Question 1

I want to book our photographer and was wondering how I can keep the price down without compromising on quality?

Accepted Answer

Once you've decided on your budget, it's really about shopping around and making sure you find a photographer that fits your day. Knowing what you want is one way of keeping your costs down or up, depending on how you look at it. Do you need an album, or can you do it yourself? Do you want a pre-wedding shoot? Do you need full-day coverage? Are you getting married mid-week? How far in advance are you booking your wedding? I can only speak about my own business, as each photographer will be different, but I only offer full-day coverage for Saturday weddings. However, if the couple doesn't want getting-ready shots or first dance pictures, I'll usually do a tailored quote. Once we are within about eight months of a wedding date, I'll then take a look at shorter packages. Shorter bookings are a lot more expensive per hour, but it's usually relevant to the quantity of images you'll receive. Most of the key events at a wedding happen within a four- to five-hour time span, especially if you put the speeches before the meal. One thing I would not suggest doing is getting uncle Bob to photograph the wedding. Now, unless uncle Bob has two camera bodies, two great prime lenses and has shot his fair share of weddings, it's safe to say he probably won't do a great job. Wedding photography is about knowing what's going to happen before it generally does and being able to compose and expose a shot perfectly in a fast-paced environment when, more often than not, the light is challenging.

Question 2

My hubby-to-be and I want to wow our guests with a photo booth. What should we ask before booking?

Accepted Answer

Having a photo booth at your wedding will provide lots of fun and laughter for your guests, and it's a superb way to record happy memories. Here are some questions you should ask before booking a supplier: What type of photo booth do you offer? Think about what is going to fit into your venue, and tie in with your theme and budget. Also consider how many people you want to accommodate in a photo at any one time. Do you provide attendants? The answer to this question should be yes. You don't want to worry about having to keep things in order and ensuring the guest book is updated etc. Do you provide props, and if so, can themed props be provided? The quality of props can vary, so make sure you ask to see a sample before booking. Can our photos be personalised with wording and borders? You might want to include Mr & Mrs and the date of your wedding or incorporate a theme or particular colour into the design. What is included in the packages? Check if mileage needs to be added on top of the package price. Keep in mind that you need to make sure everything is set up before your guests arrive, and some companies will charge you for the time that the photo booth is sitting idle e.g. whilst speeches are made, so take this into consideration before committing.

FAQs and expert advice about photo & video booths / magic mirrors