When it comes to your special day, the last thing you want to do is skimp on the most important part “the wedding photography. Wedding photos, the ceremony, the photos of the bride, the guests, the family and of course the dress., they are the ones that create memories that you can always remember and smile. However, although getting married is an investment and wedding photography follows suit, there are some tips and secrets to lower the price a bit. Know the questions to ask Wedding photographer and what to look for in your search will save you money, save you time, and still give you the unique wedding images you want.
Secret 1: Don’t assume expensive is better.
Some of the best wedding photographers are the ones who are not overpriced for what you want. A photographer who truly cares about his clients and the day that he is his will leave a small margin of maneuver in what he charges. For examples of this, search the internet. Some wedding photographers who have high prices tend to have low quality. Low quality equals negative happiness when you get your wedding day photos.
Secret 2: get a CD with all the photos to print yourself
An easy way to save money on your wedding is to ask the photographer if you can have a CD of the images taken on your wedding day. Usually the photographer will edit the images and then deliver them to you on a CD for you to print yourself. If there is anything to remember, ask for it! Saves you time and money, which makes everyone happy.
Secret 3: know where to print your images
In addition to the above secret, once you get the CD of your wedding photos from the photographer, make sure you know where to print them. Don’t take all your photos to a professional printing facility and have them produce 4×6 prints that you’ll send out to all your friends and family. This will be VERY EXPENSIVE. Just have the wedding photos that you, as a couple, will have professionally printed. For all the wedding and reception photos you want to send to family and friends, print them at any non-professional location like Walgreen’s or Target. The quality will still be good, but since you are making the investment for your own souvenirs, be sure to invest in the right place to print them.
Secret 4: Do not pay unnecessary expenses in the contract.
Since most of the time a wedding photographer will be at your wedding for the entire day, the photographer, an assistant, and sometimes a second or third photographer are expected to handle the meals. Many wedding photographer contracts include a separate fee for meals. To save on this, inform the photographer that the team can eat at their reception. Unless you have a reception dinner with a specific dish, this will again save you money. The photography team can run and eat quickly, then retake the rest of your wedding day photos.
Secret 5: ask for a referral discount.
One thing most people don’t expect is that photographers are negotiable and viable. They need your help as much as you need theirs. To maintain a good relationship with your photographer and also to promote a positive atmosphere for both of you (and again, to save you some money!), Request a referral discount. For example, if you refer the photographer to a couple you know and they actually hire the photographer to film their wedding, see if they will give you a 20% discount on the booking fee. You could even try taking it a little further. Once you are married, ask the photographer to give you 90 days to send you a reference. If that couple books for their wedding, they return 20% of the reservation fee. After 90 days, you would get, say, 10% of the reservation fee up to 6 months after your wedding. It may seem a bit complicated, but when you pay $ 1000 for a photographer, that 20% equals $ 200 – money you could be paying back for your honeymoon!
Remember, looking for a wedding photographer takes time, patience, and research. It’s best to know the right questions so your wedding day photos turn out to be exactly what you want, preserving valuable memories for you for years to come.