Who Would Photograph a Wedding for $300?
How very interesting. Got an email this morning from someone I don’t know; asking me to shoot a wedding. OK. While; even though I’m not a wedding photographer; I’m not opposed to that idea. I am however absolutely opposed to the $300.00 budget you have for a photographer.
Really people. Does creating and capturing the memories of what should be one of the most special days in your life have so little value to you? If that’s all you have to spend on a photographer then maybe the time you’ve chosen isn’t the best time for you to be getting married.
If you actually take the time to think about it; what do you think you’ll actually get for $300.00? Do people really believe that they’ll get that glossy magazine quality look to their images. Do they think that they’re going to get a fancy photo album or wall prints?
I know, I know. You’re thinking ‘But DJ you’re the one who said you get what you pay for is bullshit!” I did. I did say that. But in context I was speaking about skill set. No one shoots any differently for free than they would for six figures. That doesn’t apply here.
No one who can bring high quality results to your special day is going to do it for such a low amount. Seriously. The lack of respect for the craft of photography these days is horrible. Sadly; a lot of that disrespect comes from the photographers.
I don’t expect would be clients to understand that necessarily; but c’mon folks. Really think about it.
Do people genuinely think that the person who happens to have a hammer and nails will provide you with the same level of carpentry as the person who’s been doing carpentry day in and day out for years?
No you wouldn’t. You’d expect a lot more quality from the latter. So it goes with photography. Photography is an art form, and all art forms require skill; and skill takes a lot of practice.
Knowing this; makes me wonder why anyone would ever think that someone willing to take a wedding for such a price could be trusted to deliver the value and quality a couple would want for their very special day?
Just because someone has a nice camera and a lens doesn’t mean they will provide you with quality images. But really folks think about it please. While I understand that not everyone has a budget to spend $5,000.00 on wedding photography; maybe saving up if you can, would be a prudent course of action.
To help you out; photography should, as a general rule of thumb make up approximately 15% of the wedding budget. Before you ask me who came up with that percentage I will answer with; the same people who decided how much people should tip.
But this is just something to think about.
Please let me know your thoughts in the comment below.
