Photography 101: Basics

People say that newlyweds have stars in their eyes, but it's usually just the afterglow from all those flashbulbs. Check out the features below to find out how to choose a photographer and find a videographer who fits your style. Don't forget to print the list of must-have shots, which are sure to spark some ideas.

What's left after the wedding? The flowers wilt; you stow the gifts; the gown gets packed away. What remains? Just the photographs and videos.

Before selecting a professional wedding photographer, know what you're looking to buy. Photography costs fall into these three categories:

Candids

These are the pictures taken at the wedding and reception that are assembled into an album for the bride and groom. Photographers often assemble candid packages for the parents (referred to as parents' albums) and gifts for attendants (usually two or four pictures in a gift folio). Note that parents' albums (usually 20 to 60 pictures) and gift folios are extra and are not included in our "average" photography tab.

Albums

Most photographers offer a wide selection of albums to hold the candids. The best -- and most expensive -- are Art Leather, Leather Craftsman and Capri. These are sold only by professional photographers.

When you shop for a
photographer, you are
buying three basic things:
portraits, candid pictures,
and the photo album.

Art Leather albums (which include the less-expensive Aristohyde and super-expensive leather brands) are guaranteed for life. With Capri or Leather Craftsman albums, the pictures are mounted to the pages, which are permanently bound in the album. Some photographers skimp by using cheap, vinyl albums with plastic-covered pages. Make sure to specify what you want.

Portraits

Pictures taken prior to the wedding day fall into this category. A bridal portrait is a formal portrait of the bride in her wedding gown. Particularly popular in the South, bridal portraits are taken at an indoor studio or "on location," typically four to six weeks before the wedding.

An engagement portrait is a more informal picture of you and your fianc饮 This portrait is often used to announce your engagement in the local paper. Two expenses are involved with portraits: the sitting fee and the portrait itself. Sitting fees are a charge for the photographer's time and range from $50 to several hundreds of dollars. The most popular print size is 16x20 and this can cost $100 to $500, depending on the photographer and city.