Nowadays every young couple seems to want to get married and recreate some of the fairytale celebrity weddings they see everywhere. But the cost of a wedding can frequently cause a lot of misery both before and after the big day. Last year, the average US couple spent k on their wedding, with the average in the UK being far higher at a whopping £20k, or k. That’s crazy money when you consider it’s just one day. And with the credit crunch showing no signs of easing, prospective brides and grooms are actively looking for ways to cut costs without spoiling the magic of their special day. Among the drastic measures being taken are asking guests to help with food or music, trimming down invitations to close friends and family only, and the idea of a ‘pre-worn wedding dress’ has appeared in recent years, which was unheard of just 10 years ago. However when it comes to photography, most couples don’t want to go for a cheap option - and you can understand why. Of all the possible expenses you could lay out for your wedding day, its the photography that will stay with you and your family long after the others are just a hole in your bank account. Below are my top five tips on how to keep your wedding photography budget low, without compromising on quality.
1. Have faith in Google
There aren’t many photographers around today that don’t have a website, and one of the best ways of finding and comparing wedding photographers in your area and price range is through search engines like Google. However since there are so many photographers jostling for space the problem is it can be easy to miss out on some great ones by not searching deeply enough. Don’t be content with just looking at Page 1 of the results or the first few sponsored listings. By ensuring you take your time on your search you can get the best possible short-list of potential wedding photographers to choose from. Additionally use specialist search terms like “black and white”, “reportage”, etc, as well as looking for wedding photographers from other towns within a couple of hundred miles from you, as most are happy to travel. For example for my wedding I not only searched for “Sussex Wedding Photographer“, we also made sure to look for photographers in London, Kent and Hampshire.
2. Beware of Hidden Charges
Gone are the days when your wedding photographer had to develop their own prints in a darkroom - its all digital now. That means the wedding photography pricing are a lot more simple now too. So I’m amazed that so many photographers still charge their customers an extra fee for each print on top of the booking! I would strongly suggest you forget about these guys and go for someone who will provide a hi-res CD of all the images from the day. Like this you can choose which prints you want to get done at leisure and get them printed for relatively low cost.
3. Albums and Extras: Do It Yourself!
Traditional wedding albums with flowery covers and peeling pages are becoming a relic of the past. These days contemporary photobooks have become hugely popular, and many photographers charge significant premiums to include these with your package. But if you can be bothered and have a flair for creative design, you can now design photobooks yourself using specialist software downloaded from the net, and get them printed up at ludicrously cheap rates. Ditto when it comes to canvas prints or blow up posters really - as long as you have high quality original image files from your photographer, you can pretty much do it all yourself!
4. Be Wary of Wedding Photography Scams
I have heard so many stories of unfortunate couples who have been taken in by unscrupulous con artists posing as wedding photographers. These swindlers will poach couples with cheap prices and slick sales pitches, receive their deposits or even full booking payments and then never be heard from again. They are truly tragic and horrible stories. The thing is, if you’re vigilant they’re pretty easy to spot and avoid. Make sure you pay any deposits via secure bank transfer as this can be traced in the event of a problem, and that you receive an invoice and receipt for your payment. Also make sure you get a legally binding contract from the photographer which states clearly what you are getting for your money and will protect you. Finally, and probably most importantly, the phrase “constant vigilance” applies here - go and visit the photographer before money changes hands, make sure you see examples of their work and ask questions about how everything will work - a good photographer will put your fears to rest.
5. Dont Go Over the Top!
My final piece of advice is actually against the whole saving money grain, but I feel it’s really important when it comes to wedding photography. I know you’re trying to save money but it it possible to take that overboard! As I said above, the photos are probably the most important part of the wedding day when you look back at it in years to come. There are a lot of amateurs out there with little experience, talent and lacking in the proper equipment. By focusing purely on the price you could be misled into thinking these offer a great deal. But often the real bargains are to be found by going up a level in pricing. Your photographer’s portfolio should always make you go “wow” - otherwise what’s the point of having a wedding photographer?
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