Weddings can be very expensive occasions these days and couples are always looking at ways to save money.

With digital cameras being more advanced these days, many amateur photographers are trying to make some extra money by offering cheaper wedding photography. This is very tempting when you are working to a budget but it doesn't always pay off.

Please do your research when booking your wedding photographer. In the last few years I have had an increasing number of enquiries from couples whose photographer has let them down at the last minute. Now I don't know all of the details but in my experience, a full time professional photographer would not do this, or at least would try their hardest to find another reliable photographer to take over from them.

I once had an enquiry from a bride whose photographer had let them down like this. The photographer was doing their wedding for £400, getting ready at home until first dance with an album. This costs £1350 with me and roughly £1100 without the album. Her photographer cancelled because of "work commitments". My work is photography.

Now I'm not saying that all part time, second job photographers are unreliable. You do have to consider if they have enough time after the wedding to dedicate time to preparing your images and designing your album. It can take me another 10 hours at least to do this work but that is what I do all day, every day. If you're working 35-40 hours a week in your first job then when do you find the time when you are fresh and focused, to work on someone's precious wedding photographs?

A friend of my husband's got married and there were two of us professional photographers in their circle. They didn't think it was fair to choose between us, and his fiancee worked with someone who took wedding photographs in their spare time. They decided to go with him. Apart from turning up at the wedding in jeans (a big no no for me!) and not really seeming to have experience in dealing with wedding guests, it took him about a year to get their finished album to them. He disappeared abroad for three months to visit family. They obviously weren't his priority.

Here are a few things to check with your photographer before you book.

Please check your photographer's policy for finding someone else if they are ill or injured.

Ask if they have a contract to sign which outlines cancellation policies.

Ask if photography is their full time job.

See if you can get testimonials from their past wedding clients.

Try not to be tempted by a cheap deal, there's usually a reason why it's cheap.

I am a member of the Master Photographer's Association which means I have to have insurance and abide by rules of conduct. To visit their website please CLICK HERE.

Once your wedding day is over, you can't recreate the photographs again.

Thank you for reading.

Gillian.