Once your wedding day is over, the pictures will be your memento of the biggest day of your life. So how do you get the photos you want? The album that says ‘you?’ I asked Lynette Hagel of Cameo Photography (who, full disclosure, has done several family photo sessions for me) about her insights into getting a great finished product.

“Make sure when choosing a photographer that you feel that you will get what you want, not what the photographer wants,” Lynette says. During the wedding day, she says, “the photographer leads the day in many ways. Make sure you get a mix of posed shots and photojournalism.”

It’s also important for the photographer to set up great photos. “Even though the photos are digital, and you can do effects and editing, it’s still important to craft the photos carefully. Make sure you get a photographer who can be creative with their eye and their camera and won’t rely on effects applied after the fact.”

As for new trends in photos and albums, Lynette says that many couples are feeling comfortable taking romantic (not over the top) pictures, which turn out to be lovely.
Couples are also going back to more traditional announcements with photos, but there are fun new options like getting stickers printed for the back of the envelope with their photo on them. Another new option is guest books that have bridal and other photos in them.

Most importantly, “go for quality,” Lynette says. People will go for an option, like doing the flowers themselves, to save money, but they end up spending nearly the same as they would have spent for something extraordinary. “In total, the cost doesn’t come out that different, but the end result would have been so much better.”

See Lynette Hagel’s ad on this page or visit her at
CameoPhotography.com.

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