Your wedding will probably be the biggest event you will ever plan. A lot of time and thought goes into choosing the right colors, flowers and cake design. But who is going to be the one that will be documenting everything? You definitely want a photographer whose work you love, and who’s personally a match for you.

Needless to say, finding the right wedding photographer is pretty important. For those who are looking for a friendly helping hand, here are 4 tips for choosing your wedding photographer.

Research your options.
Start by doing some research. It’s easy to just choose the wedding photographer that your sister used at her wedding, but I strongly encourage you to take the time to find a photographer who not only fits your budget but also compliments your vision.

Share your ideas.
Once you have an idea of who you will book for your wedding, take the time to drop your photographer an email sharing your ideas. Don’t hesitate to be proactive when asking questions.

Make sure you communicate to your photographer what’s important to you, who the key players are in your life, and why photography is important to you. This will help your photographer know why you hired him/her and it’ll help them capture your wedding according to your needs.

Personality check.
I just want to remind you that your photographer is one of the people that will be with you from the moment you’re getting ready until the end of the reception. If you like what you see – and their fees are in your budget – request a meeting to meet the photographer to look at more of their work and see whether your personalities match.

Trust your photographer.
Speaking of personalities, the most valuable asset is trust. You might have seen many examples of photos on Pinterest, and most likely you have created a board with all of your desired photos. However, I strongly encourage you to give your photographer the freedom to create unique moments of your wedding day. The more freedom you give your photographer, the more your photos will look and feel natural.

If you need some help getting everything organized, here’s a Wedding Timeline Checklist. This checklist guides you through 12 months of the planning process, helps you manage your time and helps you with your customizable to-do list.

Photography by Steven de Cuba and Wat Een Plaatje Bij Angie Peralta.