After a long conversation with wedding and event planner, Krys Caughell of Coming Up Roses, we both came to the conclusion that wedding photography plays a very important role on your big day. After all, when it is all said and done, the only mementos that you get to keep from the whole event are your pictures and in some cases, a video. For that reason alone, you should seriously consider the emphasis you put on photography when it comes time to plan your budget. Please consider the following items before you succumb to the allure of a “deal”:

1. The body of work: Before you even sit down with a photographer to discuss the details of your event, you should ask to see galleries of entire weddings or wedding albums, both would be even better. Chances are, the person offering unlimited coverage at $500 is looking to gain experience at your expense. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true it probably is.

2. Options and packages available: More often than not, the “shoot and burn” photographer will only provide the photography coverage for your day, burn the images to a DVD and mail it or deliver it to you in person. What if you later decide you really wanted a wedding album, an online gallery that you can share with family and friends, or some professional prints, etc., etc. Those are all options or parts of packages offered by a real professional.

3. Quality of the work: You might think this item should be in second place but just bear with me. Let’s just assume that you really don’t care for the options or the packaged solution, which includes albums and prints. You just want your pictures so you can post them on Facebook. Well, guess what, chances are that there will be many other brides tempted by the $500 per wedding deal, which is good news for the photographer trying to break into the industry. However, temptation in this case is a double-edged sword and the photographer might be taking on more clients than he or she can handle, at which point your wedding becomes just another event that they need to move out of their work queue. For that kind of dedication, you might be better served by giving a camera to a relative or a friend.

4. Chemistry: I’m not talking in a romantic kind of way. On your wedding day you’ll be surrounded by friends and family and you want to have someone that you’ll feel comfortable with, taking your pictures. The photographer that you want might be the most talented visual artist around, but if you don’t feel right around that person on the first meeting, it’s a safe bet to say you’ll feel the same way on your wedding day.

The items above are the most crucial when choosing a photographer. You might think you are getting a great deal with the “shoot and burn” photographer, but like with any other service or product, you get what you pay for. Choose a photographer based on their style and track record, not on price. Once again, if you want rock-bottom prices for your wedding photography, you’ll be better served by asking a few friends to bring their cameras and try their luck at capturing your day. That way, if you don’t get a single shot worth keeping, at least you won’t have the regret of having spent $500 to get similar results.