Photography Anxiety?

I definitely understand the anxiety for the price, weddings are SO expensive! I'm also a super frugal person in my day to day, so spending thousands on a wedding is insane to me. Photography is our most expensive vendor, just under $2k, but it's the most important to me and I think we got a great deal. To me, I would just feel horrible if after everything with our wedding, we didn't have beautiful pictures that we loved to remember it.

I would say I'd advise against hiring your fiancés brother as your photographer. A lot of brides have bad experiences with "friend-ors" that can oftentimes end a good relationship. Another thing is if you want getting ready pictures, would you be comfortable having your FBIL taking photos of you as you're getting into your dress? Lots to think about. Hope it works out!

I didn’t want to blow my budget on photography so I asked around to photographers if any would be willing to consider partial-day photography. I saved a ton by only hiring our photographer for half the day— pre-reception things: getting ready, ceremony, and portraits. I got plenty of wonderful professional pictures , and for reception moments, have plenty of great captures from guests so don’t feel like anything was missed. It was a ‘compromise’ that worked out really well for us.

Go with the professional! Maybe look for one who lives by your venue with a similar style to the girl you used already!

When I was getting quotes it was so expensive I had so much anxiety about it too because that's really a large chunk of a budget but you really do need memories and those moments captured

I think everyone is different. In my case I’ll have anxiety if I know I don’t have a good photographer to document my day. A hobby photographer is amazing for side photos of pre and post events but not of the actual wedding. A lot goes behind a wedding and there needs to be someone profesional to document it. I’m sure you can find a great photographer in the town you’re having the wedding to avoid the travel expenses. There was two thing I didn’t cut on cost and one was the photographer because that’s the memory I’ll have forever and the other was the entertainment for my guest (food, dance, drinks, ect) this is what they took from our wedding and they’ll remember forever.

I’m spending $4,200 on our photography and $2,600 for our video. (just for reference) I personally have no problems spending that money nor do I have any anxiety about it. Our photographer and videographer have done many weddings together and I have spoken many times on the phone with them and have seen many of their portfolios and both my FH and I LOVE their work. We are actually meeting up with both of them in 2 weeks for our Engagement pictures and I am so excited!

I would suggest that if you are having anxiety about your pictures then I would find a professional and just explain how you would love to have him (your FH brother) celebrate with you guys on your wedding day and not have to stress about taking pictures.

I couldn’t imagine having the perfect wedding just to get pictures back that I’m not thrilled with. That happened to my one friends when she got married 5 years ago. It was one of her dads good friends who took the pictures and when she got the pictures back after the wedding, she did NOT like them and a lot of the “special moments” were missed. She regrets not spending the money on a professional.

That’s a decent price, we had a package with our engagement photos but she also included a second photographer and all day no specific amount of hours. It was about $3500, plus videography was a separate thing for about $**** (It was a bundle with the DJ so I don’t remember the exact price) but our edited video snip was so worth it. However if I had to choose I would pay for the photos over and over because they are amazing and are what we share the most and have all over our home. Hope this help!

Photography was the one thing we agreed to splurge on and were expecting like $2500-$3000 but we decided to look on ThumbTack to find professionals who are often like have the price! If you're patient and willing to comb through the not-so-great ones... you can find some real gems! We're meeting with a photographer we're pretty dead set on who gave us a quote of $1,200 for engagement photos and like 7 hours of coverage and her work is BEAUTIFUL.

The money anxiety is real but to me, this is the most important expense in a wedding. The flowers wilt, the cake gets eaten, and the alcohol is drank but in 20 years all you have are the memories and the photos. To me, that's the most important part. I'm paying $1800 for bridals, engagements, and 8 hours of wedding coverage. We just got our engagement photos back (OBSESSED!) and I am very satisfied with the amount I'm paying.