Photography - Splurge or Save?

Splurge! These last a lifetime!

Splurge, the only parts besides rings that are pretty much forever

We totally splurged, it was at the top of my priority list and I’m in LOVE with my photographer.

Splurge but we are saving by booking photo and video together. We got full day coverage for both plus engagement session canvas print and photo album with all digital rights and all edited photos

SAVE BIG TIME!!!

I scoured Instagram for photographers (because we all know there are a lot). Each photographer I found and fell in love with had an investment of $5000+ for the packages I was interested in. Just as I was about to settle on a high ticket photographer, I found one who offered everything the other photographers did INCLUDING TRAVEL (airfare and hotel), plus a complimentary engagement shoot for only $2400.

I got a photographer on a budget but the package did include an engagement shoot!

Discussing photography makes me bitter... I believe in finding a middle ground when it comes to this vendor. Photography was my #1 priority and ensuring I had a good person was at the very top of my list. I was willing to spend a bit more than others, but not completely break the bank. I have seen friends who hired cheap photographers that did terrible work!! But I paid what I thought was a lot for our photographer and was less than pleased with our photos. The company I really wanted to hire was much more than who I ended up hiring so I tried to rationalize and justify hiring someone less expensive. I had seen some of her work and known someone who used her for their wedding. I assumed my photos would be good based on what she was charging (definitely the price of a pro) but I was wrong. So, I do think good photographers have a tendency to be more expensive but are absolutely worth it! So usually I'd say splurge (just not on who I hired)!

Both? I have friends who are photographers so I was going to hire one of them because they offered me such a good deal. I am thinking of hiring two of them now though to get more perspectives; plus even though I'm hiring two I would still be spending less than hiring someone I didn't know.

Splurge-ish. I did find one photographer I'm in love with, but its just under $5k for the typical wedding package. I can't justify that. This is definitely the vendor that will have the highest price tag though, it's the most important to me.

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I'm sorry the photographer didn't fit within your budget. Did they have any other packages you would be happy with? Or are you looking for a typical wedding package?

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That's awesome! When are you taking your engagement photos?

This is the third most expensive line item of our wedding (after venue and catering). What's the point of spending so much money on a beautiful dress, gorgeous florals, and perfect decorations if you are going to skimp on visually preserving memories of them?

Somewhere in between splurge and save. We're ready to spend a good amount on a photographer and/or videographer, but we don't want to be outrageous.

I was prepared to spend a lot on good photography. I had quotes from 1300 all the way to 3800. The one we went with was 2000$. Our photographer is amazing! He also gave us a pretty good deal on our package due to my fiancé being active duty and deployed when we hired him.

Probably Save

Splurge, but luckily we didn't have to really.

I definitely splurged on the photographer. It is one of the most important days of my life and i

My husband and I decided to try to save and used a friend of a friend who I thought gave us a great deal. Wedding pictures are something you have to look back on for years. I am regretting not getting a professional photographer. We didnt get a chance to do half the pictures I wanted and I just found out they are all too photo shopped to be printed larger than a 4 by 6 so the couple nice ones we got we cant even really enjoy. Photographers can be expensive but they are definitely worth it. Always check out their portfolio first!

I’m not planning on hiring a photographer at all. After reading many forums of photographers opinions I’m appalled and want to avoid them on my wedding day like the plague. My family said this was crazy and I “need” a photographer. I told them I’d much rather have memories and bad amateur photos taken by our family than the extra headache of having to cater to photographers that may or may not do a good job. I’ve also seen forms of people spending $4000 plus dollars and they’re heartbroken because their wedding photos look like crap. I’m all set with that. These photographers really need to get their acts together.

This is where I say splurge. Cut back on little things that aren’t necessary if needed.. but photography I feel you get what you pay for. Plus in years to come as memories fade pictures speak for themselves 💛💛