A wedding photographer is going to be a significant expense at your wedding no matter what. Getting a good one is more than worth it as the pictures will last long after the wedding cake is eaten and the reception guests have left. Still, there are some smart ways to decrease the financial onus that many brides feel when consulting with the photographer. Here are 5 of the best ways to save:

Tip 5: Skip the engagement photos.
Some photographers offer engagement photos for free if you buy their services. If you can bargain with them, tell them that you want to skip the engagement photos and just get the wedding photos instead at a discount.

Tip 4: Keep it short.
Only hire the wedding photographer for the ceremony, for a few formal family shots and the first hour or so of the reception. For more coverage of the reception, just have your friends take pictures with disposable cameras. It will save you a lot of money and you’ll get a great mix of professional and impromptu shots.

Tip 3: Research, research, research.
When you meet the right photographer, you’ll know. But to get to that meeting you’ll have to do a lot of research first. Luckily TheGoodWedding.com makes it much simpler to find a qualified wedding photographer within your taste and budget, but you should still meet with at least 3 to 4 before you make a decision. Find someone you’re comfortable with, like their past work and is willing to give you their total package cost up-front, so you’re not surprised after the reception.

Tip 2: Skip the album services.
Leather albums are pricey and pretty outdated at this point. Just skip ordering the album, get the digital copies of your photos (see #1 below) and make your own albums online. This way you save money now and have the option to make different albums down the line as your tastes change. You’re not stuck with the one and only option you choose today. Much less stressful and one less wedding planning decision to make. Win-win.

Tip 1: Go digital (No prints!)
Digital photography is less costly than film, and with technological advances in equipment digital images are no longer a sacrifice in quality. Actually, many digital photographs look better than film. With digital, you can get the original files and keep them on your computer forever. They’ll never fade or rip. You can re-touch or re-print them any way you like as many times as you like. Even better, for digital photographs you don’t have to pay sales tax! In California, this is a sizeable savings.

For a full step-by-step guide on wedding savings, please read our blog series:
How to Plan (and save on) your Wedding in 5 steps

Plan a good wedding. Start a good life.
This post was written by TheGoodWedding.com | Los Angeles Wedding Planning Directory