Your wedding photography is one area you really should consider making a serious investment in. Now, obviously as photographers, we are always going to tell you that, it's our business and livelihood. But, it is also your memories of a special day, once the day is over what else is left but memories ? If you don't invest in a professional photographer you may end up with just a few snapshots and nothing special.
To quote Adrian one of our grooms "Let's face it; picking a photographer is a risk. We are putting our faith, trust, and our memories of an important event in the hands of people who at the time of hiring we really don't know very well. You only have to google 'disastrous wedding photographers' to be regaled with a string of nightmarish stories where this trust has been wholly misplaced."
There are photographers to suit all budgets, so you will find one for you, but do be prepared to invest time in researching and meeting them to help you make that final decision. And, on average expect to spend at least 5-10% of your overall budget on your photographer.
Prices range from £200 to £5000+, but on average you can expect to pay £1500 to £3000 in and around Essex.
We hear you asking why so much, all they do is stand there and click a button don't they ?
In short, no, there is so much more behind the prices for a wedding photographer........
Experience and skill level - how long have they been shooting weddings ? Are they constantly honing and learning new skills and styles to keep themselves fresh ?
The number of hours coverage on the wedding day, followed by all the hours spent editing your photos afterwards.
The products you receive. Are you having a professional, luxury album ?
The time of year - some photographers (not us) will charge higher prices in peak wedding season.
Insurance - any reputable photographer is covered by professional indemnity and liability insurance.
If you want to save some money, here are our top tips.
1. Consider hiring a photographer with less experience, but accept you may not get all the photos you want, or artistic/technical images.
2. Book your photographer as soon as possible, even if this is 2 years or more before your wedding date. Most photographers will book you in at their current price saving you from future price rises.
3. Choose to have fewer hours of coverage. Do you absolutely need to have professional photos of your bridal preparations, or are you happy for you and your bridal party to take pictures on your mobile phones ?
4. Take time to research and create a shortlist of photographers and then compare their packages to see what you actually get for your money.
These are just our thoughts and opinions and the price of wedding photography in Essex can vary dramatically depending on the factors we have listed above.
If you'd like to arrange a no obligation meeting to discuss your wedding photography ?
Want to learn more about us and how we work before booking a meeting, then read "The Journey"