The anticipation alone is exciting; planning for that special day is an experience in itself. Imagine all that make this occasion special, such as the walk down the aisle, the wedding cake, reception food, a pile of gifts, and then the party. Slow dancing with your new tuxedoed husband, laughter with your best friends... I'm getting carried away myself.

There's a lot of planning to do. The rings, the dress, oh lord - The Dress! Then the cake, the reception hall, the church, flowers, a photographer, a DJ. There's so much to plan and so many phone calls to make.

During all this excitement, I want you to focus on the photographer for a moment (no pun intended). Your photographer plays an important role in your wedding. Many believe photographs of your wonderful day could be a positive influence on your marriage many years down the road, when the memory of center pieces and musical choices have long faded into bills, jobs and maybe children.

Wedding Photos Last Your Lifetime

The power of wedding photography is often underestimated. Re-living the memories of the wedding day prolong the feelings of bliss and butterflies well beyond the first few months after the wedding.

The other day my phone rang, and my assistant answered. After about twenty minutes, she handed me the phone with tears in her eyes. "Its for you", she said. At the other end was one of the brides I had photographed eight years ago. She now told me the same thing she had told my assistant.

"Your photographs saved my marriage." In a few sentences she explained that after her second child, she had become "almost too busy for our marriage" and after her husband left the house 'to cool down', she simply sat down on the couch and cried. She had totally lost sight of her marriage.

Then, she noticed her wedding album. Determined to find a spark of hope, she opened her album and started remembering her wedding day. The feelings she felt. The anticipation of walking down the isle with her dad. The excitement of first seeing her husband at the alter waiting for her with a tear in his eye. The flower girls, now twelve and thirteen years old, of course, sprinkling petals. Her grandmother's whispered advice during the reception and her dad's speech.

And then the dance, with her new husband to their song. It didn't take long before that song was playing on the stereo. She called her husband on his cell phone. "Babe, I'm sorry it got out of hand. Come home. We'll sort things out."

She told me that they talked about priorities and expectations and other things that were important to them and that now their marriage is "back on track" and they "couldn't be happier" (Thank you Mary, for letting me print your story.)

I remember when they were trying to decide between the photographers on their "short list." Of course, budget played a roll, but they decided on our studio because we got personally involved with their story. Now, eight years later, she wanted to update me on the significance of choosing the right photographer for them.

Selecting The Right Photographer Is Easier Than You Think

The day of a wedding is an once-in-a-lifetime moment that demands the experience of a professional wedding photographer. As you cannot go back in time to tweak imperfect snapshots or capture missed heartfelt memories, it is vital to select a competent wedding photographer to properly anticipate each moment and capture your complete day without missing a minute.

I'm sure you know of horror stories from relatives or friends who had made an unfortunate choice of photo studio for their wedding memories. Brokerages are often the source of these mishaps. While their pricing is obviously aimed at budget conscious brides, the wedding day must often be remembered through the snapshots of attendees, as the well-meaning photographer fights with his camera settings and lack of people skills.

Choosing a photographer requires a little research. Use the Internet. Look at online portfolios (remember that those portfolios only show the best work, and are often not a good representation of a single wedding). Once you find a style you like, go and see the photographers on your short list.

Really interview them. Ask them about backup equipment, how many Mega-pixels, how many people (with assistants) will show up, who prints the photographs, how many pictures are taken on a day, do they re-touch their prints for free. I'm sure you can find a long list of questions of your own to ask.

Now, ask more personal questions such as:

- How long have you been in business

* Do you really want a rookie shooting your wedding?

* Set yourself a minimum you would be comfortable with.

* Maybe you want to ask them where they trained (with which photographer)

- What do they do during the week

* Most wedding photographers are weekend photographers

- Will they be able to shoot our engagement photo?

* During a mutual convenient time

* This would be, by far, The Best time to really get to know your photographer on a personal level

It's important to use this interview time to get a feeling if you get along with your photographer. Use this time well. It doesn't matter if the photographer has been in business for 10 years. If you feel that they don't understand how their photographs influence your life years later, find a photographer who does. Ask Mary.