Nowadays every young couple seems to want to get married and recreate some of the fairytale celebrity weddings they see everywhere. 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. That’s probably the most expensive day you’ll ever have (unless you one day throw a winning lottery ticket in the wash). 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. Hiring a wedding photographer is one area where a lot of brides and grooms are not, however, willing to cut corners, and rightly so. 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. 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

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. 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. 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. For example for my wedding I not only searched for “Wedding Photographer Brighton” – 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. That means the wedding photographer prices have become a lot simpler. 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. That way you can get prints done at a fraction of the cost at your local photo printing lab.

 

3. Optional Extras and Photo Books – DIY!

Traditional wedding albums with flowery covers and peeling pages are becoming a relic of the past. These days contemporary wedding photography books 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. 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. However the good news is that they’re easily avoided. 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! Like I said, the photography is quite possibly THE most important part of your wedding, especially when you look back. 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 often the real bargains are to be found by going up a level in pricing. Your photographer’s portfolio should always make you go “wow” – otherwise what’s the point of having a wedding photographer?

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