Your wedding day is supposed to be a special, even magical event. You probably want to record every moment so you can remember the details. But let’s be honest, you want to remember your wedding day forever. You don’t want to be paying for it that long.

Wedding photographers are skilled at capturing the magic of your wedding. As you can imagine, costs for wedding photographers cover a wide range. Everything depends on the photographer, location, and photography package. You can pay anywhere from several hundred dollars to $15,000 for photography at a “destination” wedding. The average cost of wedding photography in the United States is in the $2,600 range.

With some strategic planning, you can save money on your wedding photography and still love the results. Let’s look at five ways to make this happen:

Have a Budget and Know Your Price Point

The first way you can save money on wedding photography also applies to almost every other aspect of the wedding. You want to know two things:

1. How much do you have to spend on your entire wedding experience?
2. How much of that total budget will you spend on photography?

The important thing is to set a firm price point that you won’t go over. This will help you avoid “budget creep,” that phenomenon where your spending inches upward regardless of your plans.

Comparison Shop

You’ll have a lot of different factors to consider when choosing a photographer. Photography style, package options, and price will vary greatly between photographers. Don’t be afraid to shop around.

Look around online for photographers in your area. Check out any wedding fairs that might be happening. Wedding fairs are events where vendors in the wedding industry set up booths and display their services. You can have fun discovering all the different wedding-related options in your area and getting ideas for your big day. In particular, you can check out different photographers to see who might fit your style and budget.

Once you’ve narrowed down the field of photographers somewhat, set a time to talk to your finalists. Ask questions about the entire process. Look at what’s included in their different packages as well as the price. You may notice you have certain “must-have” criteria as well as some that are “cool – at the right price.” By shopping around, you can ensure that you get what you want for the best possible price.

Network

Maybe you know a photographer. Maybe someone in your family or friend group knows one. Ask around for referrals. Crowd-source your photographer hunt to see if you can’t find that great photographer with the amazing prices. If you have a personal connection, sometimes you can get “family” pricing or at least “friend-of-the-family” pricing.
You may also find that someone knows a photographer who’s just starting out. Photographers with less experience usually have lower prices. Many new photographers are more open to including extras in their packages or offering discounts. They want to build a customer base and know that word will get out if they provide a good value.

Ask for Discounts

You know that old saying, “It never hurts to ask?” Sometimes it can hurt not to ask – especially when it comes to discounts and your wallet. Don’t be afraid to ask all the photographers you interview what type of discounts they offer.
Some common discounts include:

• Earlybird – Some photographers will give you a small discount for booking well in advance of your wedding.
• Payment in Full – Sometimes you can save some money by paying the full price upfront. This can also apply to cash payments.
• Off-Season/Off-Peak – Weddings are typically on a Saturday. In most places, they’re more common in late spring and early summer. You might be able to get a discount for having a weekday wedding or for having a fall or winter wedding.
• Referrals – Photographers will sometimes offer a discount if you refer new customers to them.

Minimize the Photographer’s Time Working

Part of a photographer’s fee is based on the time spent photographing you and your wedding party. Another part is time spent editing your photos. By keeping both of these times as short as possible, you can save money.

You can reduce the actual photography time by choosing what part of your schedule you most want professionally photographed. Some iconic moments occur in most weddings that you will definitely want to be photographed: the walk down the aisle, the vows, etc.4 But what about the rest of the day? Do you want “First Look” photos? Do you want the photographer there while you’re getting ready? Do you want them to stay for the majority of the reception?

You may find that you can use your wedding party and other family and friends to take photos of some of the fun but less important moments. By limiting your professional photographer’s focus to the most significant moments, you can also reduce photo-editing time. This can add up to major savings.

It may take a little extra time and patience to go through all these steps to find a reasonably-priced wedding photographer. If you’re willing to put in the effort, you can get the wedding photos you want at a price you won’t regret.