In the past when I shot film, the most important thing that a bride wanted was a great wedding album. In these days when you get literally thousands of pictures from your wedding, more is not better. Think about 10 years from now at a family get-together, which would be better? Everyone looking at a beautiful wedding album or getting the family around the computer to look at a thousand pictures. I would argue that the album is the best way to remember your wedding and many brides, who want files only, will never use the files other than to email them to friends or to make a small number of prints for personal use.
Tracie and Greg wedding reception at Landerhaven in Cleveland
The coffee table albums will give you the best and most lasting memory of your wedding, not the vast number of digital files. There is also a second consideration. Most photographers, myself included, will base our prices partly on the cost of our time. Time spent on correcting files, designing books, and of course the time shooting the wedding itself. If we could spend more of that time on the design and correction of the files for the book, there might be saving you could negotiate with the photographer. And I offer these suggestions as a photographer who offers packages with high res files only! Please note that this blog is from my perspective only and I welcome your comments. If a bride has a choice between getting the files and getting an album, I would suggest the album any day of the week.
Michael Steinberg
You make a very compelling point, inspiring me to revamp my wedding packages. I feel one of the more rewarding aspects of wedding photography is the creative process of the album.