Nowadays every young couple seems to want to get married and recreate some of the fairytale celebrity weddings they see everywhere. When you look at the amount of expense that goes into that one day, however, you may think it causes more misery financially than it does happiness on the day itself. The average cost of a wedding in the US last year was ,000, and £20,000 in the UK. 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. Couples are cutting down guest lists, asking for friends and family to help out instead of hiring caterers, DJs and videographers, and brides are increasingly considering pre-worn wedding dresses. However when it comes to photography, most couples don’t want to go for a cheap option – and you can understand why. Your wedding pictures are one of the few lasting memories you have from that all too fleeting day, and of course it’s something you’d want done perfectly and in style. I’ve put together my 5 top tips for how to find a fantastic wedding photographer without breaking the bank.
1. Making the best of Google
The majority of modern wedding photographers have their own websites, and one of the most common ways of finding them is via 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. 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 in Sussex” but also surrounding areas such as London, Hampshire and Kent.
2. Watch Out for Hidden Costs
Gone are the days when your wedding photographer had to develop their own prints in a darkroom – its all digital now. Which means that the wedding photography pricing are now far less complex. However believe it or not a lot of wedding photographer still work on a pay-per-print model, where couples have to choose which pictures they want and pay extra for them! My money saving tip would be to stick to the photographer who will give you a CD with ALL the pictures in high resolution. That way you can get prints done at a fraction of the cost at your local photo printing lab.
3. Albums and Extras: Do It Yourself!
With digital photography the era of the traditional wedding photo album has passed. These days contemporary 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Dont Go Over the Top!
Now this one may sound counter-intuitive when it comes to ‘credit crunch weddings’ but I feel it’s an important one. I know you’re trying to save money but it it possible to take that overboard! 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. Judging from their prices alone you’d think you’ve struck gold. But if you ignore the very cheapest prices that’s where you often find the best compromises between price and quality. Your photographer’s portfolio should always make you go “wow” – otherwise what’s the point of having a wedding photographer?
