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Today's Wedding Photographers
Apparently, the guy (see opening paragraph) was laughing at how he no longer had to endure costs of films and developing now that we have digital wedding photography. Yet he was happy to report that he still charged the same as when he did! It upset my friend's dad so much because he was having trouble accepting the escalating costs of her up and coming wedding.
Depending on the size of the budget, and the size of the wedding, wedding photographers can end up being a big expense for the bride and groom. Many feel this is well worth the cost, however, because photographs are perhaps the most common memento of a couple’s wedding day. If you have a large budget, there are probably dozens of wedding photographers in your area from which you can choose. If you don’t, you have other options you may not have considered.
For my wedding day, I went with one of the other options. My budget was small, because I couldn’t justify spending thousands on one day, even if it was my wedding day. There were a few good wedding photographers in my area, but I decided to save a lot of money and I went with something else. I asked my aunt to take my photos for me as a wedding gift. The only cost to me was the cost of film and the cost of getting it developed as there was no digital cameras back in my day.
My aunt did a great job, and I knew she would. She had been an amateur photographer her whole life, and I always loved her photographs. It seemed like the obvious choice to me, and she was happy to do it. My photos came out great, and she did a fabulous job at making sure I had every photo I wanted, and even had some suggestions of her own. I saved a lot of money, but there can be a downside to choosing amateur wedding photographers. Professionals often have tried and true poses that they love to use, and these are something you can’t get with someone with little to no wedding experience. This is where you should use your own creativity to guide your photographer.
If you decide to have a look at professional wedding photographers, ask to see a portfolio when you visit. This alone may help you make a decision. You will know almost immediately if you like their work or not. You can find many of these folks at wedding expos, and they often have their work displayed. Something may catch your eye to let you know you have found the one.
You can also find a listing of wedding photographers in your local yellow pages. You may also ask friends and family if they have any recommendations, or if they know someone who may be a great fit for what you are looking for. You may also find a great wedding photographer by calling a college near you. If they have a photography course, you may find a talented student to shoot your wedding, for less money than a seasoned professional, but perhaps with the same quality.
Budget wedding photography doesn't have to mean second rate photographs either. In some Asian countries, the guests just take a few snaps at the ceremony as all the main wedding shots are done in a studio prior to the big day. This may sound a little strange to some, but they still get some beautiful shots in their wedding outfits, there are no call-out charges from professionals, no worries about the weather, and there's more time to spend on enjoying the big day itself. I mean, let's face it, who doesn't get bored waiting for the wedding shoot to finish!
