Getting the pictures you want at a price you can live with in a bad economy.

Even more than the economic news on the television, I am feeling a tightening in the budgets that a lot of brides have to work with for their weddings. It affects my business, of course, but it also leads me to try innovative ways of making my wedding photography more affordable. So here are some compromises that I hope will help.

1. As I have have posted, I really don’t think it is a good idea to use friends or relatives to photograph your wedding, but certain parts of the wedding make more sense than others. For instance, if your uncle Bob can cover the hairdresser and the end of the reception, you could use a package that includes less time and still have a pro shoot the hard and very important parts such as the ceremony, the posed shots, the first dance, ect.

2. I post an a la cart price sheet that includes all sorts of coffee table books that are incredible, at least I think so. There is no reason (other than some discounts with packages) that you couldn’t wait until your first or 2nd anniversary to order your book. By then, you should be very familiar with your files and have the time to design the book in your imagination.

3. This one is a little self serving, but you could have your guest donate toward your photography or cake or venue in lieu of gifts.

4. Lastly, you could set up, with your photographer’s permission, a payment schedule to space your payments over, say 6 months. so by the wedding date your package is paid for.

5. My last idea is that you use a pro for your files but have a friend or student designer who knows photoshop, design your album. There are album companies out there that will allow brides or others to design their own books and it could be an cheaper option.

I hope this helps.\\

Le Photographer