There are over 300,000 weddings a year in the UK and brides, grooms and their families are demanding higher standards and more creativity from their photographer. Nowadays we are all much better informed about what we can expect for our money and more prepared to speak up if we don't think we're getting it. Photographers have had to move with the times and be able to compete in the market place.

So where do you find this wonderful person and how do you know that you'll get what you're after? One of the best recommendations is by word of mouth. Talk to friends and look at their albums. Don't necessarily book the first photographer you speak to and always go to see them, never book over the phone.

Talk to your photographer about what you have in mind as the chances are that while they may have many varied skills, mind reading is unlikely to be one of them! While you're talking, are they listening to what you say, or totting up the figures? A true professional will know how to get what you want, not necessarily what they think is or cost-effective.

Just remember, hopefully you will only have one wedding day but the photographer will be something of an old hand. They can advise you on all sorts of things, not just the pictures, and so come in very handy for a spot of crowd control!

Finally let's talk cash. While the cheap is unlikely to be cheerful, the excellent need not be expensive compared to the possible outlay on the other aspects of the big day. It's probably safe to say that you get what you pay for, and bear in mind that the cost will cover processing and other technical bits as well as the photographer's presence at the wedding, or however long you have asked him to attend.

Your wedding day is without doubt one of the most important days of your life, this we know. Indeed in the ideal world your wedding photographs will live up to your memories. Long after the cake has been eaten, the honeymoon tan has faded and the dress has been carefully wrapped and stored away, the wedding album will be there to bring a smile to your face.

A good photographer will take pictures that remind you how everyone looked, and how beautiful the bride was. A first class photographer however, is capable of bringing the day to life, making stars out of the happy couple and capturing images that say you had the perfect fairy-tale wedding.

Wedding photography is a real skill. Much more than just portraiture, it has to trap all the atmosphere of the moment to really tell the story. This may account for the growing trend towards the more natural, candid type of image.

While everyone loves the traditional poses that are part and parcel of a wedding, just think of the laughter and heightened emotion of the proceedings. Wouldn't it be great if you had a photo of your Mum enjoying a good cry?

What about the bridesmaids tearing around at the reception or the proud look on your Dad's face as he leads you to the church?...and don't tell me that you and your partner aren't going to have a moment when the reality hits home and you just can't help laugh at finally being Mr and Mrs!

It's this kind of image that will really bring back all those feelings and it takes a special - and very experienced - photographer to grab the moment and save it forever. This is where I can help bring those memories into vivid colour.

I don't believe in flannel or how much it's possible to fleece the customer for. I aim to give you the personal service you desire, and deliver the photo's you want. For this we will of course need to consult you well in advance to discuss what photographs you want taken, and the venue's you will be using.

The aim is to intrude as little as possible on the day, but do bear in mind that the more pictures you want, the more time the photographer will need on the day. It is advisable to consult with your photographer and plan in the time he will need, so that you will get an idea of how long it is going to take.

A general guide for pictures is - the more photo's you want, the better the memories are captured in your album, but the more intrusive into your day the photographer will be. The ideal is to strike a balance between the two.