For some brides’ upcoming nuptials, finding a photographer can be as important as finding the dress and the venue. Although the desire to hire a photographer who produces breathtaking photos is strong, the dollar signs that follow might keep those desires at bay.

Before you reject the idea of a professional photographer, let’s look into more detail about how they work and why so many couples wind up hiring a photographer.

Where to find a wedding photographer

Search the web for local photographers and read their reviews. The last thing you want when planning on a budget is to get stuck with someone who produces low-quality photos for a high-end price, says wedding planner Stacie Baines. “Check out social media (more specifically the photographer’s Facebook page), said Baines. “Get a better idea of the type of photos the photographers produce as well as their sense of style and if it matches yours.” 

After your research is done, make sure to ask about postproduction packages and confirm which shooter(s) will be in attendance. If you’ve never had to hire a photographer for an event before, you might want to ask about your rights. TheKnot.com says that most photographers have a policy that you can only share watermarked images or images with their credit on them.  

Meet and greet your wedding photographer

“Setting up a meeting with your photographer ahead of time is critical. You have to feel comfortable with them,” says Peachy Keen’s wedding planner, Victoria Baggett. “If your personalities don’t mesh, and you’re uncomfortable with shooting your intimate wedding photos with that particular photographer then it’s a bad investment.” Do what it takes to properly research before booking. 

“Think about it,” said Baggett. “After your big day all you have is your spouse and your wedding photos. That’s all you have left with after you say I do.You don’t keep the food, but you keep the pictures. So, invest wisely.” Read reviews! You can usually tell the difference between a photographer who has 105 reviews on wedding wire vs someone who is just starting out. 

This is when you decide whether you and your photographer are going to get along and if they can produce the vision you have for your wedding day. After all, if you’re going to spend the cash, you want stunners to hang on the wall, share online and save in an album for your kids and grandkids, if you’re so lucky. Doing a little research in advance will assure your life together will start with absolutely awesome photos of your big day.

What does a wedding photographer cost?

If you’ve already done some basic research into photographers, then you’ve probably already seen what some of them cost. According to Weddingwire.com, on average, couples pay around $2,435 for a wedding photographer. While that may seem like a lot of money to spend on pictures, remember that there is a lot that goes into creating your beautiful photos. To help you understand where your dollars are being spent, WeddingWire compiled a short list that explains what you’re really paying for when you hire a photographer:

• Photography Service
• Post-production (the editing, retouching, and transferring images to a disc or thumb drive.)
• Employees
• Equipment
• Business Expenses
• Marketing and Advertising Expenses
• Insurance

Make a budget for wedding photography and stick to it

Go into wedding planning with a budget. That is your shield and armor and it will protect you from hitting financial hardships that come from overspending. When approaching your future photographer, let her or him know how much you’re willing to spend and see what they can offer within your budget. Depending on the photographer, they may have packages that they typically use or they give custom quotes based on each brides’ needs. 

Book early for wedding photography discounts

Book early. Sometimes early specials and discounts are offered if you book several months in advance.  A great tool to use during your search is Snapknot.com’s photographer finder. This tool lets you enter your city or zip code and then suggests ten photographers in your area – just like that!  If you’re procrastinating the planning portion of your wedding, this tool can help cut some time and research. 

Ready to get started? If you’re a 2018-2019 bride-to-be and you need a little help calculating the cost of your wedding, TheKnot.com has a fantastic wedding budget calculator to help. If you’ve done what you can with negotiating wedding costs and you still find yourself with a gap between budget and price tag, check out how a LendingPoint personal loan can help with your plans. We’ll quickly tell you how much you qualify for, and you can choose the loan option that suits you best. Applying is simple and easy. Your loan could be deposited in your account in as little as one business day. Apply now and see!

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