No photographer

I live in Thousand Oaks also, and getting married in SB. We are going with Head & Heart Photography, not sure if they service Ventura County, but worth a shot. They have a variety of packages that let you get just a few hours, if that's all you want to get those intimate wedding photos. Also, wedding photos don't have to be "posed". You can find photographers that take mostly candid to get the style you prefer. What ever you you choose, best of luck!!

Personally, I like the uniformity and organization of a photographers photos. I also just can't justifying relying on my guests to capture the sweet moments my husband and I will share with each other and our guests. We would rather everyone enjoy themselves and live in the moment rather than snap photos all night

One thing that I’ve seen done, but I don’t know if I personally would do this, is the couple provided a throwaway camera to everyone and asked that they use it all up before the wedding ended. They got a bunch of really unique photos that way and they didn’t regret not having a photographer because it wasn’t important for them to have professional photos like that done. It’s all your preference if you want them or not really. Some people are very happy just getting guest photos. I on the other hand really want the professional photos done and made sure I got a photographer who I know does a great job. As others have said, $4,500 seems like a lot and for my area, that’s the price for a top notch photographer who is very well-known. If you do choose to go for having a photographer, just know that there are cheaper options out there too!

I didn't have a photographer for my first wedding. We went as cheap as possible and that included skipping pro photos. Obviously that didn't work out and now I'm glad I didn't spend the extra money, but before that divorce I did wish I had gotten a professional photographer.

For this wedding, I decided to bite the bullet and spend the money (about $2700 for 8 hours) for a photographer because I want to have nicer photos of an event that we're putting a lot of effort into and be able to look back on those pictures in the future. You really just can't get the same quality photos from someone who isn't a professional.

View Quoted Comment What we plan on doing is having my FH’s father take pictures before we start our ceremony as he has an amazing camera and he is extremely talented. We are then buying a bunch of instant Polaroid cameras and we hope that our guests will just have fun with it throughout the night taking selfie’s and pictures and then they’re going to put all of those Polaroids in a basketAnd then we are taking those photos and putting them in a wedding book

Many of the photographers that we’ve talked to have just annoyed us to no end. I had one photographer actually asked meIf I wanted him there for the ceremony as well as the reception.... I thought the wedding ceremony was the most important part, but I guess somehow it’s not if he really had to ask me if I wanted him there for both the ceremony and the reception. After him and a few others I’ve interviewed I’ve come to realize that I do not like many photographers and I’d much rather go without having to cater to them and deal with their ridiculousness on my wedding day. In my opinion I think the only good photographers that are out there cost at least four grand and that’s money that I don’t think is really worth it personally

View Quoted Comment This is exactly what we’re doing! We are then putting them all in a photo book.My FH’s dad will be taking photos before the ceremony as he has a wonderful camera and a great talent but after interviewing these photographers they’ve scared me out of even wanting one at my wedding

There is definitely a compromise between $4500 and no photographer. I would be hugely disappointed to not have pictures of our day to show family and friends that missed it, our future kids and to be able to look back whenever I wanted. I would choose the third option: find a cheaper photographer, that price is insane. We live in an expensive area, have two photographers and a videographer and we are paying less than that (not by a lot) but there were much cheaper packages and options available

We spent $3,200 on our photographer but there were a ton of options for less (either less experience or less hours). I would be heartbroken if we didn't have our photos. I love them!

View Quoted Comment How large is your wedding? I know someone that does beautiful work but she tends to like smaller, more intimate weddings. She’s just starting to transition into doing photography as a full-fledge biz so her prices are still pretty low.


Or if you want, I can go and take pics for you with my DSLR. Just feed me cake and dessert since I didn’t get any at my own wedding (all the guest ate it before I could make my way to the dessert table).

View Quoted Comment I’m so glad you got a photographer for your big day! My parents skimped out on theirs (25 years ago) and their pics literally had waiters arms in the shot, heads cut off, and 80% of the photos were cloudy looking. Lol I made sure to hire a decent photographer after seeing those.


What area do you live in? I think OP’s $4500 quote is due to being in the LA area. My wedding was in San Diego and $4500 was also average for a mid-tier photographer.

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I am feeling the same about not getting photos done. but at the same time, I do not want to rely on my friends and family to capture moments either. if they do not snap any, then I have no photo memories to share.
I am having a photographer to shoot the ceremony and some of the reception. they are not doing the basic family line up photos. all candid shots.

Also try cheapshots and see if they are avail in your area. they are $500 for 2 hours and 75+ shots.

Omg I’m still looking the pricing is crazy

Honestly, not paying the money for a photographer would be nice but I've heard that's actually the one thing people wished they spent more money on or spent more time on.
After everything is said and done, those pictures are everything you have. It's a good way to cut out cost, but those are your memories!

I’d be devastated without our wedding photos! Those, and our videos, are my favorite things we took away from our wedding (besides being married of course). I enjoyed seeing my guests photos, but they just don’t compare to what a professional can do!

I hate taking pictures I don’t like being in them or seeing them. Oh but honey I could not imagine not having wedding photos posed or not. We have a daughter and I think about how often I look back at her newborn and 1 year photos and if I didn’t have those I would be miserable.

View Quoted Comment Funny enough, we were just looking at my parents’ wedding album last night, even though they’re divorced! It was fun seeing relatives in their younger days all dressed up and the album itself is stunning.


I live in CT, so there’s probably a good chance that is why there’s such a difference! My photographer is costing me $2,650 for 10 hours plus the engagement session. I did get quoted almost $5,000 from a photographer but she was nationally known for her work.

I am paying a decent amount, but also my photographer is traveling for it. We did our engagement shoot with him out in the mountains and it was amazing. I already know I am getting high quality product and talent. The purchased the package for all day photography. I love the candid shots and that's what he specializes in. I did blow up some of our engagement shots on canvas and I love it, we even had our puppy in the photos which make it even more special to us. I will let you know if it is worth it in a few months if I remember. But I already know it is or I wouldn't have done it. If I wouldn't have found this photographer and the talent, I would have definitely found something cheaper.

DAM FOTOGRAPHY!