STG Studios

Credit Crunch Wedding Photography: 5 Top Tips

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. 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. 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. Yet the photography is one area few are prepared to compromise on, and with good reason. 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. Here are a few tips on how to stay within your budget for wedding photography without having to take a cut in 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. Also don't just go for the obvious search terms - make sure you vary your searches, and always include a few local areas and towns to find photographers who are slightly further afield but willing to travel. My wife and I live in Sussex, and when looking for our photographer we not only searched "Sussex Wedding Photographer" - we also looked at other surrounding areas such as Kent, Hampshire, London and Surrey.

 

2. Watch Out for Hidden Costs

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. 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! 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. Make your Own Photo Books!

With digital photography the era of the traditional wedding photo album has passed. Today you have stylish wedding photo books are now the norm and extremely popular - but with a lot of wedding photographers adding these on to your package significantly increases the overall cost. 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. The same goes for things like canvas prints and enlargements - all you really need are the original high res images!

 

4. Yes, There are a Few Swindlers Out There, But You Can Easily Avoid Them

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. It is a heartbreaking and cruel practice. The thing is, if you're vigilant they're pretty easy to spot and avoid. Firstly, ensure that any payment of deposits or fees are done via bank transfer - its the most secure method of payment, and can be traced and reversed in the event of a problem. And be sure to get a proper contract from the photographer which makes clear what you are getting and what you are paying for - this provides protection to the couple. And lastly, just make sure you have your radar up - try and visit the photographer, see lots of examples of his work and ask lots of questions.

 

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. 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 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?

Russian Wedding Video @ Brooklyn NYC Unobtrusive Videography Documentary Styles Sample

Professional Posing Techniques: For Wedding and Portrait Photographers £15.00 ...

Tags:   color · design · examples of wedding photography styles · inspiration · tools · webdesignNo Comments