Booking a wedding photographer is one of the most important things on any bride and groom's checklist. The all-important snaps last forever and serve to document the day, play by play - that is if your photographer makes the most of the photo opportunities presented of course.
Upon booking a professional, you should probably discuss with him what exactly it is you want from his services. Naturally, the bridal party and family photos are a given for every wedding album, but there are other kinds of pictures you can request.
For example, it is perfectly fine to ask the photographer to disappear into the background on the big day and to take natural and unstaged pictures. That way, all aspects of the wedding will be revealed, from funny slips and touching moments, to real intense instances of exuberance.
The best way to ensure all facets are covered would be to direct the photographer to be on the go from the crack of dawn. Pictures of the nervous groom getting ready and having his best man give the all-important pep talk is a must. While snaps of the bride as she adds the finishing touches to her wedding dress and veil with her proud mother and bridesmaids helping out would serve to remind any woman of the excitement she felt during the build-up to tying the knot.
Getting shots of the bride in the wedding car with her dad - and maybe a glass or two of champagne - could be an excellent photo opportunity, particularly if the car is a feature in itself. Similarly, brides who opt to arrive at the church in a lavish horse-drawn carriage will want to be photographed looking like a princess, so having a professional on hand in this instance would be very convenient.
At the wedding venue and during the ceremony itself, there are a number of pivotal moments that ought to be documented. The photographer should make sure he is present to get an intense picture of the groom waiting anxiously at the altar for his bride, along with his groomsmen at his side.
A snap of the bride at the end of the aisle before she commences her march towards the groom is a must - both a close-up and a full-length shot to ensure the entirety of her dress fits into the frame. Then of course, the iconic image of the father of the bride giving his daughter away to her future husband is a symbolic moment that most women will want to remember forever.
Saying the vows and exchanging the rings, followed by the all-important kiss are other significant moments that the photographer should capture on film. As are the couple walking down the aisle together and getting into their getaway car.
It is then at the reception that things get messy, people get merry and some of the best photos can be taken, such as the bride and groom addressing their friends and family as husband and wife for the first time, giving speeches and taking to the floor for their dance together.
Other moments worth documenting include the important cutting of the cake, as well as the tossing of the bouquet - which always presents a hilarious photo opportunity of female guests scrambling around the floor together! And the final photo should be of the happy couple saying their farewells to their guests, before setting off to their honeymoon suite and commencing their new life together.
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