Ok, maybe not. But Brian Marcus has some good advice for would-be wedding photographers: it's not all about the bride. The groom may not usually have much say when it comes to hors d'oeuvre, but he is usually involved in choosing the photographer. Even within the mind-boggling realm of wedding expenses, the photographer is relatively pricey; less than the food, but, by the time all of the prints and albums for the parents are paid for, often more then the dress. More importantly, what they want the record of their wedding to look like--Black and white? Color? Lots of candids? Wedding party in funky poses?--is something that couples tend to have strong feelings about as, well, couples. It's a joint decision.

What does this mean for the photographer? That the groom is, in many cases, key to landing the job. You need to make a good impression on him at the interview. You need to make a good impression on the bride, too, of course, but with most brides I've seen, the interview won't be your chance for a first impression. She will have already seen you website and portfolio, talked to you or your assistant on the phone, etc. Brides are busy people. So are grooms. If they're sitting in your studio, it's probably because the bride already has a favorable impression of you. Now you need to cement that impression, and work on the groom. Make him feel comfortable. Make him feel involved. And make them both sure that you know what you're doing and can deliver what they want.

Of course, the job doesn't end there. Whatever the Wedding magazines say, the wedding day is the groom's day, too, and putting together the perfect album for the couple means showing him off to his best advantage. And that means mastering that key to all special event photography: getting the subject to cooperate and, hopefully, smile in a way that doesn't look like a death mask. Marcus gives seven tips for dealing with the groom on the wedding day;

1. Congratulate him as soon as you see him.
2. Compliment him on his tuxedo and tie.
3. Introduce yourself immediately to all of his groomsmen and key family members.
4. Be pleasant and extend yourself.
5. Guide him through your schedule of events and ideas for the day.
6. Show how excited you are for the opportunity to be his wedding photographer.
7. Be confident and show him that he was right to put his faith in your ability to capture his special day.

Thats certainly not the be all and end all of wedding photography, but it's a really good place to start: