suppiiers to recommend people they've worked with in the past. If you're at a wedding and like the look of the photographer from his or her attitude and professionalism, get their number.

Even if you've met with one photographer you think you like, it's worth seeing one or two more to ensure you're getting the best package. Make sure you ask to see complete wedding albums rather than a collection of the photographer's favourite images to get a proper feel of their work. Think carefully about how the pictures make you feel. Do they move you? Do they give you a sense of the day? Also pay close attention to the presentation and print quality. 'When assessing wedding pictures, look especially at the facial expressions in the group shots,' says Damien Lovegrove of Lovegrove Photography. 'These emotions are a direct indication of the ambience created by the photographer at that time.'

Don't be scared to walk away. If you've found a photographer whose work you like, but whose attitude makes you feel nervous or uncomfortable, he's not the one for you. Excellent pictures are dependent on having a good rapport with your photographer so you can communicate what you want and so he can put everyone at ease. 'It's very important that you get on with your photographer,' says Neil Freeman of Freeman Photographics. 'You need to be able to relax and have fun, as this will result in beautiful, natural-looking images.'

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