What’s the one thing you shouldn’t skimp on when it comes to your wedding? The photography of course! As a photographer, that’s an easy answer for me, but why should this be the bulk of your budget, and how do you even go about choosing a wedding photographer?
When you are wedding planning, prices can be daunting. It seems that everything with the word “wedding” attached to it, costs an arm and a leg, oh and let’s not forget your first born. It’s hard! I get it! I’ve been there too.
I want to answer some of the big questions FOR YOU so you can feel confident in hiring the right photographer FOR YOU.
The one thing anyone who has gotten married will tell you, is that the day flew by! The only thing is, if you have a great photographer, you are going to have all of those little details of the day documented for you to look back on forever. If you have a so-so photographer, or worse if you hire your uncle/cousin who just got a “really good camera” to shoot your wedding, there is a good chance you are going to look back at your photos and see all of the things that drove you nuts about the day. That’s not a good way to remember one of the most important days of your life! and that’s if the pictures even turn out!
People always say, “You get what you pay for.” So how much is too much? Or how much is too little to pay for wedding photography?
Well obviously everything worth having comes at a price. In the case of documenting a once in a lifetime event, I would suggest doing your research and looking for quality, but knowing what you are looking for makes it so much easier for you to find someone who meets your budget but also suits your needs. Do you want someone with you every second of the day? Getting photos of your bridesmaids helping you get into your dress and the guys having a pre-celebratory drink? Are you planning on surprising your husband with a vintage car that he’s always been obsessed with to leave your wedding reception? Then you want someone there to capture that! Time is money, and if these are things you are considering having the photographer capture, please keep in mind that they are going to be DEDICATED to making sure you get the very best image from these moments.
Does your photographer have back up equipment in the case that your nephews decide to get jiggy with it right into a light stand during the reception? Or insurance, in that case? These are some of the reasons that a wedding photographer may cost more than hiring just anyone. We’ve invested so much more than our time in your day, but have the right equipment (and backups) so that heaven forbid something should happen…because Murphy’s Law says that anything that can go wrong, will, all at once.
So of course here is where I want to fit in a #shamelessplug for you to hire me. But why? Because your wedding is going to be so much fun and I hate missing out? Well hell yeah, I love a good party! But mainly because I’ve been shooting for 12 years. I have gained so much experience in that time. I have made mistakes, yes, but I have learned from them and can recover quickly in any situation you want to throw at me. I have used those times to make myself better and hone my skills. I’ve studied not only my work but so many other amazing photographers that I admire. I put time into creating a style of my own and finding a way to make my work stand out from the rest.
Still on the fence? Maybe I’m not your cup of tea…and I’ll try to get over that, but if you don’t hire me, I really hope you learned something that you can use in your tedious planning process and choosing a wedding photographer! (and you should invite me so I can prove that I can also party WITHOUT a camera in my hand)
