Wedding Photographer Bargaining
Tips on Lowering the Cost of Wedding Photography Services
What if you find the perfect photographer for your wedding but can't afford the price? Here are some tips on bargaining fairly and effectively with wedding photographers.
Many wedding photographers will be happy to negotiate prices with you. Don’t be afraid to ask. However, photographers are businesspeople, and they set their rates for a reason. You shouldn’t expect your photographer to lower his price simply because you ask him to; if you want to pay less money, you’ll have to give something up. Here are some bargaining points that might help you get a lower price.
Go all digital.
Many wedding photographers are already leaning toward working mostly with digital cameras, but for those who still work with film, the price is higher simply because film and processing are expensive. Digital technology has come a long way. See if your photographer will shoot your wedding digital only for a lower fee.
Skip the proof albums.
Putting together a wedding album is time consuming. Your photographer might not mind shaving off a bit of the fee if he doesn’t have to spend time making albums for you. Try asking if he will give you your prints in a box, or even simply images (edited and retouched) on a DVD. With high resolution images on DVD, you can upload the images to an online gallery, put together a wedding album yourself, or print only your absolute favorites. You can also wait to make prints later, when your bank account has bounced back from the wedding.
Book fewer hours.
Many photography packages include full-day coverage, from “getting ready” shots in the morning til the last reveler departs at 2:00 am. That is an exhausting day for a photographer. Consider limiting coverage to the wedding ceremony and only two or three hours of the reception. (If you do this, plan for all your major “events” such as cake-cutting, bouquet toss, etc. to fall within that time period.)
Pay in cash.
Often a discount can be had if you’re willing to hand over your entire fee in cash. Always sign a contract for your own protection, especially if you pay in cash.
Get married in the off season.
You'll have far less bargaining power during a prime wedding month like May or September. But if your wedding is between late November and early March, lean times for wedding photographers, you might get lucky. (This tip is less relevant to brides and grooms who live in places with year-round good weather.)
Ask for suggestions.
Simply ask, “What can we do to lower the price?” Wedding photographers want your business. Your photographer might have some suggestions that you hadn’t even thought of, so don't be afraid to ask.
Remember, wedding photography is expensive for a reason. None of these bargaining ideas are a guarantee, but a fair and reasonable approach will go a long way toward getting you a discount on those gorgeous wedding pictures.
Read on for tips on how to decide which photographer to choose.
