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Credit Crunch Wedding Photography: 5 Top Tips

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 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. 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. I've put together my 5 top tips for how to find a fantastic wedding photographer without breaking the bank.

 

1. Google is your friend

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 with competition being so fierce it's not hard for prospective brides and grooms to miss out on some really special and talented photographers by not looking far enough when searching. Spend some time trawling through the Google results beyond the first few pages. 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. For example for my wedding I not only searched for "Wedding Photographer in Sussex" - we also looked at other surrounding areas such as Kent, Hampshire, London and Surrey.

 

2. Be Wary of "Stealth 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 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! My money saving tip would be to stick to the photographer who will give you a CD with ALL the pictures in high resolution. 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. These days contemporary wedding photography books 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. The same goes for things like canvas prints and enlargements - all you really need are the original high res images!

 

4. Be Wary of Wedding Photography Scams

Everyon'e heard a story about a couple who got scammed by a so-called "photographer" who ran off with their money. 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 breaks my heart to hear about this sort of thing. 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. 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. 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 Forget To Insist on Quality!

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! Like I said, the photography is quite possibly THE most important part of your wedding, especially when you look back. There are a lot of amateurs out there with little experience, talent and lacking in the proper equipment. If you look at their prices they seem like a bargain. 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?

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