The general rule of thumb for wedding photographs is to allocate between 5 and 10% of your total wedding budget. As it is such a big investment on your part, what will really matter is what you get in return.
Many photographers will retain the copyright to your pictures - it is their work after all. This mean that if you want re-prints you will have to pay extra for them, so make sure you find out the cost of these beforehand so you can add it into your sums. Be careful though as it can easily add hundreds to you bill.
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As well as the above you will also need to know the answers to these 8 questions
1. How many hours’ work will you do for the price and are your travel and accommodation costs included
2. What are my choices of album and how many pictures are included in the price
3. Are there any special deals or discounts available - check the payment schedules including how much deposit you will need to pay to secure their services, also ask when the balance is due. Some photographers will give you a discount if you book and pay upfront.
4. Can I purchase the rights to my photographs - you may be able to get digital image files with a usage rights agreement so you can make your own prints.
5. What about added tax - beware of photographers who quote prices without tax added in, it can be a sign that they are trying to make their prices look artificially low.
6. Is there a practice run included - it could be an idea to practice posing together and get an idea of what looks good, as well as what doesn’t
7. What happens if we run over schedule Will you stay on and charge us the extra (remember to ask how much this will be) or will you leave at the agreed time and miss our speeches or first dance
8. When can we expect delivery of our photographs - many couples like to have a preview of their images either online whilst on honeymoon or from a CD rom sent to them. Hard copies can take a month or two to arrive after your wedding date.
And Finally
It is often worth paying that bit extra for a larger selection of photographs. If your budget is tight don’t be tempted to opt for a cheaper package or a lesser quality photographer. The best way to save money is to hire them for a shorter time ask them to just photograph before and after the ceremony. Ask a friend to take pictures during the reception and provide your guests with disposable cameras for some quirky shots throughout the wedding reception
Author Resource:-
Georgina Clatworthy is a dedicated full time writer who composes informative articles related to wedding favors and wedding. She is connected with 1WeddingSource, today’s leading wedding social networking planning site.
