STG Studios

Five Ways to Save Money on Wedding Photography

The popularity of weddings seems to have increased in recent years, despite the decline in 'traditional' values. But the cost of a wedding can frequently cause a lot of misery both before and after the big day. The average American wedding cost the couple an incredible $20,000, and in the UK the average figure was even higher at £20,000. I don't have to tell you that's an insane amount of money to spend on a single day. As the recession gets worse and job security declines, brides and grooms to be are become incresingly wary of such expensive weddings and are naturally looking for a cheaper way. 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. Hiring a wedding photographer is one area where a lot of brides and grooms are not, however, willing to cut corners, and rightly so. Because your wedding photos are the one thing that linger after all the dust has settled and the money has been spent on the rest of the celebrations - so naturally you would want it the pictures to be perfect. Below are my top five tips on how to keep your wedding photography budget low, without compromising on quality.

 

1. Have faith 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. Yet with the market being so saturated it's easy for couples to miss out on some amazing photographers and great prices by not using the power of Google enough. Spend some time trawling through the Google results beyond the first few pages. 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 "Sussex Wedding Photographer" but also surrounding areas such as London, Hampshire and Kent.

 

2. Beware of Hidden Charges

In this day and age most photographers are using digital equipment rather than old school film cameras requiring darkroom processing. Which means that the wedding photographer prices are now far less complex. So I'm amazed that so many photographers still charge their customers an extra fee for each print on top of the booking! My money saving tip would be to stick to the photographer who will give you a CD with ALL the pictures in high resolution. Armed with this CD you can then trot down to your high street photo printers and get the prints you want in the size you want at minimal cost.

 

3. Optional Extras and Photo Books - DIY!

You remember the old flowery, faded, peeling wedding albums your aunt insists on showing you every time you visit? Yeah, they're dead now. These days contemporary photobooks have become hugely popular, and many photographers charge significant premiums to include these with your package. However if you can spare the time and energy, it's possible to design and create very stylish photobooks yourself, and get them printed at a relatively tiny cost. The same goes for things like canvas prints and enlargements - all you really need are the original high res images!

 

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. It is a heartbreaking and cruel practice. 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. Don't be Tempted to Cut Corners!

Now this one may sound counter-intuitive when it comes to 'credit crunch weddings' but I feel it's an important one. 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. By focusing purely on the price you could be misled into thinking these offer a great deal. But if you ignore the very cheapest prices that's where you often find the best compromises between price and quality. The bottom line is this: if you look at your photographer's previous work and it doesnt make you go "wow" then is it really worth paying for a professional?

Black & White Photography Posters - Our Top 10 Black & White Photography Posters

Add a Hint of Paris' Style to your Room with this Black and White Photography Maxi Poster Featuring a Splash of Colour 61cmx91.5cm £3.99 Photography Maxi Poster: Bring a little of Paris' wonderful charm to your life with this stunning black and white photography poster. Featuring a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower, this scene is sure to add a little romantic atmosphere to any room. Not just an ordinary black and white poster, this one has two splashes of colour in the form of the little sky blue 2CV car which has parked up on ...

Mini Poster featuring Stunning Black and White Photography of the Iconic Central Park in Manhattan, New York 40x50cm £3.49 Black and White Photography Mini Poster: Transport yourself back to the 1960s with this gorgeous black and white photography mini poster which captures one of the most popular sights in New York. Central Park is one of the most visited places in Manhattan and it is a large public park situated in the centre of the city. This wonderful mini poster shows the Gapstow Bridge built in 1896 and it cross...

Hang a Piece of New York City's Magical Atmosphere in Your Room with this Black and White Photography Poster 91.5cmx61cm £3.99 City Photography Maxi Poster: The incredible atmosphere of New York City is at it's peak during the small hours, and if you are looking for some stylish city photography to bring some class to a room, then this poster would be perfect for you. Taken in black and white, the Big Apple has never looked so stunning, with dazzling white lights twinkling from every skyscraper and bouncing beautifully of...

NIX 12 Hu-Motion Digital Picture Frame, Deluxe frame that turns ON/OFF automatically when it senses you nearby! 2GB Internal Memory £99.99 The future has arrived with the NIX 12" Hu-Motion frame. Killer styling from the design studio 'NIX of London' is coupled with the latest tech to deliver the ultimate in convenience, featuring a motion sensor that turns the frame on when you're nearby and off when you're not. It really couldn't be any more convenient whilst also saving an estimated 60% off your energy bill. This frame makes a perf...

A Shadow Falls £17.03 A collection of 57 images in tritone plates at large size that describes about the fate of Africa's large animals....

1000 Pin-up Girls (25th Anniversary Special Edtn) £7.35 'Girls, Gags & Giggles' - this was publisher Robert Harrison's recipe for dishing up the American pin-up to the US male. In the 1950s, his girlie magazines sold by the millions, before becoming icons of pulp and trash culture....

Black and White (Poster Collection £7.40 ...

Tags:   art · black and white photography posters · black and white photography posters and prints · black and white photography posters australia · black and white photography posters cattle · black and white photography posters prints · design · inspiration · photo · photographyNo Comments