Nowadays every young couple seems to want to get married and recreate some of the fairytale celebrity weddings they see everywhere. As Hello magazine inspired weddings become more and more lavish, however, the costs of the typical wedding have also become exhorbitant. The average American wedding cost the couple an incredible $20,000, and in the UK the average figure was even higher at £20,000. That's crazy money when you consider it's just one day. And with the credit crunch showing no signs of easing, prospective brides and grooms are actively looking for ways to cut costs without spoiling the magic of their special day. Couples are cutting down guest lists, asking for friends and family to help out instead of hiring caterers, DJs and videographers, and brides are increasingly considering pre-worn wedding dresses. However when it comes to photography, most couples don't want to go for a cheap option – and you can understand why. Because your wedding photos are the one thing that linger after all the dust has settled and the money has been spent on the rest of the celebrations – so naturally you would want it the pictures to be perfect. Here are a few tips on how to stay within your budget for wedding photography without having to take a cut in quality.

 

1. Trust in Google

There aren't many photographers around today that don't have a website, and one of the best ways of finding and comparing wedding photographers in your area and price range is through search engines like Google. Yet with the market being so saturated it's easy for couples to miss out on some amazing photographers and great prices by not using the power of Google enough. Don't be content with just looking at Page 1 of the results or the first few sponsored listings. After a thorough search you should have put together a good list of photographers that you can now start comparing on price and style. Another tip is dont just settle for the most obvious phrases when you're searching – try a few different searches, being sure to look at surrounding towns and regions as many photographers are willing to travel to cover a wedding. My wife and I live in Sussex, and when looking for our photographer we not only searched "Wedding Photographer in Sussex" but also surrounding areas such as London, Hampshire and Kent.

 

2. Watch Out for Hidden Costs

Nowadays the vast majority of photographers use digital cameras rather than older film cameras requiring development in a darkroom. That means the wedding photographer prices are now far less complex. However believe it or not a lot of wedding photographer still work on a pay-per-print model, where couples have to choose which pictures they want and pay extra for them! I would strongly suggest you forget about these guys and go for someone who will provide a hi-res CD of all the images from the day. That way you can get prints done at a fraction of the cost at your local photo printing lab.

 

3. Optional Extras and Photo Books – DIY!

Traditional wedding albums with flowery covers and peeling pages are becoming a relic of the past. These days contemporary wedding photo books have become hugely popular, and many photographers charge significant premiums to include these with your package. However if you can spare the time and energy, it's possible to design and create very stylish photobooks yourself, and get them printed at a relatively tiny cost. The same goes for things like canvas prints and enlargements – all you really need are the original high res images!

 

4. Dont Get Taken in By the Scam Artists

I have heard so many stories of unfortunate couples who have been taken in by unscrupulous con artists posing as wedding photographers. Such criminals, who it must be said are few and far between, lure couples in with a too good to be true package, often stolen photos, and once they receive the deposit you never hear from them again. It breaks my heart to hear about this sort of thing. However the good news is that they're easily avoided. Make sure you pay any deposits via secure bank transfer as this can be traced in the event of a problem, and that you receive an invoice and receipt for your payment. And be sure to get a proper contract from the photographer which makes clear what you are getting and what you are paying for – this provides protection to the couple. And lastly, just make sure you have your radar up – try and visit the photographer, see lots of examples of his work and ask lots of questions.

 

5. Don't be Tempted to Cut Corners!

My final piece of advice is actually against the whole saving money grain, but I feel it's really important when it comes to wedding photography. Whilst trying to get the best possible deal and price beware of taking things too far! As I said above, the photos are probably the most important part of the wedding day when you look back at it in years to come. In this world of ubiquitous DSLR cameras, wannabe photographers with little experience are ten a penny. By focusing purely on the price you could be misled into thinking these offer a great deal. But if you ignore the very cheapest prices that's where you often find the best compromises between price and quality. The bottom line is this: if you look at your photographer's previous work and it doesnt make you go "wow" then is it really worth paying for a professional?