Ask the Celebration Advisor: For my wedding in Salt Lake City, UT I would like to have a professional photographer taking photos. I am always so impressed with the quality of my friend's wedding pictures. What can I expect from a wedding photographer at my wedding? -Mary Anne

The Celebration Advisor: Photographs are one of the best conversation makers and that is why people say a picture is worth a thousand words. I say why stop at a thousand? You can make it two with a professional wedding photographer from Salt Lake City. If you are to be more than satisfied with images of the happiest day of your life, then being satisfied with a photographer is your first big step.

The wedding photographer you choose should have the personality that you get along with best and the energy that matches that of your wedding day. The last thing you would want is for an introverted photographer to shy away from the dance floor. By interviewing a few you can get a head start weeding out the sticks in the mud.

Some photographers will offer to bring external lighting. I suggest this because as photographers know, lighting is never ideal. Sometimes distracting shadows can ruin a picture that could have benefited by some flash photography. Also have in mind scenic backdrops for the photographer to use at your wedding. Oftentimes brides will suggest to include a sunset or mountains into the background. And what better of a backdrop is there in Salt Lake City than the beautiful snow capped mountains?

Wedding photographers will also have various photo packages to choose from. These packages can varry in price from $500 – $10,000 and include different amounts of prints, hours of coverage, special albums and multiple locations. As a rule of thumb with photographers, it is not necessarily true that what you pay for is what you get. Many times you can find fairly low prices that adversely represent the quality you can expect.

Above all else, the Salt Lake City wedding photographer you choose can be expected to provide you with beautiful pictures that are a tangible record of your happiest day. For generations to come, your relatives will find joy in your timeless snippets from the past.

Ask the Celebration Advisor: For my wedding in September I would like to have a wedding photographer present taking professional pictures. I am from Chicago and need to meet with a photographer soon. What can I expect as far as prices go?

The Celebration Advisor: Pictures are like little snippets of memories from our past. To have a photographer document your wedding will allow you to relive the happiest day of your life. Chicago wedding photographers specialize in capturing timeless portraits that are treasured for years to come.

Typically a photographer has varying packages you can choose from. Each one contains anywhere from smaller wallet sized photos to large portraits. Wedding photographers also provide their customers the option to add digital enhancements or use unique photography techniques in order to create fantastical images.

Every photographer charges differently and quality of service and final products are not necessarily based on price. Packages of wedding photos can range anywhere from $500 to $10,000. Broken down, the prices include:

• multiple prints
• an X amount of coverage hours
• special albums
• photographers assistants
• multiple shoot locations

You must meet with a number of photographers to properly establish which one will fit your needs and budget best. If budget is a problem, here are some tips to keep those wallets fat:

• negotiation of prices
• weekday wedding (most weddings are on weekends)
• limit digital enhancements
• limit length of photo sessions to just the ceremony or reception.
• put disposable cameras on tables at the reception ( for shutterbug relatives)

At your wedding there will be countless opportunities for a Chicago wedding photographer to capture the photos you desire most. For years to come your wedding pictures will frame a moment where happiness withstood the test of time.