Weddings are costly these days. Setting aside a huge amount of money and maximizing your financial resources is imperative if you want to save money without compromising when it comes to your big day. If you’re getting married, we bet that you might have been worried about all the expenses—from the venue, to the food, to the arrangements, even the payments for the wedding planners, make-up artists, florists, the DJ, and even the wedding photographer.
Speaking of your wedding photographer, you should know there is a way to find an affordable wedding photography service and maximize the one you hire. It is just a matter of choosing the right photographer and knowing how to budget your wedding expenses. That being said, we have come up with five ways to help you save money on your wedding photography.
Make sure that you can afford it
The general rule is that you should hire someone you can afford to begin with. You need to stick to your wedding budget, and this includes getting the service of a wedding photographer you can afford. Given the wide array of wedding photographers you can choose from, it’s possible for you to find someone who suits your needs and will charge you a rate that’s within your financial means. It’s simply a matter of checking out the options available in the market.
Book early
Another way to save money on wedding photography is to book way in advance, if possible. As you may know, some wedding photographers offer discounts for early bookings. Typically, they offer discounts for less popular months such as November, January, and February. They also do the same for mid-week and off-season weddings. Also, as some of the highly coveted wedding photographers are loaded with a lot of bookings, that might make them generous enough to offer discounted packages. So you might as well take advantage of the situation. By booking early, you will not only be able to find a good wedding photographer that will offer you a discount, but you can also ensure that you get one who will provide excellent service.
Reduce the coverage timeline
A wedding photographer needs to cover the wedding ceremony itself and the reception that comes after. But that’s not all. Usually there will be a lot of pre- and post-wedding events, and in most cases, wedding photographers are hired to cover these events as well. If this will cost you more, then you can go ahead and reduce the timeline for the photo coverage. You can ask the photographer to cover the very start of the wedding ceremony and finish once you cut the cake. You need not worry ‘though, as you can always count on your family, friends, and other guests to take photos of using their own cameras and smartphones.
Ask for a digital package
You can also go for a digital package to reduce the wedding photography cost. The images on a digital package are usually supplied on a flash drive or downloaded to a laptop. You are then given the right to reprint them. You can print as many copies as you want for your friends and family by using a less expensive online service. Compared to having your wedding photographer cover the event, come up with materials and print the photos, you will spend less if you go for a digital package.
Make referrals
Finally, you can resort to making referrals. The good thing is, some wedding photographers offer a referral scheme. Recommending your photographer to friends and family may help you make some money. You can also ask for a discount if you go for a digital package if you have them put together a wedding album at a much later date.