A wedding is a wonderful occasion, both for the happy couple, and their friends and family. As Hello magazine inspired weddings become more and more lavish, however, the costs of the typical wedding have also become exhorbitant. The average American wedding cost the couple an incredible ,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. 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. 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. I’ve put together my 5 top tips for how to find a fantastic wedding photographer without breaking the bank.

 

1. Have faith in Google

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. 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. Additionally use specialist search terms like “black and white”, “reportage”, etc, as well as looking for wedding photographers from other towns within a couple of hundred miles from you, as most are happy to travel. My wife and I live in Sussex, and when looking for our photographer we not only searched “Wedding Photographer in Sussex“, we also made sure to look for photographers in London, Kent and Hampshire.

 

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. All of which has meant that 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! 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!

You remember the old flowery, faded, peeling wedding albums your aunt insists on showing you every time you visit? Yeah, they’re dead now. Nowadays modern photobooks 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. Be Wary of Wedding Photography Scams

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. 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. 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!

My last tip is perhaps the opposite of a moneysaving one, but just as important as the others. I know you’re trying to save money but it it possible to take that overboard! Like I said, the photography is quite possibly THE most important part of your wedding, especially when you look back. There are hundreds of amateur and inexperienced ‘photographers’ out there who are trying their luck as a side income. 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?

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