Wedding Photography in the Credit Crunch
Posted on September 12, 2009
Filed Under Digital Camera Features, Good Digital Cameras |
The popularity of weddings seems to have increased in recent years, despite the decline in ‘traditional’ values. As Hello magazine inspired weddings become more and more lavish, however, the costs of the typical wedding have also become exhorbitant. The average cost of a wedding in the US last year was $20,000, and £20,000 in the UK. 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. Yet the photography is one area few are prepared to compromise on, and with good reason. 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. Below are my top five tips on how to keep your wedding photography budget low, without compromising on quality.
1. Trust 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. 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. 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. My wife and I live in Sussex, and when looking for our photographer we not only searched “Wedding Photographer in Sussex” - we also looked at other surrounding areas such as Kent, Hampshire, London and Surrey.
2. Be Wary of “Stealth Charges”
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. 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! I would strongly suggest you forget about these guys and go for someone who will provide a hi-res CD of all the images from the day. That way you can get prints done at a fraction of the cost at your local photo printing lab.
3. Albums and Extras: Do It Yourself!
With digital photography the era of the traditional wedding photo album has passed. These days contemporary 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. 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 is a heartbreaking and cruel practice. 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. 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. 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! As I said above, the photos are probably the most important part of the wedding day when you look back at it in years to come. 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 often the real bargains are to be found by going up a level in pricing. 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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