Now that you've got the ring on your finger and a venue chosen, it's time to do the next most important step...choosing your photographer! Although to be honest, when I became engaged, I booked our photographer first since that was THE most important thing for me :). For me, it was the most important part of the wedding, aside from the ceremony, as it was the one tangible thing from that day we'd have for the rest of our lives. It was also important because, um duh, I'm a photographer and photos were way more important than any appetizer or centerpiece would ever be. For some people, having photos from their wedding are like having an extra set of sheets for your bed; they're not necessary but sure they're nice to have. For me, the photos were the be-all and end-all. So for you bride-to-be's who do feel that photos are quite important to your big day, let's read on together.

Choosing your photographer should take some time and not be a close-your-eyes-and-land-your-finger-on-some-photog-with-a-yellow-pages-ad situation. Yes, this happens. As does the, well they've won awards so they must be good. Now I'm not knocking the award-winning photographers out there at all as some of my idols are award winning but I have seen some award winners whose work does absolutely nothing for me. You should book a photographer because you like their work and if they've won awards, bonus points. To me, I want to be moved by someone's work. If I can look at a photo and feel the emotion of the moment, then to me they are a good photographer. What I strive for in my work is to capture the moments, to not be overly posed, to showcase a couple's love for each other in it's truest and raw form. The last thing I want is to recreate the dreaded prom pose. You know the one: turn toward each other, put your hand all stiff and corpse-like on his chest, now tilt your head a little, okay a little more. You get the idea. Photos should be natural!

You should feel a connection with your photographer. I'm not talking a "you're so awesome and I love you so let's date!" No, you should feel at ease and comfortable with your photographer. The conversation should flow freely and if you're lucky, you'd want to hang out with them outside of work. When you are relaxed around your photographer, I guarantee your photos are going to show that; your love for your significant other will show through in those pictures.

You should also like the style in which your photographer shoots. If you like candid photos with a journalistic feel to them and your photographer does a lot of posed, black-and-white photo with a colored bouquet shots, you are not going to be a happy bride. You cannot make a photographer shoot the way you want if that isn't their style; you're only setting yourself up for disappointment and possibly a photographer that won't want to work with you in the future. Be honest with yourself in what style of photographs you want. For the sake of your happiness, don't choose a photographer whose style you detest but is affordable, thinking "well I don't really like how they did this shot and that shot but maybe ours will be better and gosh, he/she is in our budget." No no no, you will again be a disappointed bride.

Your photographer is a very important part of your wedding day. After the dress is hung up, the thank you cards sent and the anniversary cake is eaten, your photos are the one thing you can turn to time and time again...make it count!

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