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How to Choose a Wedding Photographer and Video in Financially Tough Times
Ahh, JOY! You're engaged to be married. You've found the love of your life, and the only thing standing between now and your new life as a very happy couple...is the wedding.
As much as you may want to go hog wild and make the day one that even the waiters at the reception will talk about for years to come, there's a decent chance that you’ll be on a tight budget. Like many couples, you are balancing your desire to throw a great wedding without putting yourself in any kind of financial jam.
With over 23 years meeting with thousands of couples in the Northern New Jersey and New York City, I have some insight to pass along when hiring your photographer and videographer. This is advice I have built my business on and would give to my sister, cousin, or best friend. And if you adhere to the advice, you will forever be very happy with the wedding photography and video decisions you are making today.
First, let’s make an important distinction. There are many items and services you will buy for the wedding DAY itself – flowers, DJ or band, tuxedos, food, cake, and maybe a limo, etc. Then there are the services that you buy to cherish AFTER your wedding (there are only two) – your photography and video. The day-of items come and go - the food gets eaten, the DJ goes home, your dress gets put away in the closet, the tuxedos returned and the limo drives off....but your wedding photography album and wedding video DVD will be kept forever. These are your only preservation materials of all the other things that went on and came and went that day.
There is a famous quote that goes “The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.” Now I already know that you’re thinking I’m going to say…”that you can skimp on the day-of services but not the photography and video.” True, but don’t feel like you need to purchase everything NOW. Don’t purchase from a company that is promising you the world (i.e. “a complete package”) for a low price. You could buy the most gorgeous and expensive album package ever created, but if the pictures that go in it are only mediocre then the whole thing is bad.
Rather, focus your wedding budget on getting the highest quality photography and video money can buy. Understand that the most important thing in our digital world is to come away with the highest quality products in a way that will not compromise your budget. Any photographer or videographer worth their digital weight will tell you that the most important element to a great photo album and a great final DVD is what you start off with. We call this the RAW pictures and video. Then, when things turn around and you’re able to afford it -- and even if that takes years -- go back to your photographer and videographer and purchase the rest of the package. If you do things this way, you’re spreading out the cost and, getting the amazing products you want in the long run.
If you are budget conscious, get and pay for a great photographer and videographer to just shoot the wedding and give you the raw photos (proofs) and video. It might cost you about the same as another company wants to charge you for their soup to nuts package, but you’ll be guaranteed to love what you receive.
"Hire the best but pay as you go." In the long run --- which again is ultimately where your concern should be --- you will be infinitely better off. There's my advice! ...and you didn’t even have to be one of my relatives to get it!
MultiVision Photography & Video has been recognized with The Knot’s “Best Pick” three years in a row (2007, 2008 & 2009) and Project Wedding’s “Best Of” (2008 & 2009). MultiVision’s photographers and videographers are experienced skilled professionals who will capture the story of your wedding day as it unfolds naturally – from the main events of the day and all of the spontaneous, emotional moments in between. MultiVision Photography and Video gets every moment you expect, and even some you don't. For more information about Greg Riccardi, President and Co-owner of MultiVision Photography and Video, visit www.gomultivision.com or email Greg at greg<<at>>gomultivision.com.
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