A shiny wedding ring.
A new surname.
And the perfect partner to spend the rest of your life with.
That's what most women imagine their wedding day to bring.
Most couples have things down pat when it comes to preparations for their big day: the right venue, the most romantic songs played by a band, and even the most delectable dishes served during the reception.
However, some couples experience a virtual nightmare in choosing wedding photographers.
Couples could do themselves a favor by taking their time in choosing the right photographer to snap shots as they exchange vows.
The first mistake couples make is to immediately go for the wedding photographer their family members or friends recommend.
You can almost always get away with bad food or a lousy band playing for your wedding.
When it comes to your wedding pictures, that's another matter altogether.
You, your family and your friends will be looking at your wedding album.
You'll want to remember your wedding day as one of the most important events in your life, not as a nightmare you have to constantly relive over and over again as you browse through your wedding album.
In choosing a photographer, you should take the time and effort to see a number of photographers and look at their portfolio.
Just because another couple had a good experience with their photographer, it doesn't mean you would have the exact same experience.
Often, couples work on a tight budget.
After all, the essence of an event is the union of the couple and not how lavish the celebration is.
In doing so, some scrimp on things that may seem inconsequential at first, but are ultimately essential-like wedding photography.
For example, some couples would spend an enormous amount on the wedding album compared to the selection of a great photographer.
Things should work the other way around.
Just ask yourself, would you rather have a simple photograph filled with fantastic photos or a beautiful album filled with mediocre shots? Sometimes, couples choose the photographer with the lowest rates.
Of course, price is not the sole measurement of quality.
Because of the lowering of the price of DSLR's, almost anyone can lay claim to being a photographer.
Of course, most people can come out with the good pictures using only basic equipment and a little working knowledge on photography.
However, an experienced photographer has invested himself in acquiring new skills to hone his craft as well as top of the line equipment to help him better capture good photos.