But you do not have to buy into this insanity.

Wedding Budget Tip #1 – Dispose of the Disposable Camera

This is quite possibly one of the worst ideas I have seen over the last 25 plus years.  The general idea is that if you buy several hundred dollars worth of disposable cameras, someone will accidentally capture a few nice pictures at your wedding.  The reality is that you will end up with all sorts of pictures, most of which will not be suitable to show your children unless they are adults.

The truth is that if you want the moment captured indelibly in time, you will have to spend the money for a professional wedding photographer.  A professional photographer, working with your other vendors, will be in the right place, at the right time to capture the best snapshots from your wedding ceremony and reception.  That’s not even mentioning that a wedding photographer will have considerably better equipment at their disposal, capturing moments that a disposable or even most consumer-grade digital cameras simply cannot.

While a professional wedding photographer will cost considerably more than a few cases of disposable cameras, the bottom line is that you get a far greater value and service with a photographer.  In other words, I am referring to the value instead of the price.  The value of a good wedding photographer is 10,000 times that of disposable cameras in the hands of your guests.  They have the eye to capture the scenery, the emotion and the action as it unfolds – something that will not be in most of the pictures from your guests.

So what do you look for when hiring a wedding photographer?

Ask to see samples.  Any photographer that has been taking photos for any length of time will have a portfolio for you to review.  After looking through a number of photos, you will start to get a feel for the photographer’s style, which is extremely important since the finished product will be photos of you and your guests.

Ask about professional affiliations and memberships.  A lot of photographers that I have worked with over the years are serious about their craft and belong to one or more associations.  While it does not specifically guarantee excellent service, it is definitely a step in the right direction.  Some associations may include Professional Photographers of America (PPA), the Association of Wedding Photojournalists (WPJA), Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) and American Professional Wedding Photographers Association (APWPA) to name just a few.

Ask about certifications or degrees.  Many of these photography associations promote education, certifications and even degrees for their members.  While attainment does not guarantee satisfaction, it does further demonstrate their commitment to their craft and ultimately, to you as their customer.

The last question you should be asking them is how much.  After you have done your homework and asked lots of other questions, you hopefully have a good idea of the value and service that they are offering.  If it feels right, then ask the question that most people like to ask first – how much for this package or service.

Charles E. Snyder III
Certified Master of Ceremonies
Extraordinary Weddings
717.718.5218