Your Big Day has finally arrived, you've invested a lot of time, money and a great deal of effort in planning every last fine detail to make sure that you remember every moment of it.

Over time you're memories might fade but your wedding photographs will capture every last moment, allowing you to cherish what should be one of the most eventful and happiest days of your life.

As there is no 'take two' so to speak, its imperative that you find a good photographer, who you can trust will deliver the images you want. You'll also find with current rates that it’s will figure highly in your budget as one of the most expensive things to arrange, so how can you make sure that you're getting value for money as well? Is it of case of you getting what you pay for? Or can you get a great deal without compromising the quality? Our guide to finding a good photographer should arm you with the knowledge you need to make sure that you end with a beautiful photo album.

PROFESSIONAL V FAMILY?
Unless your cousin, uncle, brother or enthusiastic next door neighbour is a photographer, it’s best to let a professional handle it. Yes, it is the more expensive option but then again ask yourself, are you willing to gamble your wedding memories in order to save money? Sure, the money is adding up now, but in ten years time the only memory of your special day is going to be the 5 by 8's that you have in the living room. You've spent a lot of money on the outfit, the decor and venue, so why not have a professional photographer, light and capture it in all its glory.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
So if it’s that important, where do you start? The best place is closest to home. Speak to friends and family who've got married, browse through their photo albums and see if you like the look of their pictures.

These people should give you a no nonsense and honest reference for the photographers they've hired.

If you have no joy with your network of friends and family then browse the pages of your bridal magazine classified, local newspapers, yellow pages and even professional organisations such as the Master Photographers Association, who have a list of qualified photographers.

BASICS
When you have shortlist of the photographers, make sure you meet them all in person. It is essential that you have a good working relationship with this person, as your trusting them to capture the essence of your wedding day. Its important that you are all reading off the same page, and that you both understand what is expected.

It also really helps if you know what you want beforehand. There are various styles of wedding photography, the days of the staged 'filmi' poses have long faded like the celluloid they were taken on. Today you can choose everything from the colour, look and format of your pictures.

If the thought of making even more wedding decisions has you reaching for the headache tablets, we've put together a glossary of what the terms mean, so you can save the painkillers for another emergency.

Reportage
This style is an unobtrusive style of photography, where the photographer will generally try to blend into the background and try to capture the action of the day. It has hardly any formal posed shots and focuses on 'capturing the moment.' This organic style of photography can sometimes be referred to as a contemporary style as well.

Details
This term refers to shots of, yep you've guessed it...details. Expect close ups of everything from the decor, to your shoes, and flowers. Some people may think of these shots as unnecessary to their overall collection, but they really to bring alive the painstaking attention you paid to your wedding.

Formal
This shots are mainly of the group or family posed shots. Or, of you both staring adoringly at each other or at the camera. They're a good way of having keepsakes of all the people that came to celebrate your Big Day with you.

Colour - Black and White / Sepia
As well standard colour photographs, you can choose to have prints in black and white. This style is quite chic and has a timeless glamour to it, and is a beautiful accompaniment to your album or as a stand alone special wedding day picture for the mantle piece. Another option is to have the pictures converted into a sepia format. This is where a picture has a slight olden day brown tinge to it.

Most people decide they would like a mixture of styles and colour, before you do that make sure you know that your photographer is experienced and comfortable shooting in the above variations. Ask what if any extra charges are when deciding on the look, especially when your choosing the colour or your shots, as any post enhancements can be seen as extras.

If you can't find what you want with one photographer, you can always consider hiring two different photographers. It’s a costly idea, but some couples choose to see it as a means to an end rather than an extravagance.

COST
As mentioned earlier you do generally get what you pay for, as most experienced photographers tend to usually be the pricier ones. However try not to get ripped off, by making sure you get quotes for the same job, when you’re shopping around. Ask for a complete breakdown of the costs, including any possible extras, the last thing you want is any nasty surprises when you go to collect your shots.
Enquire as to how many pictures you get for your money, as they sometimes vary in size and quantity. Also, ask how much reprints or extra shots cost, after all, we're sure that you'll get lots of relatives and friends asking for them.

Be clear on when and what occasions you want pictures taken for. Do you want them for pre wedding ceremonies, the ceremony itself and the reception, as costs vary. Ask if your photographer has any packages that work out cheaper if you book them for more than one day. Also check the length of time they will be present for.

Finally most photographers should provide you with an album, some may have a choice of styles, always ask if there's an extra charge for this.

QUICK CHECK LIST

1. When you view the photographers portfolio, ask to see an entire wedding if possible, rather than a collection of their best photographs. This will help you see what their actual work is really like rather than the edited highlights.

2. Ask the photographer if he or she has indemnity insurance, this will cover you in case something goes wrong with they camera or the film gets lost or damaged. Most professional photographers have this kind of cover. However if they don't you can get your own personal insurance.

3. Get a full breakdown of costs in writing and don't be afraid to ask for the best possible deal. Ok so we're not saying you should start a haggling war but if you need them for a few days then it’s worth trying to get some money knocked off.

4. Try to book them as soon as possible, just like venues and good make-up artists, the better photographers are in high demand and tend to get booked up in advance. As soon as you know your date, try to set up as viewing appointments early, especially if you're getting married on a bank holiday or the weekend, as these are the days that tend to get booked up first!

5. Finally make sure that you can communicate all your hopes and ideas for your wedding day pictures to the photographer. If you find it difficult to express this, don't be embarrassed to take along some magazine clippings or pictures of what you would really like. That way you can find the right person or if David Bailey isn't available then you can find the next best thing. Say cheese...