Wedding photography is essential, don’t you think?
In this day and age there is the saying that if there are no pictures it didn’t really happen. While this isn’t totally true when it comes to weddings because there is proof with a legal contract showing that the wedding did in fact happen, photography is so incredibly important for a variety of reasons.
Not only do photos help us see our own wedding day after the fact, from the lens of others, they help show others how it all looked as well. I love having the opportunity to show my friends (even those who were at my wedding) my wedding album, and getting to highlight the special moments that we enjoyed.
Additionally, wedding photography can help your marriage. My home proudly showcases photos of my husband and me, dressed up, kissing and dancing, looking romantic, and just truly excited that we got to marry each other. When we have arguments, or I’m just really upset at something (which does happen, especially when you have a toddler and are in the middle of a pandemic), I look at these photos and remind myself of what is important.
Whether you have a wedding with just two people present, or two hundred, chances are you will want to have the best photos for your budget. And while there are lots of ways to save money on this important wedding element, there are also lots of ways to have that backfire on you. I’d like to go how to save money on photography while minimizing any risk involved. I’ll give you risk mitigation plan for different discount wedding photography scenarios, so you can ensure that you have the best photography you can afford, without any added stress.
Wedding Photography Scenario #1
Savings: Photographer is experienced but has a price that is too good to be true.
Potential Pitfalls: Hidden fees, less time with photographer, incomplete package.
Risk Mitigation Plan: Review contract in detail. Discuss with your partner and photographer what your wedding day timeline will be and what services you need.
So you’ve done research online and found a great photographer with amazing photos that you love. You reach out and incredibly, they are available on your wedding day. You go to meet with them, and they are just a lovely person. Plus, their price is very affordable. They send you over a contract and you sign it and send a deposit.
Flashforward a few months to before the wedding day when you are firming up the details with the photographer. You want them to be at a certain place, at a certain time, and they agree. You’d like them to stay past a certain point. Again, no problem. The catch is, you’re informed that all those extra hours and travel time come with additional fees.
So you have the wedding and it goes smoothly. You wait for your photos and when they arrive they also have extra charges for editing and digital rights. You’ll ask about prints and again those have added fees. You ask about additional photos (it seemed like they took thousands but you only received a hundred). Again, those are available at an added cost.
All of a sudden that photographer who seemed very affordable is quite expensive. All you wanted was to receive the package of photos and services that you were envisioning. It looks like to get that you’ll have to fork out a lot more money.
I think you get the picture.
What You Can Do About It
When you book a photographer, make sure you understand exactly what they provide. If their price seems a little low, inquire why. I’ll share that our wedding photographer was absolutely amazing and his price was lower than most of the others we looked up. When we asked him why, it was because everything he does is digital. I don’t need to go into it, but when all your work is electronic, it does save costs. We knew up front that if we wanted prints, we would have to pay for them elsewhere, and that was fine with us.
Our photographer was also upfront about the costs for added photographers (aka second shooters), and added hours to the day. We were able to make an informed decision the day we met with him about if he was the right photographer for us, and did not ever incur hidden fees.
Wedding photography savings techniques will backfire in many ways if you’re not careful. Examples are when the photographer isn’t at your wedding for a long enough time to capture the moments you want (like if they have to leave before the first dance), if you have to pay for travel expenses, or if there are additional fees for editing, digital rights, or extra prints.
Make sure you know what you’re getting into before you book your photographer, and that their package is comprehensive and complete for your needs, at the price you’re expecting.
Wedding Photography Scenario #2
Savings: Hiring an amateur at a discount.
Potential Pitfalls: The wedding photography may not look as professional, photos could not turn out or be missing, could take a long time to get photos back, or have to pay a professional to edit what is taken.
Risk Mitigation Plan: Clear communication plan on wanted photos, ask multiple guests to take photos with nice cameras.
I’ll tell you a personal story about this one.
I’ve only seen one photo of my parent’s wedding.
Yes, there were cameras in 1979, and the photos were in color. Of course, my mom asked a friend to take the photos in an effort to save money. And yes, every single photo was ruined because a mirrored ceiling (okay, 1979) created a crazy flash effect and nothing turned out.
The only photo that was decent was taken by my grandfather, and thank goodness he brought his camera, right? Otherwise I really would have no idea what their wedding looked like.
