How much do photographers cost?

There are many things for a couple to consider in planning their wedding. Among those things, in my experience; quality, value and cost are rather important to people. Especially these days. People want the best photographer, for the lowest cost, and they do not want any mistakes. And who can blame them?! On my wedding day, I wanted the same thing. As with any field, you will find those who have very little experience and are willing to charge very little. You will also find photographers who charge great amounts of money for their work. Their work might be excellent, however, if your budget is tight- some couples just wonder "how low can we go and still make sure that the photographer is an expert?" There are some things to take into consideration: First, one needs to take a look at this photographer's work. My advice would be to take a look at a high-level photographer's work (I am willing to show my work to anyone free of charge- I offer consultations free to anyone). www.photographysandiego.org/weddings.php Look with your own eyes and see if their work is any good. The difference between an experienced photographer's and a fledgling "novice" photographer is like night and day. Your wedding only happens once. Then next point to consider is if you make a connection with your photographer. Novices are usually found for less money. As stated, novices can make costly and "dire" errors and usually, yes you bet, the pics are not nearly as good as ones from an expert. Experts know where to go, where to stand and they are excellent at anticipating the next moves. The finished product is a photojournalistic account of your special day which is tailored to what YOU want- not something forced. This comes from their years of experience. Novices aren't working with bad intentions, they are just not experienced. All of us started as novices. We had to start "there" to get to "here." And, yes, we charged less also. But if you want to work with photographers that have mastery over ALL of the hows, the whys and the whats, you need to work with someone who is established. "You get what you pay for." And how. This could not be any more true than in this profession. We have been at it for a long time. We know that many are strapped for cash. They are wondering about discounts and some have even been willing to sacrifice their pictures.... We get it. I get it. And myself, I have kept my prices as low as I can for the quality and assistance that I am providing for the clients. But I am always trying to tell clients- please! there are reasons to hire the more qualified people on your wedding day if you: a. don't want things going wrong & b. want the day to cost less.... "Wait...did he say spend more for the say to cost less?" Yes! Another great thing about an expert: AND it can save you money! CONNECTIONS. Experts know people! Many higher end photographers can connect you with the other vendors, etc and they are going to give you some amazing insights which you would not expect. For many, this can save thousands! Not to mention time.