The Photographer

Wedding Photography: Price or Product?

Do a basic web search for your town and "wedding photographer" and you'll come up with many options to choose from. How do you choose between them? Are you looking for cheapest cost, or amazing pictures or a happy medium of the two?

With the array of affordable prosumer cameras and lenses available, it is now possible to have amazing pictures for any budget. Keep in mind that many photographers under $1000 are fairly new to the business - while their images may be fabulous, it is a good idea to ask for references. With the higher priced photographers, you are paying for their name, experience, customer service, product offerings, training, and dedication to their craft. There can also be much less hassle in terms of getting your photos back, rather than a lengthy delay that some newer members of the profession can experience.

AS with everything in life, a low price doesn't mean you're getting a good deal - keep in mind that the higher cost professionals cost more for a reason. That is not to say that you have to pay $10,000 for quality. A good average price for wedding photography is around $2,500 - $8,000 for a mid-range, professional photographer. For that investment, you'll get as much coverage as you need, typically images on disk, albums or print credit, and possibly a complimentary bridal shoot.

Things to look for when shopping for your photographer: experience, speed of turn-around for the final product, and any additional services that may be bundled with their wedding services package - like an addition of a videographer, or a finished album to your specifications. Also, something to watch for when signing your agreement is who owns the images. Some photographers will attempt to own your images rather than licensing them from you. Read the contract carefully.