Weddings are, usually, beautiful occasions for the couple getting married as well as their guests. 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. Last year, the average US couple spent $20k on their wedding, with the average in the UK being far higher at a whopping £20k, or $38k. That’s crazy money when you consider it’s just one 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. 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

The majority of modern wedding photographers have their own websites, and one of the most common ways of finding them is via search engines like Google. However since there are so many photographers jostling for space the problem is it can be easy to miss out on some great ones by not searching deeply enough. Do not make the mistake of not going beyond the first page of results or the top few sponsored links in Google. Make sure you spend time going deep into the search results and coming up with a shortlist of photographers in your budget so you can really compare a range of styles and options. 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. When my partner and I were looking for wedding photographers we not only searched for things like “Wedding Photographer in Brighton“, we also made sure to look for photographers in London, Kent and Hampshire.

 

2. Watch Out for Hidden Costs

Gone are the days when your wedding photographer had to develop their own prints in a darkroom – its all digital now. That means the wedding photographer prices are now far less complex. Yet many photographers are still working off the model of charging couples for each print they want after the wedding – that’s an additional cost on top of what you’ve already paid for their time! 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!

Traditional wedding albums with flowery covers and peeling pages are becoming a relic of the past. These days contemporary photobooks have become hugely popular, and many photographers charge significant premiums to include these with your package. 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. Dont Get Taken in By the Scam Artists

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. They are truly tragic and horrible stories. However the good news is that they’re easily avoided. 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 Forget To Insist on Quality!

My final piece of advice is actually against the whole saving money grain, but I feel it’s really important when it comes to wedding photography. 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. By focusing purely on the price you could be misled into thinking these offer a great deal. But sometimes the biggest bargains can be found by going up one price point. Your photographer’s portfolio should always make you go “wow” – otherwise what’s the point of having a wedding photographer?

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