Because of this experience, my parents didn’t have photos of their wedding at all around the house. I do believe my mom let this go eventually, but I’m sure it was pretty upsetting at first.
So, take this as a cautionary tale before you let an amateur with a nice camera be the star of the photographer show at your wedding. This could apply if you’re hiring a friend or someone who is starting out fresh. Make sure they know what they are doing, and set your own expectations correctly. For a new photographer, the photos will likely not look as professional as someone with decades of training and experience. If the budget is right, that may be fine with you, but you have to understand the risks.
What You Can Do About It
Before you commit to a newbee being in charge of your wedding photography, make sure you clarify a few items. Have them show you photos they have taken. Make sure they are reliable and will be there at your wedding with no issues. Let them know what time they need to be there (and where), and get their agreeance. Talk to them about turn around time after the wedding.
If your photographer is doing you a favor for free or for very little money, they may not prioritize your wedding photo edits and it could take a long time to get them back. Discuss your expectations ahead of time and get them to relay what is realistic for them. Walk them through the logistics, if you will.
After you have a conversation about photography expectations, follow it up with an email, just to make sure everything is clear. An amateur or new photographer may not have a contract handy, so be proactive with it. Send them what you agreed on, and make sure they respond. Later on, if you have a disconnection, you can refer back to this.
While you’re in the habit of sending items to the new photographer, make sure you give them instructions on shots you want to have taken. Most experienced photographers will have a checklist handy with possible photos, but new professionals or amateurs may not. Give them a list of photos you absolutely want taken, like getting ready shots, photos with your bridal party, pictures of your first dance, or the reception. Help them help you.
More You Can Do About It
As a back up, ask some other guests to bring their cameras. This will give you a little insurance that your wedding will have some photos you can cherish after. You don’t have to offer guests money for this, but rather request a favor. Most people with a nice camera and a photography hobby will be happy to take some pictures for you. In fact, even though we had a professional at our wedding, some of our most favorite shots were taken by my brother’s girlfriend at the time. She was there for some intimate moments, and captured a couple shots that our photographer wasn’t able to.
Wedding Photography Scenario #3
Savings: Hiring a discounted photographer you’ve never met.
Potential Pitfalls: Photographer could be unreliable or a scam.
Risk Mitigation Plan: Try to meet face to face, get a contract in place, check recommendations, look at websites and social media.
In this situation, you may have found a photographer who you do not know, but is available at a discount on your wedding day. You’ve checked, and there are no hidden fees. Their services are exactly what you need, and at a price that works for your budget. You’re happy that you found someone who seems a little too good to be true.
Now, let’s go over the reasons someone may have a discounted photography service. They may be starting out. They may really love taking photos and want an edge over their competition. Or, they may be a scam artist who likes to take that deposit money and not show up at your wedding at all.
While the first few reasons for discounted service are fine, that last one is a little concerning, don’t you think?
What You Can Do About It
There are things you can do to make sure a photographer is legit, and none of them are that difficult. For starters, ask them if they have any referrals who you can speak to. Many experienced photographers will be able to direct you to some cherished and happy clients, or send you to their review pages on Yelp or other wedding websites.
Speaking of websites, this is another way that you can look into the validity of your photographer. When you go to their site, does it look professional? Does it link to social media sites that have engagement and a following? For example you could follow their website to their Instagram page. From there see if they have recently tagged someone in their photos and then go to that person’s page to tell if the photos are “real”. All of this may sound a little complicated, but it really only take a few minutes.
Other checks to see if this photographer is the real deal is to see if they will meet you in person. Additionally, once you agree to book them, also be sure that you have a signed contract before you give them a deposit. If you’re able to meet with them, see the contract, and hopefully verify that they have provided great services in the past to others, there is a very good chance that they will provide a great service to you as well.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
So there you have it friends. There are many ways to save money on wedding photography. And there are many ways for that to backfire by either ruining your photos or costing you more money or stress in the long run. Make sure you save your money, and sanity, by implementing these risk mitigation techniques, and when the big day comes, have fun with lots of photos you can cherish forever.
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:
How Discount Wedding Venues Can Cost You More (And What To Do About It!)
How To Save Money On Your Wedding (Without Cutting Guests)
11 Service Side Hustle Options To Help Fund Your Wedding
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