Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. You’ll want this documented by a professional wedding photographer that is known for producing high-quality photos of the moments that will stay with you forever.

It’s important to set a realistic budget for them if you don’t want to compromise. Generally speaking, dedicate at least 10–12 percent of your overall wedding budget to photos. The average cost of a Boston wedding photographer is $3,800.00.

Rather than going for any random photographer and regretting later on, plan your budget wisely and try saving on money by using the following tips and tricks:

Look For Customized Packages That Fit Your Pocket

Before saying “yes” to any photographer, make sure it’s the style of photos you want to have. If you are on a limited budget, you may want to ask to take out services in packages that you don’t find important. It’s good to ask your photographer about the packages they offer – How many hours of coverage will they provide? What do extra sessions cost? Will there be multiple shooters? Will they provide you with digital photo files? These are some questions that you would like to ask the vendor before making a decision.

Additionally, it’s good to take the advice of your recently married friends. They will let you know how to proceed with the process, what to look for in a photographer, what’s really important on a wedding day, and so on. They will give you a realistic overview of your needs.

2. Invest in The Digital Files

If you cannot afford prints or albums for now, that’s completely fine. You can simply ask your photographer if they offer the digital files. It’s not difficult to convert those digital files into prints later on – when you have some extra money to spend, or on your first wedding anniversary. Almost all Boston wedding photographers do include the digital file in their most basic package.

3. Find A Local Boston Wedding Photographer

This is simply because travel can make the cost for photographers a lot. For example, if you are getting married in Boston, hiring someone from New York can cost you a lot as you will have to compensate for his travel too. Alternatively, you can also ask your wedding venue to provide you a list of Boston wedding photographers to save on the costs.

4. Keep the Venue the Same For Ceremony and Reception

Without making it too complicated, consider having your wedding ceremony and reception at the same place. This will cut down the amount of hours you need a photographer for. And do not forget, this will save you a huge amount of money on rentals and venue charges. Many Boston wedding venues will give you the option to host your entire day at their venue. For example, the Fairmont Copley Hotel has suites for you to get ready in, an amazing ceremony location, and beautiful ballrooms for your reception.

5. Coverage For Only the Ceremony and Reception.

Coordinate with your photographer and plan the number of hours you’ll need them. Keeping it short, ask them to cover the entire ceremony, stay around for cocktail hour, and cover only the first half of your reception. These first moments include your entrance, toasts, cake cutting, first dance, and few open dance photos.

6. Ask a Photographer For Referral

If you are unable to fit it in your budget even after all this, ask the photographer for someone who is new to the industry. Many Boston wedding photographers have relationships with other local photographers, and they won’t mind referring them to you if your current budget doesn’t match up with the cost of their services. Give the referral a call and arrange time to chat with and find out if their style and personality matches you.