As Madonna would say, "strike a pose, there's nothing to it"! Ensuring that your wedding photos turn out brilliantly can be a difficult task. Most of us get married once, so having great wedding photos is vital to ensuring those magical memories stay in tact. There are millions of photographers around, all of which claim that they are 'simply the best'. So unless their name is Tina Turner, it's not always wise to accept that they are better than all the rest. Here are some useful tips to ensure that you receive wedding photos that will make you feel like a supermodel on the cover of a magazine.

1.Research, research and research - it's important to talk to a number of photographers and to site their original works. Photographers that are willing to pull out their photos and display them confidently will likely be more credible than a photographer who alleges that they don't have anything current to show.

2.Equipment - Ask the photographer to show you the cameras that he or she uses and assess their equipment. Most credible photographers will use professional cameras that deliver high quality photos. Also, if the photographer can provide a detailed description about his or her camera and why he or she uses it, then it's likely that he or she has some knowledge in the world of photography. If they pull out the disposables, run.

3.Word of mouth - Sometimes it's great to take advice from other couples who have been married. If other couples are happy with the photos they received, then chances are they employed a good photographer. Word of mouth can not only be powerful, but it can also save you time and tears.

4.Discuss preliminary plans with the photographer - Ask the photographer how they prepare for the shoot. A good photographer will visit the site where the photos will be taken and assess the quality of lighting and so forth prior to the wedding day. If they are going to show up on the day and take the chance, then it's highly likely that you are going to waste your money.

5.Price - the price can indicate whether the photographer is credible or not. Whilst a good photographer can drain the budget, it's far better than employing Joe Bloggs down the street that has recently completed his certificate iii in photography. It may be tempting to stick to the cheaper option, but that often means receiving photos that look just as 'cheap'.

6.Bargain - compare and contrast credible photographers and then report the various prices to all. You may find that some photographers may drop their price to compete with their competitors, thus winning your business.

7.Communicate - Ensure that you tell your photographer how many people are attending your wedding and how many people are in your bridal party. This will allow the photographer to effectively plan the length of time he or she will require to ensure that the wedding guests and the bridal party are incorporated in all photos. You don't want the photographer rushing through the job in order to have all the photos completed. Chances are, you won't receive great quality photos.

8.Colour theme - Think about your colour theme for your wedding. You don't want the bridesmaids in dull coloured dresses that will make them look washed out. Similarly, you don't want over the top colours (fluro) that will take the eye away from the bride and groom. Colours should contrast well with one another, so if the bridesmaids are wearing a bright and happy coloured dress, then tone it down on the bouquets.

9.Tanning - whilst fake tan can look appealing, it's important to note that less is definitely more. If you opt for a fake tan, keep it to a minimum as the orange look does not look very appealing in photos.

10.Make up - Wearing sufficient make up is important as the camera will take it off. Often we see models and actors looking 'natural' in magazines. In reality, they have a substantial amount of make up on. The camera removes the look of the make up whilst accentuating your features. So, while you don't want to look like a drag queen, it's important to wear some make up so you can look fresh in your photos.

Wedding photos become extremely valuable and sentimental to many married couples, thus it is important to ensure that the photos you receive are of high quality and value. Following these simple steps will enable you to effectively employ a photographer that will provide you with photos that you will want to pull out for years to come.