If the rule of thumb for planning a wedding is to start a year ahead of time, hiring a photographer and a videographer or at least asking for their input should be close to the same date. Acquiring a good relationship with your photographer early on is important because you want him to attend your wedding from the beginning to the end, so he can capture every memorable moment for you to reminisce many years afterwards.

With fancy and elaborate weddings, as well as with impromptu weddings or weddings on small budgets, a good photographer will be the most important person to hire. Most photographers, since they have an eye for color and design, can give precious tips in the planning stage before the couple and their parents start spending money.

After the wedding of a daughter of a friend when the wedding photos arrived, the newlywed bride burst in tears. She thought, when in print, the pansy motif background and the purple and pink bridesmaid gowns mixed and clashed with each other, making the bride and the groom look cheap against a ridiculous background. Had they consulted with the photographer beforehand about the colors and designs of the flowers, the decorations, the background, and the bridesmaids outfits, her heartache could be avoided.

My daughter-in-law hired a very apt photographer who gave her a good deal by including the videography in the overall price. Moreover, when he found out that the beach with the sun coming up meant a lot to the couple, he made an appointment with them to have their photos taken at a local beach deserted at dawn. He had them dress in formal wear and enlarged the best photo to 16x 20 in size. He put a huge white border around the photo and everyone in the wedding signed on the border, scribbling a wish or two. Now, this is one of the most cherished possessions for the couple. It is truly priceless.

If you are on a budget and cant afford the fancy touches the photographer suggests, you might decide to put up big poster board on an easel for all the wedding guests thoughts, wishes and signatures. Make sure you leave enough space in the middle of the board for a wedding photo. It will make a wonderful memento, not just for you but for your great grandchildren to come.

Giving the photographer freedom in creating spontaneous photos and letting him practice his or her artistic style always works for the couples benefit. A qualified photographer will take the couples wishes into account and work from there. Involving the photographer in every step of the way makes it possible for him to interact better with the couple and their families in order to see and learn their best angles before the wedding.

The alert photographer who took my nephews wedding photos counseled the couple against holding their outdoor wedding at midday when it is the worst possible time to take photos. They decided on a late afternoon wedding and an early to late evening reception. Everyone was happy with the results because the photos and the video were spectacular.

A good photographer will let all wedding attendees into the photos. With closest relatives and friends of the couple taking the front row, every person who has attended the wedding deserves to be at least in a group picture. Giving the photographer a list and introducing him to the guests as they arrive is a good idea. Who wouldnt want to exhibit a magnificent album of wedding photos and a recorded video many years after when the wedding becomes a hazy image in most anyones mind?

If you have a different videographer other than your photographer, it is a good idea to let him know, several weeks before the wedding, how you prefer things. Before you hire a videographer always ask to see samples of his work. For the videography, filming with a soft-box light turns out better than the flash or the video light. Audio quality is just as important as the video quality. Choosing a DVD recording instead of a VHS is always a good idea, since the DVDs can be divided into chapters and scene selections. Also a DVD will give you superior quality pictures and images.

Yet, the most important tip is this: You, the bride or the groom, when that great day comes, remember to be yourself while looking at the camera. Your photographer wants to capture you as a human being, not just a beautiful image.

May you and all the brides and grooms enjoy exceptional photo and video keepsakes to cherish for the rest of your lives.