| Most couples are shocked and dismayed when they | | | | and most effective way to find an affordable |
| discover just how much it costs to hire a professional | | | | photographer is to ask your married friends. Perhaps |
| photographer to shoot their special day. Hey, we | | | | they have the number of the shutterbug that shot |
| were shocked and dismayed as well, and we aren't | | | | their wedding. |
| even getting married. Just kidding! But the cost is | | | | Another effective way to find an affordable |
| quite high. In fact, the average price tag for a full | | | | professional or semi-professional is to post ads online. |
| service professional is almost ten percent of the final | | | | Just be certain to include the total amount that you |
| cost of the wedding, or just over five-thousand | | | | are willing to pay and that you will require references. |
| dollars. | | | | If you do not, it is likely that you will be contacted |
| What do you get for that rather large expenditure? | | | | by scores of amateurs who have absolutely no |
| While each service differs to some extent, ordinarily | | | | experience shooting wedding, and that could and |
| you should expect the following: photographer(s) for | | | | probably would be disastrous. |
| the wedding and most of the reception, the bridal | | | | Go cheap, but not too cheap! |
| session, several photo albums, portraits of varying | | | | When an applicant claims that they can do the job |
| sizes, all photos on CD, editing services and a master | | | | for well below the going rate, even for |
| video. | | | | non-professional, you should immediately be |
| While most couples prefer a professional if they can | | | | suspicious. After all, the equipment and film costs |
| afford one, that is a lot of money, and if you are | | | | alone will set a photographer back several hundred |
| planning a smaller, more intimate ceremony, it is likely | | | | dollars, so if you are quoted a price that is only a |
| that you can get away with just a single | | | | few hundred more than that, it is likely a scam or the |
| photographer instead of a brigade of them. | | | | person simply has no idea what he or she is doing, |
| About Budget Wedding Photography | | | | which is often just as bad. |
| The word budget and wedding are often incongruous | | | | Hire an Amateur |
| as many couple chose to splurge on this most special | | | | The simple fact is that you will probably not be able |
| of days. But, as we mentioned, if you are having a | | | | to hire a professional for less than a few thousand |
| smaller service or you need to conserve cash for a | | | | dollars. So if that is out of your budge, you may |
| first home or the honeymoon, there are ways to | | | | need to go with a shutterbug. But that does not |
| save several hundred, even thousands of dollars. | | | | mean that you should hire someone just off the |
| Where to start? | | | | street. Ask him/her for references (no matter how |
| When it comes to finding a qualified photographer on | | | | limited) and a portfolio of their work. Both the bride |
| a budget the most important thing you will need is | | | | and the groom should be involved in this important |
| time. After all, it is likely that you will have to hire | | | | decision, as finger-pointing could ensue if the pictures |
| person with less experience, which makes | | | | turned out bad. |
| interviewing doubly important. Probably the easiest | | | | |