Every bride wants her special day captured on film so she can go back through the albums from time to time and reminisce. It is important to choose the right photographer who matches your style and provides the services you need.

“If you feel like you can see yourself in their images, chances are your personalities are very compatible and you’re going to have a great time,” said Dan McClanahan of McClanahan Studio in Ames.

A photographer’s imagery is often a reflection of their personality type and this plays a big role in working with them.

“The engagement session, I think, is really important,” McClanahan said. “It kind of gives you a trial run of ‘Hey, this is what it feels like to be photographed’ and it gives the photographer an idea of what it’s like to photograph you.”

Sometimes, you’ll run into a consistent problem when photographing weddings.

“The tricky thing about wedding photography is that you run into just all kinds of crazy lighting situations,” said Craig Carroll, owner of Craig Carroll Photography in Ames.

Choose someone who specializes or has a lot of experience with photographing weddings. Some people who are good at taking photos of things such as wildlife or portraits may not know how to adjust for the lighting in a dimly lit venue.

Get references from a photographer’s previous clients if you don’t know much about them. People put their best work on display so you want to get opinions from someone who has worked with the photographer and has actually seen their work.

Visit the Professional Photographers of Iowa website, which has a complete listing of photographers around the state.

“I would encourage all brides to consider the long term as well as the short term, and make sure they hire a photographer they really love and can trust to immortalize their day,” McClanahan said.