At the meeting clarify the following with the photographer:
The amount of hours the photographer will be spending at your wedding as stipulated in the contract and will they be available to stay longer and at what price?
Does your package include a disc with the photographs (high-resolution) so that you can print it yourself?  Lots of photographers dont do this, so make sure.
Backup plans if the photographer takes ill?
Has the photographer photographed at your particular venue and if not, will they be able to go look at the venue before-hand?
If a group of photographers work together, establish who will be doing your wedding photographs and be sure to meet this photographer before the wedding day.
Natural light is of the utmost importance, it is essential that you use it optimally, so discuss this with your photographer.

Booking your photographer:
High priority – book 6-9 months ahead to avoid disappointment
Pay the deposit – normally the date isn’t confirmed until a deposit has been paid.
Get a written contract from you professional photographer
Make a note in your diary and confirm everything with the photographer 3 months before the wedding.
Send the photographer a complete time schedule of the order of your wedding day.
PS – make sure you inform your photographer if anything of importance changes before the actual wedding.

On your long-awaited wedding day:
Be on time – this is what you have bridesmaids for, to help you get ready and make sure everything goes exactly as planned (it’s ok to be a fsahionable 10 minutes late, but as
photographers we’ve had brides being over an hour late) This puts a lot of unneccessary pressure on everyone and will end up unneccessarily costing you more money to keep the
DJ, photographer and videographer around for longer.

Finally – ENJOY your wedding day and RELAX – it will show on your photographs!!

Riani