Save Money on Wedding Photography
Getting Affordable and Perfect Wedding Pictures
Can you get wedding pictures that you'll cherish for years without spending a bundle?
When allocating the wedding budget, many brides and grooms find themselves spending a big portion on the wedding photographer. After all, your photos will be the lasting memories of your big day that you can look back on for years to come. It is an important expense, but it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are some tricks to making the whole process of capturing your wedding easier and less expensive.
The Digital Age
Find a photographer who shoots digital as opposed to film. Some of you might lament the passing of the familiar medium of film, but digital is undeniably taking over. It’s easier, faster and less costly. Some digital photographers will give you a CD with the files of every shot they took, which means you can choose to make your own prints. Not going through your photographer for prints will significantly cut down on costs. Even if your photographer insists that you need to buy a package from him or her, see if they’ll through in the digital files so you can make additional prints at a more reasonable price.
Ceremony Only
Another option to decrease the photographer’s fee is to hire them only for the ceremony, not he reception. The most important shots will be during the exchanging of vows and most photographers will give you a discount if they don’t have to show up to the party afterward. If you want to go one step further, take your wedding party to the photographer’s studio for posed portraits only. If you think you can cover the ceremony and reception with non-professionals, it’s still a good idea to get some formal portraits done of you, your new spouse, your bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Amateur Night
If you choose to forgo the professional and leave the picture taking to someone who’ll do it for free (or in exchange for open bar privileges), make sure to choose the right individual for the job. They are not going to be perfect, but you do want someone with some experience beyond the point and click everyday knowledge. Has a friend of a friend taken a photography class? Is your uncle the official family paparazzi? Try to find someone with the right skills and enthusiasm to capture the magic of your wedding. Be wary of inviting a very close friend or family member to do the duty though. They will probably want to relax and enjoy your day with you without worrying about missing that perfect shot. Just make sure to specify that that free booze kicks in after the cake cutting, first dance and all the other memorable moments.
Do It Disposable
Regardless of whether or not you’ve got a paid photographer at your party, set a disposable camera at each table in your reception venue and ask the guests to click away. When you collect the cameras at the end of the night, you’ll have a variety of unique perspectives of your special night captured on film. Getting all the cameras developing will cost a bit of money, but it’ll still be cheaper than the official photographer’s fee and your pictures are guaranteed to be entertaining and personal.
