Photography: Is it worth the splurge?

With everyone's phone having cameras on them now you could really skip out on photography. Especially if someone has portrait mode on their iPhone. Another suggestion is to try searching the internet for people who our getting their photography career off the ground. They're always much cheaper than the ones who have been doing it for years.

Could you reach out to some photographers and see if they can customize a smaller package for you? Maybe get 3-4 hours of coverage instead of 6-10 hours. I know a lot of people have nice phone cameras but there’s really no comparison between a picture on someone’s cell phone and a trained photographer with good equipment and editing skills.

I skimped on my photography and wish that I hadn’t. There are other places you can cut like programs, menus, favors, floral, etc. you only have one chance at pictures

Check our Snappr and see if there are any photographers in your area. They’re professional but a lot cheaper than some traditional wedding photographers. An friend of my FH used them for their engagement photos and it turned out great.


Do not, do not have people take pictures on their phones as one of the previous commenters suggested. You may get a couple of nice shots, but it does not equal professional photography. A guest will not be able to get closeup pictures during the ceremony, etc like a professional photographer can. You won’t be able to count on your friends taking pictures for all of the special moments, or that it will turn out good like you could with a professional photographer

In my opinion, it’s not worth it to splurge on one. I would hire someone who is good but not going to charge 1k. I am fine with pictures without photoshop or crazy editing just because at the end of day I’m going to remember how I felt and not care about crazy good pictures. If that makes sense?

I wouldn't consider 75 guests to be a "very small" wedding by any means. At the end of the day when your dress is tucked into your closet and the catering is all gone, photographs are all that you'll have left of one of the biggest days of your life. I think it's worth the splurge.

I think the cost is worth it. The pictures of a very important day in your lives that you're spent a lot of time, energy, and money on. I think it's well worth it for the ability to look back and see everyone who shared it with you and the people you might no longer have with you in years to come. Just something to think about.

I would rate a good photographer #1. A bad photographer will make you hate your wedding day photos and miss shots you’ll agonize over for a long time. A great photographer will capture amazing shots of you, your friends & family, and all the planning you do for your wedding day. It’s the only thing you’ll have to remember your day, and even see moments you missed.


It took us a while to find a pro for less than $2000 and we cut the package to 4 1/2 hours which helped a lot! We did from first look to dinner served. Well worth it.

I think it’s completely worth it. There’s just no contest between the iPhone photos people took at my wedding and the pro sneak peek I got (stills waiting on the rest). Even my rehearsal photos taken on my brother’s fancy camera don’t look as good. the food will be eaten, flowers will die, dress will be packed up, but the photos are what you’ll have in your home for decades. I think it’s really worth it.

To me the photographer is the most important vendor and the only one that we are splurging on because we will ALWAYS look back on these photos. It is one of the most important days of your life so capturing it is important.

I suppose it boils down to how important photos are to you. For me, a quality photographer was #1 on the importance list; everything else ranked lower. Because it was such a high priority for me, I definitely splurged to get exactly who I wanted. At the end of the day, these will be the only tangible items you have left to remember your wedding (other than your new spouse!); it would be terrible to have these memories tarnished through bad or amateur photos.

Case in point, my sister decided in August to move her wedding up to this past October. She and her husband were on a tight budget due to the lack of time, so they decided to spend less on a photographer (who was definitely less experienced than other options). When she received her pictures back, she was disappointed with a majority of them. Had she spent a little more on a photographer, she may have ended up happier with her photos (of course, there's always a chance they could have been just as bad, but if you do your due diligence, it's definitely less of a risk to go with someone with more experience).

I think a photographer is worth the money. I'd suggest looking for one that's a reasonable price but I think having one is a must. Phones can only do so much. Good luck and congratulations!!

I would never forego professional photography! I got married almost 3 months ago and we look at our photos all of the time and have used them so much already. At the end of it all, photos (& videos if you so choose) are all you have left when your wedding day is over. You don’t want it captured by your friends iPhone! I’d suggest cutting back in other areas and splurging on a good photographer. I assure you it’s worth it!

My philosophy is the food and music is what the guests remember but the photographer is your memories. There are ways to decrease the total cost. Lots of local "up and coming" photographers are cheaper. I had a quote for 900 from a newer photographer and that included an engagement session. She wanted photos for her portfolio. I ended up going with a different photographer that fit our vibe a little more and was available all day with a second photographer.

With that said, this is totally a personal choice!

In my opinion Photography is the one thing you shouldn’t skimp on because those photos are what you have after the day goes by so fast and gives you and your husband the opportunity to relive the whole day that you may not have seen. Also you want your guests and friends to be enjoying the day and not taking phone pictures... even with good iPhones, it’s all about the angles, poses, and the art of photography. We are splurging on ours

I do consider photography a necessity. At the end of the day, yes, you will have memories and HOPEFULLY someone took some pictures on their phone, but having professional pictures of your day is all you will have to look back on!

It depends on how important photos are to you. But if photos are important I would say it is worth the splurge.

My friend got her photos as part of the package with her venue and she only got 300 photos back and she hates a lot of them. I spent about $2000 on photos and got over 1500 back and love a lot of them.

If you do your research you can probably find someone with work you like that's within your budget. It'll just take some work.