The Wedding Photography is arguably the most important element of the entire event, especially afterwards. If that’s the case, what price should you pay and how will that impact on the quality?
So, you’ve seen a lot of wedding photography sites and, holy cow, is it ever confusing. You get the feeling that every Tom, Dick & Harry has {purchased|bought} some gear, put-up a website and is offering to capture one of the biggest days of your life. The images usually look more than decent as does the website (though it’s most likely a $100 template). And the cost is amazingly reasonable, going as low as, or lower than, $1000 for full day coverage.
Firstly, don’t become enamored with a seemingly creative wedding photographer solely on the basis of viewing the pictures in the Wedding Gallery on their site. Of course, they will display their top work, (ie) a few from each wedding. Just remember, including guests, can take a few good pictures at a wedding, even with a point and shoot. So, to get a good sense of a photographer’s proficiency and style ask to see two full weddings. 400 pictures from the same wedding will tell the true story.
Depending on your locale, the average cost for an experienced photographer will be around $2500 for a full-day. So, what will you get from an inexperienced photographer who is pretty new in the game and is charging around $1000? Who knows? There are undoubtedly some quality amateur shooters out there. But they are in the minority. The best wedding photography is very challenging. Experience counts and there are no redoes. It requires good interpersonal skills (some photographers should only take pictures of objects). It demands a grasp of timing and logistics as they relate to the current situation. And while many artistic photographers disparage wedding photography it calls for a lot of skill, often with little or no preparation time. A Professional Wedding Photographer will also have back-up gear. Many amateurs do not, which is scary indeed.
That being said, spending more on a veteran photographer does not necessarily produce great results. On the contrary, it’s important to do your homework. What if they’ve become tired of wedding photography and no longer put in the same effort as in the earlier part of their career? Go to forums and see if anyone is trashing about the wedding photographer(s) on your short list. You won’t believe some distressing and/or bizarre stories about photographers doing some outrageously improper and slapdash things. In short, Do your due diligence.
Meanwhile, during unpredictable economic times it’s understandable to pay less for wedding photography, but keep in mind that all that remains post-wedding are the pictures (and possibly video). If price is a big arbiter it may behoove you to cut back in other areas.
In conclusion, if you’re a risk-taker, you’re on a small budget and you’ve really checked things out, a cheaper photographer may do the trick. Usually though, the adage, “you get what you pay for”, applies to wedding photography. So, if you can swing it, do plenty of research, get some recommendations and spend more to get a professional. It’ll be worth it.
