Wedding flowers will likely not last more than a few days but your wedding photography and videography will last a lifetime. You want your wedding photography to represent you wonderfully as they will be displayed in your home and your video will be shared with everyone you know. Hiring professional wedding photographers and videographers is the only trusted way to receive a fantastic experience and high-quality photos that capture your most precious memories. On average, you want to plan for most experienced wedding photographers to start around $4-5000 for full-day wedding photography. It could be tempting to hire a friend or a photographer with less experience – but you’ll probably just end up coming to a professional for a re-shoot in the future! (Yes we have that happen!) Not hiring a seasoned professional is one of the biggest regrets many couples have even years after their wedding day.
Find the right style
Finding a photographer and videographer that matches your style and showcases who you really are is key. Above all else, you want the images and video to be high quality and timeless.
Look for packages that fit your budget
It’s like the saying goes, “don’t try on the dress before looking at the tag!” Make a list of your must-haves in your packages. This will make the search and process much easier. Then, before you become committed to a particular photographer or videographer’s portfolio, you will be prepared for their budget ranges. Plan to budget for an engagement session or albums, extra hours of coverage, etc. ahead of time so there are no surprises later.
Buy Prints and Albums After The Wedding
Don’t worry about prints and albums right now. If they aren’t in your budget, most photographers keep images on file for many years. You could even plan to have album as a gift for parents if you’re under budget after your wedding. Allocating budget room for professional heirloom prints is something you can save for after your wedding day. Ask your photographer if their packages include a print credit as well.
Support Local
The prices of professional photographers and videographers go up drastically if you need to travel. If travel fees are in your budget, great! We would still advise in this case to bring them along. If it’s out of budget though, consider looking into photographers nearer to the area you will be getting married at.
Choose One Venue
Having a single venue for both your ceremony and your reception makes planning and budgeting much easier. If you have everything at one centralized location you will save in travel time (and cost) between locations for both your photographer and videographer. Other places you’ll save include transportation as well!
Compromise or Ask For Customized Packages
If you’ve gone over your budget and you can’t make your photography or videography work you have a couple of options. You can compromise but cutting something from your day (for example, reception coverage) or ask your wedding photographer and videographer if they can alter a package to fit your needs. For example, is there a slightly discounted rate for a package without an engagement session or album? Could they remove a second shooter to save you a bit?
We hope you found these tips useful and if you’re looking for a wedding photographer, please send us an email at [email protected] – we’d be happy to answer all of your questions.
