Once you have decided on your wedding venue, choosing a wedding photographer is one of the next most important parts of your wedding planning. In years to come you want to be able to look back on your wedding photos and remember your happy day

In order to get the pictures of your dreams you need to be sure that you find the right wedding photographer. This may take some trial and error, but it is worth spending some time to be certain that you find a person who fits with your needs and your personality.

Here are a few tips on how to choose a wedding photographer.

Recommendations are a good place to start. Ask friends about who photographed their weddings. Look at other people's wedding pictures and find a style that you like. You can even browse the internet or local wedding forums for photographers and get some ideas that way. No matter how you do it, visiting photographers that have been recommended is much better than simply looking through the phone book for names.

Once you have made a short list of photographers it is time to meet them. The first thing that you want to see when you are interviewing photographers is a portfolio. Take a look at some of the weddings they have photographed in the past. Do you like the pictures? Are they well done? If you have a particular style of photography that you like, then look for that in the photographers that you interview. In essence you are looking for a photographer whose work, style, and personality matches what you want your wedding pictures to look like.

As you are interviewing photographers and looking at portfolios, you will also want to be asking about proofs and albums. Some photographers ensure that their customers get proofs of all of the photographs taken. Others only offer a larger formal album. Still other photographers provide customers with digital proofs and the rights to reprint any pictures.

Some photographers offer a combination of these different options to suit you. If having all of your wedding pictures is important to you, then make sure that you find a photographer who will give you all of the proofs. If you would like to print the photos yourself you need to be sure to choose a photographer that provides you with the rights to the digital proofs. Making sure that you get what you want in this area is important for preserving your memories down the road.

Lastly, you will want to make sure that your wedding photographer has a contingency plan in case of emergencies. What happens if your photographer is unwell on your big day? What about a family emergency? The majority of photographers have a contingency plan, but it is best to ask anyway, just to be sure.

In general, the photographer usually has another professional who will photograph your wedding, but if your photographer does not have a contingency plan then you may want to reconsider your choice. After all, the last thing that you want to be worrying about on your wedding day is what will happen if the photographer is ill.

I hope these tips on how to choose a wedding photographer will help you to plan your big day!