Weddings are, usually, beautiful occasions for the couple getting married as well as their guests. 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. Hiring a wedding photographer is one area where a lot of brides and grooms are not, however, willing to cut corners, and rightly so. 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. Trust in Google
Any wedding photographer worth their salt will have a website displaying their work, and the best way to find them is, as always, by Googling. 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. Do not make the mistake of not going beyond the first page of results or the top few sponsored links in Google. After a thorough search you should have put together a good list of photographers that you can now start comparing on price and style. Another tip is dont just settle for the most obvious phrases when you're searching - try a few different searches, being sure to look at surrounding towns and regions as many photographers are willing to travel to cover a wedding. My wife and I live in Sussex, and when looking for our photographer we not only searched "Wedding Photographer Brighton", we also made sure to look for photographers in London, Kent and Hampshire.
2. Beware of Hidden Charges
Nowadays the vast majority of photographers use digital cameras rather than older film cameras requiring development in a darkroom. That means the wedding photography pricing have become a lot simpler. Yet many photographers are still working off the model of charging couples for each print they want after the wedding - that's an additional cost on top of what you've already paid for their time! Always look for photographers willing to give you all the images from the day on CD. Like this you can choose which prints you want to get done at leisure and get them printed for relatively low cost.
3. Optional Extras and Photo Books - DIY!
With digital photography the era of the traditional wedding photo album has passed. Nowadays modern photobooks are a big hit with most couples - but the problem is if you go through your photographer these will often cost you an arm and a leg. Yet if you're willing to make a little effort yourself and you have some creative flair, there are many photobook services now where you can design one at home and get them printed at bargain prices. 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. Dont Get Taken in By the Scam Artists
I have heard so many stories of unfortunate couples who have been taken in by unscrupulous con artists posing as wedding photographers. Such criminals, who it must be said are few and far between, lure couples in with a too good to be true package, often stolen photos, and once they receive the deposit you never hear from them again. They are truly tragic and horrible stories. But it can be easily avoided with vigilance. 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. Don't Forget To Insist on Quality!
My last tip is perhaps the opposite of a moneysaving one, but just as important as the others. In your quest to cut your wedding budget don't go too far! It's worth repeating that out of all the services you pay for on your wedding day, the photography is quite possibly the most important to get right. In this world of ubiquitous DSLR cameras, wannabe photographers with little experience are ten a penny. If you look at their prices they seem like a bargain. But often the real bargains are to be found by going up a level in pricing. Remember that if you don't look at your photographer's work and go "wow" what is the point in spending all that money on a professional?
