Whether you think they're just a few pictures or the only tangible relic of one of the most important days of your life, if you're planning your wedding, you'll want some pictures.  Do you go cheap and find something virtually free?  Or do you shell out big bucks and devour your wedding budget?  You can do either and feel great.  You can do either and be horribly disappointed.  My husband and I leaned toward the cheap, and five years later, I'm definitely regretting it.  So, here are a few words of advice whether you use a talented relative or hire the most renowned photojournalist in town:

• Do not let price be your only determining factor.  While everyone has a magical number in mind (and trust me, it's wise to stick to that number, but that's for another blog...), don't let that number rule your search for a good wedding photographer.  My husband and I had sticker-shock when we started looking at wedding photography, and as a result, we didn't look at any photographers who didn't publish a rate on their website that was below our whimsically-created "this is reasonable" number.  We got what we paid for.  We have a box full of about 10 matted pictures - sans album - and hardly any proofs.  We still shelled out over $1,000.

• Interview, Interview, Interview.  This is perhaps the most important piece of advice I can pass along.  No matter how much money you spend, you are at risk of receiving boring, lack-luster photographs.  The interview process can be intimidating because you may think, What do I know? I'm not a professional photographer. This person does photography for a living. Well, here's what you know:  You know what you like; you know what you want; and you know whether you and the photographer can get along well.  That chemistry between you is priceless.  Does he or she seem to be listening to you?  Does he want your business?  Does she have anything in her book that looks exactly like what you have in mind?  Does she have more than one? (This is important because one good picture can be just a stroke of luck and not the photographer's real style, as we discovered.)  Take the time to really interview more than one photographer to make sure you're 100% comfortable with the person who will be following you around and telling the story of what your wedding is and who you two are. Really make sure you like this person and that he or she "gets" you.

• Get it in Writing.  Did you negotiate something special?  Are you getting anything that's not a standard line item included in the photographer's price list?  Get it in writing, lest you don't get it at all.  We talked with our photographer about giving us the digital images on CD because the person who referred us to this photographer said she was able to do the same.  We didn't get it in writing, and our photographer tried to back out of it later in the wedding planning process.  We knew it was going to be a touchy subject, and we were right.  I don't have a CD.

• Make a List of Important Shots.  Again, whether you're using a professional or a friend/relative, this is important.  You don't want to look back years after your wedding and wish that you had a captured something you missed.  Most professional wedding photographers have a standard list of shots they always take, but these can seem posed, forced, and painstaking (speaking from experience here).  Make sure you take the time to write down some shots that are important to you - that really express what you think your style is.  If you're enlisting the talents of a friend or relative for your photography, this might be especially helpful as they probably won't have the same repertoire that a professional might have.  However, that lack of "canned" shots can work to your advantage, as your creativity might be more appreciated!  

As far as wedding photography goes, get creative with your budget.  A talented friend can be just as wonderful as an expensive photojournalist.  The story is yours to tell; the photography helps.

Here are some great examples of what a friend or relative can do with maybe just a little love and appreciation from you....