When hiring a photographer, you should think about what style of photography you prefer, your budget for photos, and what size and type of prints you would like to have. While traditional wedding photography would include the standard, formal group shots, the photojournalistic style of wedding photography is a new favorite. These photos are less formal and capture the little threads of stories that make up the fabric of your special day. Many photographers can provide a combination of photojournalistic and formal, posed shots; you will want to ask your photographer about your options. Photojournalistic photographers may cost more than traditional, so compare fees from a few photographers.

Wedding photographers also use several different formats, including medium format and 35mm. Unless you are interested in very large prints, 35 mm format should provide sufficiently clear photos. Some photographers are also starting to use digital cameras. No matter what format is used, the proof is in the proofs: always ask to see a set of proofs from a previous wedding to see the quality of the work as well as the style and ability of the photographer.

For videography, you will also want to view samples and check references.

• Make sure the proofs or video clips you view were taken by the photographer who will be assigned to your wedding; a larger company may have several photographers or videographers, and you'll want to know which one will be working at your wedding.
  
  
• Understand the contract, including the terms of payment and the cancellation policy.
  
  
• Make sure the photographer or videographer is booked for the length of time you require; you may not want to pay overtime charges
  
  
• Make sure the photographer or videographer has experience with weddings and that they have good references.
  
  
• Remember that the photographer often owns the copyright to your pictures, so you cannot reproduce the photos—only your photographer can.