When it comes to planning a wedding, the last thing you want to do is make a major decision based on unnecessary expenses. Unfortunately, one of the biggest expenses people tend to incur is hiring a wedding photographer. While most couples think that they need a professional photographer at their wedding in order to document all of their memories, there are plenty of ways to get around this and save yourselves some cash in the process!
You and your partner may already be fairly adept at taking photos.
You and your partner may already be fairly adept at taking photos. You both have good cameras (or at least one of you does), and together, you have a lot of experience with photography. You may even know what makes a good photograph, and be able to recognize it when passing by on the street or in an art gallery. If this is true for you, then hiring a wedding photographer might not be necessary.
You’ll probably want to start taking some test shots before the wedding so that you can see how well your skills translate into action. You’ll need to take photos fast—this will help prevent any awkward poses from occurring mid-picture-sitting, since people tend to freeze up in front of the lens when they’re not used to being photographed. Make sure that there are no glare issues with lighting; if there are multiple light sources around (for example: candles), then try moving them closer together so as not to cast shadows across faces during portraits!
The average wedding photographer costs around $1,800.
The average wedding photographer costs around $1,800. If you pay your photographer in installments, then the cost of hiring a professional photographer works out to $375 per day over six days, or $738 per person (assuming 10 guests). That’s nearly twice what most people spend on their weddings!
If you’re considering hiring a professional photographer for your wedding, take into account that the cost of hiring one could negate any savings from having fewer pictures taken by family and friends. If you’re planning on having fewer than 10 guests at your wedding, consider sharing just one camera between friends and family members instead of buying multiple cameras for each set-up; this will save money on equipment rental fees as well as encourage everyone who wants to capture their own special moments with their own cameras rather than relying on someone else taking photos all night long.
Friends and family can take photos and videos during the ceremony and reception.
You’ve probably seen a lot of wedding photos where the photographer captured the bride, groom and their family members all smiling at the camera. What you might not know is that often those photos were taken by a friend or family member.
The same is true for pictures after the ceremony. If you ask your friends and family to take photos during your wedding day, they’ll likely be more willing to take more candid shots than if a professional photographer were standing there with his camera pointed at you.
You can also use this strategy during other parts of your reception like speeches and first dances. While some people may feel uncomfortable posing for photos or video when they’re being filmed (especially if they’re not used to being on camera), most guests won’t mind snapping some quick shots—especially when offered an incentive for doing so!
Most people prefer candid shots to formal ones.
Most people prefer candid shots to formal ones.
Candid photos capture the real feelings and emotions of a moment, which is more important than any posed shot. They’re also more fun for everyone involved, and can make for much more memorable wedding photos. When you have a professional photographer around, it can be hard not to feel like you need to keep up appearances. This means that you may end up acting stiff or awkward in front of the camera because you’re worried about what others will think of your appearance or behavior. It’s not just about how silly or goofy you look—it’s also about being able to see yourself having fun! With a good candid shot taken by someone who knows what they’re doing (and who won’t judge), this worry disappears entirely—you can relax and let yourself go without worrying about whether or not someone will take pictures of it later on!
Not every moment of your wedding needs to be photographed.
Not every moment of your wedding needs to be photographed. In fact, you can skip many formal photos of the bride and groom getting ready, cake cutting, first dance and speeches. I’m talking about those super serious and posed photos that are so common at weddings—you know, where all eyes are on the camera lens and everyone looks like they’re posing for their driver’s license? You don’t need any of those!
Instead, let me capture candid moments throughout the day. Maybe it’s a quick peek at the bride in her dress as she steps out from behind a curtain or an intimate exchange between two people who love each other dearly but haven’t had much time together lately because life can get busy (like us!). Maybe it’s a toast from one of your best friends or even just something silly that happened during cocktail hour—any little thing your guests loved is worth capturing!
Hiring a professional photographer isn’t worth the money it costs many couples.
While photography is a luxury item for many, it’s not at all a necessity. It can seem like the most important part of your wedding, but it’s actually just one small piece of the day. If you’re wanting to save some money on your wedding budget, consider hiring an amateur photographer or taking photos yourself.
It may seem like a waste of space if you do not need professional images taken at your event; however, there will be plenty of other things going on during your celebration that you won’t want to miss out on because you hired someone else to take pictures. In fact, hiring someone else means making sure they are in your way for hours—not exactly what anyone wants when planning their special day!
Finally, I’ll leave you with a few thoughts to consider:
• If hiring a wedding photographer is important to you, it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision. You can hire one for certain parts of the day and use your own smartphone camera for others.
• If you’re on a tight budget, there are plenty of great photographers who offer low rates or no fee at all.
• And finally – if the idea of hiring someone so integral to your big day makes you feel uncomfortable, remember that the whole point is love and joy! Spend time getting ready with friends or family members instead – it will make everything much more fun for everyone involved 🙂