Say Cheese!

Choosing a wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you'll make along the way (I know, I know, aren't they all?!).  If I had an unlimited budget, I have a few I'd LOVE to book, but their wedding packages START in the thousands of dollars.... yes, that's plural "thousands". Unfortunately, we just don't have that kind of money to spend.


But somehow, I still want photos like this:
(of note - none of these photos are mine and use of them will not extend pass this reference)

FUN/CANDID...

CREATIVE/UNIQUE...

ROMANTIC/BEAUTIFUL...

DETAILED/PERSONAL...

I can't say that "thousands" is too expensive or that it's ridiculous to charge that much, because the truth is... talent isn't cheap and compromising on something like wedding photos that will last forever, is not an option.  But, budget dictates many things.  So... in an effort to book a good photographer without breaking the bank, we're trying something a little different and it's called "calculated risk", haha.  We have two options of "budding photographers" who are interested in the wedding business, but who only have a wedding or two under their belt and no real portfolio to share.  One is a guy I work with, the other gal is a friend of a friend.  Our third and strongest option, is a professional... but someone who keeps a "normal" day job during the week and maintains low wedding package pricing on the weekends because it's a self-described "hobby" not a necessary income source.  There's also a potential fourth option, through a family connection.... but I'm not sure we'll consider that one seriously.

• Option 1 - E at $1,000 negotiable (unlimited coverage)
• Option 2 - LA at $425 (wedding & engagement, unlimited coverage + rehearsal)
• Option 3 - R at $875 (bonus engagement session, 7 hours coverage)
• Option 4 - J at $695 (family discount, we'd get the bronze pkg for the lowest price)

R has this quote at the bottom of his website, which I LOVE:  "It is one thing to photograph people.  It is another to make other care about them by revealing the core of their humanness" ~Paul Strands~

Now, future hubs and I are reasonable people, we know that we can't get the best of the best on our budget.  But we DO know, that we don't want to compromise so much that our wedding pictures don't stand out from the rest.  We want the photos to feel as special as we did that day.  So far, we have met with E and LA... we'll be meeting with R this coming weekend.  We hope to feel confident enough to make a decision after that!  I'll keep you updated!

There are SO many options out there, how did you go about narrowing down your search for a wedding photographer within your budget?