Skipping on professional photography?

I did not have a professional photographer for my first wedding and I totally regretted it. I cut other areas so I could have it.

My "friend" got married last Friday and hope she had a professional photographer because the photos I've seen on Facebook that her family and friends are posting are horrible. Blurry, out of focus, red eyed, dark or too much flash. Smh That's exactly why we want an unplugged wedding. I don't want people to see our wedding through bad photos.

Photography to me is one of my most important parts. And the reason why I am paying my photographer almost 4000.00 to do my wedding. I want those photos and those memories. I want to be able to put professional photos up on my wall in my house. I want to look back and think "damn I looked amazing on that day" I want the photographer to capture the moment where my FH and I say our vows.

I worry about this because fw does NOT like to be photographed! Once I mentioned the cost of photography she said "well, then I guess we are not having a photographer". I'm cringing. My mom paid for my sister's photography so I was kinda hinting at my mom when I told her Crystal found out about how much the photography costs and now doesn't want one. My mom said, she's in for a big surprise when she sees how much a wedding costs. I was kinda hoping my mom would offer to pay but didn't. Though she did let it slip once that her and her bf were saving up $1000 to give us as a wedding gift!

Our photographer was the first person I booked. I would skimp somewhere else in order to afford a professional.

I wasnt going to have one because I hate myself in pictures. I found someone just starting out who wants to build her portfolio. I paid $300 for the entire day and I get 50 finished edited photos and a cd with all pics she takes and the rights! I still hate myself in pictures. I will prob only like 1 picture.

Photography was a priority for me. With my father being sick,( doing great now) pictures are priceless for me. I searched for one that has worked at my venue due to shadowing, and signed the 2nd one I met. Her packages are inclusive and reasonable. I also splurged on video as well for the same reason. I have been working lots of OT to pay for it, but it is worth it to me.

Photography is big for us too. It's true that other than the marriage, photos are what you have left of the day. They spark memories.

FH and I aren't particularly sentimental but I do plan on having our wedding photos decorate our home. IMO, it's better to have a cheap student or beginning photographer to do photos than trust old Uncle Fred for pics.

I feel kind of the same way. I found a photographer for $500 that will do all editing and put everything on a usb for me to print myself, which is fine. We are only having her around before the ceremony for wedding party/immediate family pics, the ceremony and maybe a few afterwards for grandparents so they wont have to travel to a different location. Like the article, I also don't want a stranger hanging around my reception snapping 1000 pics of me all night. I think what we are doing is more than enough for us. Everyone is different though.

I am totally grappling with this now. I have the officiant, venue, caterer, and dj all secured. Photography seems like the next thing and at this point, while we can do it financially, I am just plain tired of sending out deposits right now and the bank account needs to replenish itself.

For us, both a 1st marriage, we are not having children, we are at an age in life where we are past that. However, I do have two grown children from a previous relationship. So, it isn't like our children will be looking at our wedding pictures in years to come so hiring a top-notch photographer isn't a priority. Still, I want some memories of this day. Maybe I will have grandchildren some day and they can look at the wedding photos of grandma and step-grandpa - maybe these photos can show them that anyone can find happiness at any age or stage of life. With that said, I want some photographs, but I'm not about to pay $2,000.00 for one, especially for pictures of my shoes standing alone. Some nice photos of us, bridal party and family. That is it. So, I have just recently registered with our local photography school here in Boston (New England School of Photography). My photography budget is no more than $900.00. There is one generic photography company that keeps calling and emailing me saying they have a package for $895.00. Yup, they say you get what you pay for, and I truly believe that, but I don't need hundreds of photos of just anything. So, I am looking into the cheapest packages/student photographers, and taking our chances. Any memory of that day will be fine. They don't have to be exquisite pics. If we were having children I might feel differently.

Speaking from personal experience, PROFESSIONAL is a MUST! My 1st wedding 20 yrs ago was done on a tight budget and me not knowing any better, so a family friend promised and was paid ...we ended up with one dark church photo, a few at the beginning of the reception...then nothing. I agree with Kim's...you just never know when you're going to have all your friends and family together to actually be photographed...take advantage of the situation but make sure it's done correctly,professionally.

Wedding photography was at the top of our priority list. We budgeted the 2nd largest amount of money for this one thing and I was adamant that I would have the photographer that I wanted. Luckily for me my FH told our photographer that he planned on proposing and knew that I wanted to get married on one of two dates so he'd already put the deposit down before the proposal. It also really helps that the photographer is a good friend. I would hate to look back years from now and think about how I should've spent the money on a professional photographer.

The only reason I let FH talk me into having a wedding was to have a chance for wicked good photography. I knew what photographer I wanted, and having the wedding hinged on booking her. Since the photography is the entire reason I'm not just going to the courthouse, I have to say that I completely disagree with this article.

I couldn't imagine not having professional photos taken. You are going to hang these pictures on the wall and look at them every day when you pass them. If you're sentimental, you may show your kids when they are older (my parents hate each other so I've never seen wedding photos and they have zero pictures of them in the house). Someone taking a picture with a cheap flip phone is a LOT different than a professional photographer (what I'm realizing from dress shopping since I left my iPhone at home. I now only have crappy photos of me in the dress!)

I absolutely hate photos of myself so they aren't important to me. My FH is paying for the photography.

In the search box, there are countless threads where pro photography was cut from the budget or a pro photographer was not researched well enough and the couple's photos were permanently ruined Because photos are all you have besides memories, I couldn't imagine not going with a well researched pro.