photo by Julia Kinnuen Photography
First thing’s first – congrats on your engagement! Making the decision to say “yes” was an easy one, but now it’s time to make some tougher choices as you select the wedding vendors who will bring your dreams to life. Picking your wedding vendors has as much to do with trust as it does falling in love with their work, which is why hiring a professional is seriously important, especially when it comes to the person capturing your big day. It may be tempting to take an offer for a free wedding photographer, but we’re here to tell you why it’s not all it’s cracked up to be!
photo by Hinterland Stills
What Your Money Actually Covers
While it’s normal to wonder why wedding photography has such a steep price tag, there are actually several factors built into the cost – all of them meant to benefit you! Perhaps the more obvious reasons a photographer charges what they do has to do with the value of their knowledge and skill, as well as the cost of their equipment and programs that help them capture your day in the first place. However, the cost of services also includes things like insurance for their gear and even liability insurance should something happen to them or you during the shoot. Booking a free photographer can leave you vulnerable if something were to happen, whether that be the photographer’s gear getting stolen or broken before your wedding or, goodness forbid, ...