THE TANGIBLE
Remember that your wedding
album and video will be the only
tangible items you have after the last
piece of wedding cake is gone. Yes
you'll have wonderful memories
and some snazzy gifts, but when it
comes to remembering and reliving
that magical day - you've only got
pictures - and they'd better be good!
You'll see these images all the time;
in frames, albums and on your
walls, so be sure you are realistic
when budgeting for this important
line item.
THE COST
Of course there are bargains to be
had, but like your mother always
told you, you get what you pay for.
Remember you’re buying a priceless
piece of art that you are trusting to
retell your story for generations to
come. Most couples spend at least
$2,500-$3,000 on photos and some spend
much more than that depending on the size
and scale of their wedding. (A good guide-
line is 10-15% of your overall budget for
photo/video fees). That said, you do need
to shop around since photographers' and
videographers' fees vary widely. Take your
time researching the best available vendor
within your price range.
Videographers usually charge a set fee for
their services based on the method and
style of video you've selected. Will there be
one camera or more? Will there be fancy
editing techniques, music, family photographs or a shorter "highlights" video? The
price range for a professional videographer
usually starts at around $1,200 and goes up
from there depending on your preferences.
Only a professional
photographer can use the
dim lighting in this photo
to create a striking and
heartwarming treasure.
THE LINGO
The total cost of your wedding photography is generally referred to as a "pack-age" and usually includes a proof book,
collection of prints, album and a block of
your photographer's time. Some photographers choose to charge on an "a la
carte" basis instead, which means there is
a flat fee for their time and all other services are added on.
THE STRATEGY
Keep your budget under control by being
realistic about what you'll need. Decide on
the number of prints, albums and enlargements you'll want - including what both
your parents may order - along with the
number of hours you think you'll need
your photographer. You may get a better
rate by incorporating everything into the
initial quote. And remember that you can
negotiate; there is rarely an instance where
a price is written in stone.
THE MYTH
Don't be fooled into thinking that if you
hire a photographer, there is no need for a
videographer. You won't regret having a
video to linger over, rewind and marvel at
as many times as you want. Even the bride
and groom can miss some pretty special
moments during the course of their busy
wedding day. A video is the only way to
capture the true emotions from your wedding day. If cost is an issue, go with a
straight cut video - a video that is virtually
unedited and shot in real time. Remember,
you can always have the master edited at a
later date.
THE PAY OFF
You'll never hear any newlywed couple saying they regret spending too much on their
wedding album or on having a video shot,
but the reverse can often be true. As long as
you shop around, you can get gorgeous
images without breaking your budget.
