Fact is, budgets are tight, and some are extremely tight, but no matter how tight your budget gets, the one thing you should never eliminate from your wedding budget is photography.
If you are planning a wedding on a small budget, it’s important you figure out what’s most important to you and prioritize that. Your wedding photography is no different.
Here are a few tips on how to choose the best wedding photographer at a low cost:
- It really becomes a decision on quality versus quantity
Whilst you may not be able to get a good, established photographer to work a full day with a limited budget, you may well be able to get them for a few hours.
Instead of trying to get someone to cover the whole day, get a quality photographer to cover the key parts of the day (the parts of the day that are important to you).
Maybe you forgo the getting ready, first dance etc and instead have someone cover the ceremony and then shoot some amazing portraits of the two of you.
You certainly won’t be getting as many images but the ones you do receive will undoubtedly be of a higher standard.
- Try other days but Saturdays
Another thing to consider if your budget is limited is to look at having your wedding on a day other than a Saturday. Many vendors offer discounted rates for days other than Saturday as there are fewer weddings happening mid-week so less competition for bookings.
If your photographer includes an album as a part of your wedding package, ask if that may be taken out, either to save money or in favour of more hourly coverage.
You can ask if you could purchase your album at a later date when you have more money to invest in one. Maybe as a nice first-year anniversary gift.
When looking for ways to stay on budget with your photographer, please be open to their suggestions, as well as the fact that they may not be able to accommodate your request. Not every photographer likes to shoot weddings solo, and they may not be able to accept barters as a form of payment. It’s ok to move on and find someone who may better fit your financial needs.