Photography Stress

Where are you located? And what are you looking for? You can certainly find more expensive photographers but in my area $3K gives you a very decent range to choose from. Have you gone through the vendors section on here?

I have used WW search with some luck. I’m in NH and a lot in my area range around 4-6k and I just can’t manage to spend that! I have one I like but they want me to pay for rights to pictures on top of the package. I’m hoping another I like I can try to manage something with even a little over my budget. It’s just been a long frustrating and disappointing battle. :/

I got super lucky and found a great photographer who I know personally for under 1000. Just keep looking and rack your brain for people you may know. I also have a photographer in the family who was my backup plan

I’m not sure where you are in NH but try Laura Wagner Photography. She’s based out of MA but does travel and I’m almost positive she has packages in your budget.

View Quoted Comment I will look at her right now! Thank you!

Wow. For that you could get somebody great from anywhere and fly them in for the weekend! (Seriously, I see packages that offer that.)

I am using Freebird Photography out of Newburyport, MA. The owner, Kate, has been amazing to work with so far and my engagement pictures were stunning (way more beautiful than I could ever imagine)! The package we chose was $3,400 but she had a couple to choose from. I can't wait to work with her on my wedding day.

My FBIL and FSIL are getting married in Weare, NH in September, and they are using Once Like a Spark Photography and I think they're spending around $2,500. The pictures from this company also look beautiful!

Good luck!

Try looking in outlying areas 1-2 hours away to see if that helps. I found that location played a big part in cost. For instance, I got married in Sonoma, which is closer to the bay area, and those prices for photographers were easily over $3,000, with most being in the $5,000. I found one outside that area about an hour away who charged $1,200 for the same packages and was amazing. I don't even think she charged a travel fee, and even if she did, it would have still been a big cost-savings to use her.

I know we’re around the same area and looked at the same venue. I’d check out Cait Bourgault photography! We just used her for our engagement photos and REALLLLLLLY want to use her for our wedding because she’s amazing but have someone else we’re hiring that we equally love. I think her main package is 4,000 BUT she flat out told me in our first email that if we can’t afford that she’s always willing to work with what you can afford if you think she’s a good fit. I think she even had a package that was 3,000. Our engagement photos came out like a dream I literally can’t shut up about them.

Is there anyone you know, personally, who takes good photos? Maybe you could talk to a friend who understands your situation and is willing to help out. Another thing is maybe keep it a plugged in wedding, and use the wedsocial app and have everyone take photos of you during your wedding and attach them to the app. I am allowing everyone to take photos via their phones because I have noticed that you get the most candid shots from that. I don't want to miss a thing. We were lucky enough to find a venue that was not only under the breaking of an arm and a leg but includes a photographer who does amazing work and the first 100 photos - in an album - are free. I wish you the best of luck on this. I think the hardest part of getting married is finding a photographer because they are so incredibly expensive and know they can charge that because everyone wants pics of their wedding.