Picture Perfect

A TENDER MOMENT, captured in a silver frame on an office desk. A special home movie to pop into the DVD player on a snuggly winter night. Wedding pictures keep the memories alive. LONG AFTER THE WEDDING DRESS IS packed away, the caterer is on to the next wedding, and the thank-you notes are mailed - the photographs and videos remain. The documentation of the beginning of your new family will be cherished in future generations.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Book your photographer six months in advance to ensure he or she is available for your wedding date. When choosing a pho-tographer, there are several important things to remember.

Select a photographer who does weddings for a living, not as a part-time or weekend job. Do not entrust this blessed event to an amateur or friend. You don't want to risk losing the recording of this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

Protect your wedding memories by using a professional. And make sure he or she has extra cameras, lenses and lighting equipment on hand as back-ups in case of emergency.

Choose a photographer with whom you are compatible and who puts you at ease. If there is a personality conflict between you and the photographer, you may end up with photos of your best sneer instead of your best smile!

Look for a photographer whose judgement and opinions you trust. Remember, you'll be spending a lot of time with the "cameraman" on your wedding day, relying on him or her to capture those special moments.

When you meet with a photographer, view sample wedding albums to obtain a clear impression of the overall style in which the photographer covers a wedding. Look for color, sharpness and detail of the photographs.

Determine the type of photographs you prefer - a formal posed look, candids or a combination of both formats. Communicate clearly with your photographer to ensure the best results. Make sure he or she knows exactly what you want - you only get one chance to make things right.

Obtain information on package sizes and prices, deposits, retouching charges, travel expenses and any other costs. Wedding packages can range from several hundred dollars to well into the thousands. Make sure everything you need is included in your package - formal portrait, black-and-white print for the news-paper, wedding album, etc. Find out the cost of additional prints and "mini-albums" for parents and close friends.

Finally, be sure everything you've agreed to is written in a contract. Other details that should be in writing include: when the photographer will arrive at the wedding and leave the reception, how he will be dressed, and the number of rolls of film that will be shot.

When you meet with your photographer, come prepared with pertinent information regarding your wedding. It's also helpful if he or she knows the style, color and setting of the wedding so he or she can best capture the mood and the moment.

Let your photographer know the size of your wedding party, and provide him or her with a list of special friends or relatives with whom you would like to be photographed.

It's helpful to designate a friend or relative to point out those people you want photographed during the reception.

VIDEOGRAPHY

Once a mere stepchild of photography, videography has quickly become an exciting, essential part of the wedding celebration.

The guidelines for selecting a videographer parallel those for choosing a photogra-pher. The number one rule - use a profes-sional! Don't be tempted to take advantage of your Uncle Joe's camcorder. That would be like asking your Aunt Ruth to take your wedding photographs with her instamatic.

There are no "second takes." Hire a professional with professional equipment, and your memories are safe.

Make sure your videographer has top-notch cameras and digital editing equipment. Your videographer must be experienced and well-trained on the equipment he uses.

Different audio techniques include the use of wireless remote microphones the groom can wear during the ceremony to capture your vows, a feed from the church's sound system, a shotgun microphone and ambient sound, and a separate recording dubbed in during editing. Determine with your videographer the technique best suited to your wedding location. Remember, not all locations are flexible about where the videographer may stand or set up an additional camera during the cer-emony. Be sure to go over the locations guidelines with the videographer.

Ask to view DVDs of actual weddings that were shot and produced within the past year. By watching these, you'll see first-hand the videographer's level of talent and profes-sionalism.

Look for sharp images, adequate lighting and clear sound. The video should flow smoothly from scene to scene, with highlights fully covered to tell the whole wedding story. Look for special effects, such as fades, wipes, dissolves, multiple images, freeze-frames and background music.

The videographer should dress appropri-ately, and you should feel comfortable having him mingle with your guests. Wedding videography prices range from several hundred dollars to the thousands. Find out what's included in the package deals, and if items such as duplicate DVDs, adding music and titles, special effects, overtime and second cameras are additional. Obtain a contract including date, time, location, cost, equipment used, editing time, deposits and delivery date.

It's so important to choose professionals to record your wedding celebration. The expense is well worth the future returns.

Preserving the memories of your nuptials is too important to leave to chance. Take care to ensure that your photographs and videos are of the quality you'll be proud to share with your family and friends. You'll enjoy your memories for many years to come.