Finding an affordable photographer and videographer

I would suggest finding a photographer that you love first and if you have any leftover funds in the budget then look for a videographer. The pictures will be more important than the video.

Jennifer nailed it. Cheap isn't good...good isn't cheap. You're right, you shouldn't make guests work. Hire what you can afford, skip the rest. It's better to hire a really good photographer than mediocre of both. Ones who are good don't work cheap. The end product of the mediocre one will be a waste of money. Priorities and proper research avoid mistakes.

If you can't afford really good ones, pick the photographer and dump all the money you have there.

Search photographer on your Facebook page, click on pages... it should bring up photographers near you. You can try the same with videographers but I didn't have much luck with that. Photographers in your area may know some people. Or you may be able to find a college student to do it if you're really on a budget. A lot of times you get what you pay for.

I have people from my small town traveling to Charleston, SC (4 hours away). They are my around my age and are reasonably priced. Photographer for engagement session and wedding is $1,000 and videography is $500 for two cameras

Which one is more important to you? The one that is more important to you spend more on. A few companies in my area do video, photo booth, and photography for one price and it doesn't seem too overly steep price wise. That could be your best bet. Try a search on Thumbtack because you get responses based on your budget for the vendor.

No students. No wedding newbies. They get in the way, are disruptive or don't know etiquette or how things flow at weddings...and the footage isn't impressive. In other words, don't be the person buying a 20 year old BMW to look fancy, when in reality, you cannot afford to own that car.

I found my photographer on Instagram from people who got married from my high school. My videographer was a friend of mine from college. I think the younger photographers are cheaper because they are just starting out making a name for themselves

No students, no beginners, no one without a name yet. They will be inexperienced, inefficient, they will get in all your other pros' way, and the results will be mediocre.

TT will get you the same population; beginners, people who can't fill their schedule any other way but to pay to bid on your job (yes, they make us pay.)

If your photography and video isn't really important, then go the student route. But don't be upset when the results don't look like pinterest.

Jenna, they're cheaper because they're inexperienced....and it will show. The overall experience on the day will suffer because of that too. Being cheap doesn't make a name for anyone, or win the favor of the right clients. There are zillions of those coming and going every day when they figure out it's not the gravy train they thought. No perceived good deal is really a good deal until you see the end product and are impressed.

I love thumbtack.com

My wedding photographer is a local woman who has known my mom for years. She loves taking pictures, and is doing it for cheaper than anyone else. I used her for my senior pictures and my engagement pictures, and love how they turned out.

We are lucky that one of my friends is married to an award winning photographer, but we are still paying him - he's been kind enough to do mates rates, but it's still $900. You get what you pay for, and wedding photographers are also specific in that they understand the format of weddings, many know the local venues etc. They know what pictures are important, they understand what you like and they also edit the photos - the editing is the most important and what students or newbies are not good at. If you are spending at all, choose someone good and pay for that.

Shanyn, neither of those situations are a wedding. Weddings are a rapid fire series of events that cannot be redone. Some of the most important moments are not posed, and a person who doesn't do weddings will miss them.

So much bad advice on one thread. OP, listen to Celia and Jay they are pros!

If budget is a serious concern, you might think about how much photography you really want. We had photos only of the ceremony. Some people arrange for all of the big "events" at the reception (first dance, cake cutting, etc.) to be at the very beginning, then have the photographer leave after that.

Also, consider getting just digital images. That preserves the photos. And then when you have more money later, you can get prints, albums, etc.

I learned by lesson very quickly about "getting what you pay for" when looking into photographers/videographers. There are many ways to cut costs in order to allow more wiggle room for this expense. We are paying $2,000 for photography and videography; but we are also getting married in the off season, 62 guests, DIY centerpieces. I feel that photography and videography are equally important. You will regret not having videography.

Shanyn, Celia told you right. A nurse may have medical knowledge but you wouldn't have one do heart surgery. Weddings aren't the place to practice.

Here are some photographers that I thought were reasonable:

Gonzalophotography.com

Attilaiuhasz.com

Justin kim photography (justinkimphoto.com)

Here are some videographers

Vierphotoandvideo.com

Ronin Media

Swan Works Films

I was shocked when I found out how much photographers were going to cost. We already knew we wanted to hire a friend of ours, who is a professional, and we were lucky enough that she gave us the friends and family discount. Even with that it is still going to be $1500 (I'm still debating on adding and extra shooter for an additional $300) which is a steal in my area. Most were starting at $2500. When you think about how many hours they are there with you and how much work they are putting into making your pictures look amazing it is really not that expensive. Trust me when I say this is something you don't want to skimp on.