Wedding photos are the stuff of memories. If the couple is happy with the

results, their photos will bring them years of pleasure; but if the pictures are

bad, the opportunity to capture all those beautiful moments can never truly be

recreated. That's why your photographs have to be right the first time.

Dallas, Texas-based wedding photographer Winn Fuqua, says the key is to begin

by understanding there are two main styles of wedding photography. There is the

traditional, which means the majority of pictures are posed portraits throughout

the day. And there is the photojournalistic, which is much more contemporary. In

this style, the photographer anticipates what will happen and is in the right

place to capture the moment. The photojournalistic style is more difficult

because the photographer is responding to what is happening at the wedding and

has to be ready to capture it. A wedding photographer in today's market should

be able to create several different looks throughout the wedding to give the

couple as many options as possible when designing their album. Winn added that

photographers are mixing color and black and white images in albums to create

the best story possible for the couple.

The next step is to do your homework and preview many different wedding

photography Internet sites together and talk about styles. As you examine each

photographer's work ask yourself:

• Are the images too dark or light?
• Are they framed well?
• Do you like the way the group pictures are posed?

When you decide on the photographer you want to use, go to the studio and

talk with him/her to discuss what you expect from the pictures. You need to make

sure that the photographer you are talking to is the photographer that will be

covering your wedding.

Before you sign any contract, Winn recommends that you confirm that you are:

• Sure you have good chemistry. Good communication is VERY important so be

  sure he/she understands what you are looking for.

• Certain his/her style fits your requirements. If you want a

  photojournalism look don't hire someone who only shows you pictures of posed

  groups.

• Prepared to pay a little more if you find a photographer that fits the

  first two criteria. The extra cost will be worth it to get the pictures you

  want.

He also made some good recommendations as to how the photographer can give

you the best results, "To cover a complete wedding I like to be at the dressing

area two hours before the wedding to take pictures of the bride getting ready,

the groom getting ready, establishing shots of the church, flowers, people

arriving and all the details the bride has included in her special day. I

believe the more details you capture throughout the day the happier the bride

will be and the better the album will look. I'm thinking about what will look

good in the album when I'm photographing the wedding, i.e. designing the album

as the wedding is photographed."

When it comes to the issue of cost, Winn responded that it was a difficult

question to answer. It all depends on what the couple wants from their

photographer. Most photographers have standard packages but oftentimes they will

include something extra or delete an item depending on the bride. Some couples

want engagement and bridal sessions, plus on-line hosting, parent's albums and

unlimited coverage. Other couples just want the photographer to cover the

wedding for several hours and they will build their own albums. Every wedding is

different so every package price is different.