The flowers are gone by the next morning and the catering is a memory by the end of the week. The photographs are the only part of the day you get to keep, which is why this is the one vendor we would never negotiate down.

Look at full galleries, not highlight reels

Every photographer has ten spectacular images. Ask to see three complete weddings from start to finish, including the unglamorous middle hours, the indoor ceremonies and the harsh afternoon light. That is where you find out whether they are consistent.

Meet them before you sign anything

You will spend more time with your photographer than with almost anyone else on the day. If they make you self-conscious in a half-hour meeting, it will show in every frame. Being comfortable in front of the camera is mostly about being comfortable with the person holding it.

Put the details in writing

Agree on the number of hours, the second shooter, the delivery timeline and who keeps the raw files. Then hand them a short list of the ten photographs that genuinely matter to you, the grandparents, the friends who flew in, the one shot you would be heartbroken to miss, and let them work freely for everything else.