Sure, your wedding is one of the most memorable days you will ever experience, but that doesn’t mean you want to plunk your life savings down for it. It’s important to make a careful budget so you can get the food, drinks, flowers and everything else right … and so you can get a Central Florida wedding photographer who captures the whole day beautifully. Here’s how to budget for a photographer!

Understand the Average Costs

A dose of realism will go a long way toward getting the right photographer. While rates change depending on location, time of year and experience, you should expect to pay around $4,000 for a great photographer. In populated places such as Orlando, that might run a little higher, but you can make it more affordable by choosing the right package and budgeting wisely in other ways.

Do Your Due Diligence

Before hiring anyone, do some research, such as:

• Exploring different styles of photography, such as rustic or photojournalistic or vintage, to find your own. This will make the first meeting with potential photographers much more seamless.

• Speaking with friends about their photography experiences and recommendations.

• Calling around to different photographers to ask questions about how they normally work before setting up meetings with two or three you really like.

Explore Different Orlando Wedding Photography Packages

Photographers usually offer a range of packages. This includes how long they’ll be there, how far they will travel and what types of product are included (digital and physical). If you love a photographer, ask them to help you mix and match services so you can afford to have them there on your big day.

Minimize Your Costs with Digital Files

Can’t afford expensive framed canvases and prints? Not a problem. Almost any photographer today is happy to put your edited photos on a file-sharing service for you to download later.

Find A Photographer Who Is Nearby

Sure, your “perfect” photographer might be in Miami, but if you live in Orlando, you’re going to have a heck of a time getting them to your event. Even if you need to sacrifice your aesthetic slightly, it’s better to hire an Orlando wedding photographer and keep all those travel costs (sometimes thousands of dollars) for other things.

Hold Your Ceremony and Reception at the Same Place

You will save a lot of money by holding all parts of your Central Florida wedding in one place. When you book a venue all day long, you pay less for the site fee. Many churches have catering on site or people that they work with. Estates and ballrooms almost always have food services. Avoiding transport for all your service providers will minimize costs too, so you can spend more money on pictures.

Ask for a Recommendation

If you love a photographer but really can’t afford them, ask them to refer someone who shares their style but is just getting started. This will help you save bucks, but will also ensure you get someone a professional is willing to throw their weight behind.

Have more questions? Get in touch to talk to an experienced Orlando photographer today!

New here? My name is Zac Wolf. I’m a New England and Orlando wedding photographer capturing your love through joyful, vibrant, and honest wedding, elopement, and engagement photography. I use my blog to share tons of vibrant engagement, elopement, and wedding photo ideas for inspiration, along with honest tips for wedding planning coming from a wedding photographer with over a decade of experience in the wonderful world of weddings. It also gives you a chance to see what it would be like to work with me as your wedding photographer. I would love to work with you one day! Contact me here.

About Zac Wolf Photography: New England and Orlando Wedding Photographer
Hi, I’m Zac, a New England and Orlando wedding photographer capturing your love through joyful, vibrant, and honest wedding photography. I make magic with your photos––regardless of the venue, the weather, or how you feel in front of the camera––I know how to make your photos look how you feel.
With me as your wedding photographer, you can enjoy the present moment of your special day and count on me to capture everything you’ll want to remember in the years to come. My 10+ years of experience as an engagement, elopement, and wedding photographer in Central Florida, New England, and across the country means I know how to make the process go as smoothly and easily as possible for you.
I can’t wait to capture your love. Let’s work together.