So much of your wedding day is fleeting—the cake will get eaten, the flowers will be donated and the band will have to stop playing eventually—but your wedding photos will be yours to keep forever. You owe it to yourself (and any future generations) to do everything you can to make them look beautiful and feel authentic. Plus, you’ll likely spend a solid chunk of your wedding budget on a , so make the expense worth your while. Here’s how to take good wedding photos, from finding the right pro to posing in front of a camera.

1. Start Searching Early for a Pro

About a year before your wedding date, start your search with the low-hanging fruit: Ask recently married couples you know for photographer recommendations and browse Instagram, photographer portfolios and real weddings for pros whose styles inspire you. Look at a few highlight galleries of weddings from each photographer to get a sense of their quality and aesthetic. But don’t forget these are their best clips out of multiple—sometimes hundreds—of wedding photos, so once you find someone you like, ask to see a full wedding or two.

2. Think Critically

As you review photos, consider key moments you want to capture at your own wedding: Did this shooter get great shots, like candid dance floor snaps and posed family portraits, you’d also like? Look for thoughtful compositions and to see if images and people are in focus (unless they’re meant to be stylistically grainy). Make sure people look relaxed, and not spooked by the camera.

3. Set Up a Meeting

You can’t always properly vet a photographer by looking solely at their work. Once you have a short list of pros whose work you like—and you’ve determined they’re in your price range and free on your date—set up an in-person or video-chat meeting. You should feel comfortable with this person—they’ll be shadowing your every move on your wedding day and interacting with all of your guests. Plus, you’ll likely hire them to take engagement photos too.

4. Compare Packages

Ask what’s included in the standard package, plus any additional fees (think: overtime fees). In particular, find out how many hours of shooting are included. Most packages include about eight hours and cover everything from getting ready to the end of the reception. It’s usually better to pay for more coverage if there’s a chance you’ll run over, especially if you’re planning a big finale exit (overtime is normally charged at a higher rate).

5. Confirm Your Shooter(s)

Larger studios may have more than one photographer on staff, and depending on your contract, the lead one may not be the one shooting your day. Since every pro has a different style, technique and personality, you need to make sure the photographer you interview and click with will be the same person who works your wedding. Also, many top-notch pros include a second shooter in their packages. That way, one can take the formal photos while the other is capturing the cocktail hour. You’ll also get to see two unique angles of key moments, like your first kiss as a married couple or cake cutting.

6. Check References

Online reviews are great, and reading real couples’ reviews should be a big part of your research, but once you’re ready to hire someone, ask to speak to a previous client or two. Ask the couple whether the pro got the shots they wanted and if they were happy with the service, plus any other specific questions you have.

7. Sign a Contract

Once you’ve chosen your photographer, sign a contract that includes everything, from the date of the wedding and the hours they’ll cover to postproduction work and timing expectation.

8. Schedule an Engagement Shoot

Once you hire a photographer, a prewedding photo shoot is never a bad idea. It’s a great opportunity to get comfortable with your photographer and being in front of a lens. You’ll get a gorgeous save-the-date and wedding website photo out of it too. And you’ll be able to give your pro feedback on what photos, poses and cues you liked (and didn’t) before your wedding day.

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