There are a number of different styles of wedding photography, and different photographers will specialise in different styles. Take some time to read up on and learn about the different styles and think about which one suits you best. Some of the main wedding photography styles are as follows: Traditional, or classic: here a photographer will work from a 'shot list' to make sure that they capture all the traditional pictures, and those the couple have specifically requested. Photojournalism: this is more of a documentary-style, where the photographers will follow you and take fewer 'posed' pictures, instead trying to tell the story of your wedding in a normal naturalistic style. Illustrative photography: this style is a combination of the first two. It includes posed pictures, but there is more emphasis put on relaxed and informal poses, albeit still with careful composition. Fashion: this style tends to be more dramatic than the others, and will make the subjects appear more glamorous and styled. Booking your wedding photographer should be one of the first things you do after you have booked your venue. Wedding photographers are in high demand, especially in the busiest times of year for weddings, and many of the best ones will be booked up a year in advance. If you are having an out-of-season wedding, or getting married on a Sunday, a top photographer will be easier to find at relatively short notice. For weddings at the most popular times, look at least a year in advance. For weddings at less popular times, six months might be enough. The best wedding photographers will tend to develop a reputation, and may be known locally to your friends are family. Start your search by asking people you know and trust if they have any recommendations, either through personal experience, or word of mouth. Talk to people you know who have got married in the last few years and ask about their experience. If a friend recommends the photographer she used for her wedding, ask to look the album of photos. Bear in mind that people have different tastes and ideas for what makes good wedding photography. You can also ask any other professionals you are hiring to work on your wedding. A wedding planner will have excellent contacts. It may be tempting to hire somebody you know to be your wedding photographer. You may be drawn towards hiring someone you trust, who knows you and your partner well, and you think will understand what kind of pictures you want. While this might turn out perfectly well, it is highly likely that this person will not have the technical skills and experience to give you the best photos. Consider if this person has the technical knowledge of light and photography to anticipate and quickly correct any problems that may occur. Ask yourself if she has a spare camera of high quality. Does she have experience working with large groups of people? Would she be able and happy to spend all day, maybe 8-12 hours, behind the camera and not participating in the wedding as a guest? A great way to search for wedding photographers is to look online. There will be a very large number of people advertising their services, so think about how you can focus your search more closely and narrow down the results. Look for people with plenty of experience and lots of information about themselves and the photography they produce. You should also look to see if they work with an assistant or solo. You can search for people in a specific location, like your city. Look for photographers according to their particular style. Think about your budget and pay attention to the rates quoted by the various photographers you find online. As with anybody advertising themselves on the internet you will need to think carefully and critically about how they present themselves. Try to find reviews of the people you are interested in by searching for their names. You should be cautious with reviews and be prepared to make up your own mind, but the more information you have the better. Be cautious of being influenced too heavily by images on the website of a photographer. Although this is a great way to get a feel of the photographer's work, there have been instances where people have stolen or bought photos taken by somebody else, and presented them as their own. Try to research the candidates fully to avoid any potential scams or tricks. Once you have been through the profiles and seen some of the photography of a number of wedding photographers, you need to narrow this down to a manageable number. Then you can arrange to meet, interview, and inspect the portfolios of your chosen few. Think carefully about who you want to interview, and consider what elements are most important to you. It can be hard to judge somebody from a website, but you should be trying to get a picture of their personality, as well as their technical skills and personal style. Think about whether you want contemporary, documentary, or perhaps fashion-style photographs. Consider including somebody on your shortlist who is a little over your budget. It could be useful exercise to evaluate what each photographer provides for the money charged.
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One-sentence summary -- Decide what style of wedding photography you prefer. Start looking early. Ask for personal recommendations. Avoid hiring family or friends. Search online. Examine a photographer's online presence. Create a shortlist.

Slowly but surely, any rubber object, be it your car windshield wiper blades or the elastic waistband of your favorite pajama pants, will harden over time. Evidence of white or colored substances on the rubber can be one indication of a chemical reaction taking place. Natural rubber has poor resistance to both ozone and UV light, as well as to petroleum oils. Additionally, temperatures below -60F (-51C) or above 220F (104C) will degrade it quickly, while temperature extremes in general will facilitate long-term degradation and hardening. Rubber stretches and flexes because it is made up of long, tangled molecule chains that can be straightened out under tension. Degradation of these molecular chains can occur from repeated or excessive tension (think of frayed or over-stretched rubber bands), or by exposure to elements like those noted above. Cracked rubber will remain cracked even when it's softened. Once cracks form, your only options will be to try out a rubber patch kit or to simply replace the rubber object. There is no miracle cure by this point. One point worth making here is that common softening methods heat and oils actually damage the rubber in the process. So, every time you do soften up a stiff rubber gasket or shoe sole, you are also contributing to its eventual demise. There is only so much you can do to keep oxygen, temperature fluctuations, and light away from rubber, but wiping away residue can help keep deteriorating oils from damaging the object. Clean rubber objects with only warm water and a clean cloth when possible. If necessary, use a mild detergent and rinse it away completely. Solvents found in cleaners can degrade or even dissolve rubber. Avoid washing clothes with elastic waistbands more than needed, and don't use hot water. If possible, remove as much air (and thus oxygen) from the container as you can before sealing it. Placing rubber items in zip-close bags and using a straw to suck out most of the air can noticeably delay the hardening process. If you've ever compared rubber bands kept in a plastic bag in your junk drawer from those loose in the drawer, you know the difference it can make. Natural rubber is especially susceptible to oxidization because sulfur is added to the mix when making items like rubber bands. Oxygen reacts with sulfur and essentially removes it from the item, leaving it more brittle. The same place you might store apples or potatoes would actually make a decent place to also keep your bagged-up sneakers. 68 to 77F (20 to 25C) is a sensible temperature range for storing rubber items, though lower temperatures can also be good. You might even consider keeping tightly sealed rubber items in your refrigerator. The excessive cold and higher humidity of the freezer, however, makes it a less ideal choice.
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One-sentence summary --
Check rubber objects regularly for hardening. Examine the rubber for signs of damage. Keep rubber objects clean. Seal rubber in an airtight container to delay hardening. Place the container in a cool, dry, dark place.