In a financial climate wheremost people are pinching pen-nies, it comes as no surprise thatmany engaged couples seek waysto cut costs with regard to theirweddings. Some couples areundecided whether certain com-ponents of their wedding are nec-essary.

The decision to hire a videog-rapher is one such area couplesfret over. After all, with a photog-rapher snapping hundreds of pic-tures, having a video may seemlike an unnecessary luxury.However, people often find thathaving a wedding video to cher-ish long after the day has passedis well worth the price.

There are several advantagesto hiring a professional videogra-pher to capture the day. A profes-sionally produced wedding videois not the same as Uncle Fredcarrying around his archaic cam-corder and catching a few embar-rassing dance moves during thereception. A professional videowill showcase all moments of thewedding from perspectives noteasily captured by photography.In addition to showcasing theimages of the wedding, the videowill also share the sounds andemotions of the day. Here aresome things to think about.

• Choose a videographer whowill work in conjunction with thewedding mood and parameters.You probably don't want a video-grapher who uses bright lightsthat can be distracting. Nor doyou want a videographer whopushes the camera in guests'faces for a less-than-candidinterview. Today's professionalsare inconspicuous and simplyrecord the events as they unfold.

• The videographer oftenworks in tandem with the pho-tographer. Some photographershave a videographer on staff. But

it is fine to bring in your own ifyou like the quality of the pho-tographer's photos but not thevideographer's work.

• A videographer will capturethe things you may have missedduring the busy day. He or shecan serve as the eyes and ears forthe things you're not seeing andhearing.

• Although ours is an increas-ingly digital world where peoplecapture photos and videos ontheir smartphones and otherdevices on a regular basis, a wed-ding video can serve as a familymemento. What other time,apart from the holidays, do youhave all of your friends and lovedones together in one place?

• Although no one wants tothink of a friend or relative pass-ing away while planning theirwedding, the fact remains thatafter a few years some of the peo-ple who attended your weddingmay no longer be around. Havinga wedding video may be the onlylast moving image and sound ofa special person who is no longerin your life.

• Sound is a portion of thewedding that photos simply can-not capture. To relive the musicand the words of the day, a video-grapher is a necessity.Professionals who use wirelessmicrophones will produce a videowith the best sound quality.

• You can work with a goodvideographer so it's not simply avideo with close-up shots of yourface or unflattering perspectives.Talk about your preferences andeven fears about being filmed(some people just don't likewatching themselves on TV), andthe videographer can no doubtfind solutions that will accommo-date your needs.

• There are many things thatyou will not see at the wedding

but may have liked to, such asthe first gasps of wonder uponguests walking into the receptionroom, or the tears on the face ofan aunt who was sitting too farback in the church pews. This iswhere a wedding video can proveinvaluable.

• Modern videographers offerhigh-resolution, edited movies.These can be delivered via Blu

Ray DVD and ensure the bestquality for your package.

Although brides and groomsmay be cutting costs with regardto their wedding, they may notwant to pass on the weddingvideo.

Newly engaged coupleschoose to capture the occasion inphotos that they can cherish.Often, one of these photos is usedas an announcement to familyand friends and might even bepublished in the newspaper.

Engagement photos may bepart of a package negotiatedwith the photographer who willbe covering the wedding day.Some couples enlist the help of afriend or a budding photogra-pher to capture an engagementshot. The average cost of engage-ment photos can range from$200 to $500. Some couples optto use a photographer who mightspecialize in other areas (i.e.fashion models) but may want tobreak into the wedding bizbecause of how lucrative it canbe. Costs may be negotiated as aresult.

When shopping around for aphotographer, there are certainthings couples should keep inmind. The first and most impor-tant is selecting a photographeryou can relate to. If you don't feela connection with the photogra-pher, he or she will have troublecoaxing the shots that will pro-duce the best results. He or sheshould also be a professional andhave some experience workingwith posing couples. This waythe photos don't look stiff or con-trived. Here are some other tipsthat can lead to great photos.

* Find a photographer whofits your style. If you're a quirkycouple, go with a quirky photog-rapher. If you're reserved and afollow-the-book type of couple,then select a more traditionalphotographer. Some photogra-phers out there forget that this isyour moment and want to imparttheir idea of what you want.Make sure he or she takes yourideas into consideration.

* Select one who is open todifferent shoot locations andbrainstorming. Some of the bestphotos occur in natural settings,where things aren't entirelyplanned. If a photographer sim-ply works out of a studio, you

may want to select one who hasmore free reign with differentlocales.

* Choose your location wisely.Certain locations will stand outin your minds because they arevisually stunning or are specialplaces where you have spentmoments as a couple. By choos-ing a place that offers a personalconnection, there's a good chanceyou'll appreciate the photos inthe long run. Also, be open to thefact that unplanned stops mayoffer a great background for theimage. Be open to the unexpect-ed.

* Try random poses and somecandid shots. Although youmight have a vision of the perfectphoto in your mind, experiment-ing with different ideas cansometimes lead to a great photoyou really love. Expect to takeyour share of kissing, nose-touching and portrait shots. Butsome fun poses, such as runningor jumping (or rolling around ona beach full of waves) can pro-duce candid shots that are trulymasterpieces. Remember, some-times photographers will poseyou in positions that seem a bitawkward, but this is to get thebest lines of the body and flatter-ing images.

* Choose clothing that fits themood. If time and budget allows,have several different wardrobechanges so that you can seewhich outfits work and whichones don't. A formal outfit, com-fortable street clothes, somethingbeachy or clothing that fits withyour interests (such as polo orbaseball) can make for interest-ing engagement photos. Avoidclothing that is too trendy orbusy, which may take away fromthe actual images in the longrun. Plus, you don't want to lookback at these photos in thefuture and say, "What wasIthinking?" Avoid matchy-matchy, though. If you aredressed alike, you may appear tobe trying too hard. It's the indi-vidual personalities you want toshine through.

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Engagement photos don't have to be posed portraits. Experimentwith looks that fit your personalities for memorable photos.

Engagement Photo Tips

bus to transport guests to thewedding saves fuel.

• Seasonal flowers. Instead ofpaying top dollar to have exoticblooms in bouquets and center-pieces, choose flowers that are inseason and regional. You can alsochoose to use fruit in center-pieces, which is cheaper thanflowers.

• Use recycled paper. Insistthat invitations be printed onrecycled paper and skip all of theextra inserts inside of the invite,such as directions, registry cards,etc. Direct guests to your wed-ding Web site for the informationthey need.

• Elope. One of the moreaffordable and environmentallyfriendly ways to get married is toskip all of the "to-do" and simplyelope or have a small ceremony.There's no rule that says youhave to invite 300 of your not-so-close friends to your wedding.

• Go green on the honeymoon.There are a number of eco-con-scious hotels and resorts for new-lyweds to choose from. Or honey-moon close to home to cut downon the hassle of flying elsewhere.

Couples interested in havingan eco-conscious wedding can gogreen in a number of ways andstill make the day unique andspecial. Furthermore, coupleswon't have to compromise theirideals or tastes to achieve a wed-ding that is both green and beau-tiful.

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