An Alternative to Disposable Cameras

Disposable Cameras Are Falling Out of Favor
It used to be an “in-thing” to have disposable cameras readily available for guests to snap photos at weddings.  The wedding couple purchases the disposable cameras in bulk, sets them on the tables, the guests take photos, leave the camera on the table and a few days after the wedding the bride and groom remember to have the photos developed.  These days, it is no longer fashionable to distribute disposable cameras because you can never be sure how the photos will come out in the hands of novice photographers.  You might get dozens of photos of your guests’ feet or the ceiling, over exposed or under exposed photos of otherwise great pictures.  In the end, you wasted your money on the cameras plus the cost of developing useless photos.

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101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 11: Photography and Videography

101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 11

With the cost of weddings spiraling upwards of $27,000 (depending on where you plan to have your wedding), and the unstable economy, many engaged couples are looking for ways to save money on their wedding. We, at Completely Weddings, have listed 101 ways to cut your wedding cost and thereby saving you money to use somewhere else such as your honeyn or savings for your first home.

Photography/Videography

77. Hire a student photographer – Many people will urge you not to skimp on your photos. While this is true, hiring a student photographer or even a talented family or friend isn’t a bad idea if you look at samples of their work first and know that they are good at what they do. Students often do better work because they are anxious to build up an impressive portfolio and impress instructors and future employers.

78. Get pictures from your guests – Encourage your guests, especially close friends and family, to take lots of pictures and send you copies or burn them to a CD. Oftentimes, it’s these people who get the best candid shots. Look through their pictures before you purchase everything from the photographer.

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Questions to Ask Your Photographer

During your selection process, you will need to know what questions to ask your potential photographers to best judge whether he or she is the right photographer for your wedding event. Below are some questions to ask your most potential photographers.

Will you be the photographer actually shooting our event?
Some larger studios have several photographers that they work with, and the one you are talking with might not necessarily be the one who will be at your wedding. If this is the case, (a) make sure that the portfolio you are looking at are works of the photographer who will show up at your wedding to take the pictures and (b) insist on meeting the person who will be and ask him/her the following questions.

Is ours the only wedding you’re shooting that day?
You want to make sure that your photographer will not be in a hurry to leave for his next wedding photography appointment or come late because the earlier appointment lasted longer than he anticipated. You want her to devote all her full attention to your wedding. [Read more]

Finding the Right Wedding Photographer

Research is Worth the Time

It is a given, but it is worth repeating — taking some time to research which wedding photographer is right for you will save you from disappointment later on.  Choose someone with a personality that fits with yours, someone who loves her job and committed to helping you realize your wedding vision.

Photographer’s Personality
Of all the wedding vendors who you will work with, your photographer has to be someone you are totally comfortable with.  Remember that this person will be following you around everywhere, from your bedroom while you are getting ready to the time you and your hubby leaves the reception.  If tension builds between you and your photographer, it will affect the quality of her photographs.

When you interview the photographers, explain your vision and your style.  Carefully observe how she reacts. Is she enthusiastic about it or does she interrupts and injects her own stories about her previous work or contests won?  You want someone who listens attentively and becomes excited about your day.  This emotion will show through in the pictures, too.  Therefore, first make sure that you are comfortable with this photographer before even looking at her work.
(Photo courtesy of Bella Pictures) [Read more]

Wedding Tips – Choosing A Wedding Photographer

Your wedding photographs are tangible records of your wedding and will serve as reminders of the moment you both promised to love, honor and cherish one another. This is the reason why choosing the right person or persons to take your wedding photographs is so important. Your wedding photographer must be a person that you are comfortable and will enjoy working with. During your wedding day you, your family and guests will be interacting with this person all day. Therefore, your decision to hire a photographer should be based on their style and personality, not just on price alone.

With the usual budget for wedding photography estimated to be between 5% to 10% of your total wedding budget, you and your future husband need to consider several questions before hiring a photographer. These series of articles are intended to help you make the right decision in hiring the person who will take lasting memories of your wedding day.
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