- Start searching early : Wedding photographers are in high demand, so start your search for a snapper as soon as you possibly can before your wedding day. At least six months is ideal. Of course that means that you should have already settled on your wedding date, location and budget.
- Budget appropriately : A good photographer doesn't come cheap, so make sure that you've budgeted the correct amount for this service. Most wedding planning websites recommend designating approximately 10% of your wedding budget for photography and videography services.
- Get recommendations: Ask your friends and family, especially anyone who recently married or threw a big party. Also, ask wedding vendors to recommend reliable, talented photographers.
- Search for photographers online : Look at online vendor directories that list local photographers at http://www.weddingcentral.info/products-services/photography-video/
- Seek photographers at bridal shows: Visit local bridal shows to find vendors such as photographers.
- Choose a photo style : Before you start your search for a wedding photographer, think about what style of photos you want.
- Interview photographers : Meet and interview any photographers you are considering. If you're going with a photography service make sure that the name of your photographer is included in your contract.
- Look at picture samples : When you meet with wedding photographer candidates, ask to see samples of their work. You'll want to look at their composite portfolio, but it's also helpful to look at a wedding album that they've recently made for another couple to assess whether or not you like their work.
- Assess the photographer's skill set : If you want a tastefully put together wedding album or photographs with special tones or effects, ask you photographer to see examples of her work with different types of lenses, films or effects.
- Consider personality : Your photographer will be with you all day on your wedding day, in changing rooms and capturing pivotal moments in your life. For this reason, it's very important that you like her.
- Check the photographer's reputation : Eliminate any photographers who refused to furnish references. Call the client references for the photographers who did provide them to make sure they don't have any considerable strikes against them.
- Visit the wedding sites : Take your photographer to your ceremony and reception sites before your wedding day so that you can find prime backdrops and walk through the shot-by-shot timeline that you've made
- Make a shot list : A shot list will ensure that your photographer captures all of the important visuals at your wedding, effectively telling the tale of your wedding day in pictures. You don't want to leave out those important images, such as the wedding dress hanging on the bedpost or the bride and groom with their families. But give your photographer some freedom to respond to the environment and capture the essence of the event.
- Put clauses in your contract : Before you and your wedding photographer sign on the dotted line, request that you add clauses into your contract stating that you can upgrade your photo package or lock in the photographer's initial price quotes for proofs and prints. Otherwise, try to negotiate for the negatives, which might cost a little extra upfront, but you will be able to print the photos any time you want.
- Discuss finances : Although you should be prepared to invest in high-quality wedding photos, you'll want to break down the numbers with any photographers you're considering hiring to make sure that your idea of price is in the same ballpark.
- You give the orders : Make sure that your photographer knows whom to listen to at the wedding. If low-priority wedding guests distract your photographer, she could end up getting off schedule and missing important shots.
- Ask a friend to help : You're going to be too busy on your wedding day to keep your photographer on point and gather family and friends for group portraits. Ask someone in the wedding party to handle this task.
- Introduce the photographer to key subjects : Make sure that the photographer meets everyone whom she will focus on throughout the event.

Answered by Lucy at Nov 20, 2011 06:56 PM