PHANTOM HIRE'S BLOG

Simply put, weddings are an expensive affair. Between sending out the invitations, organising your luxurious transport, hiring the venue and sorting the flowers, it’s likely that your bank account is going to end up fairly barren by the time the affair is over. With so much money being spent on different details of the nuptial celebrations, this may leave very little left to account for one of the most important expenses of the entire evening; your wedding couple photos.

Wedding photography is traditionally quite a costly service; the process usually involves hiring a wedding photographer, hiring a venue which will act as a backdrop and then printing & framing the photos themselves – all of which are sure to take up a noticeable percentage of your wedding budget. However, it needn’t be this way, as there are several ways you can save money on one or more components of the wedding photography process. Join us as we walk through 5 creative wedding photo ideas that result in the best wedding couple photos without having to dip into your budget, thereby allowing you to divert funds towards another wedding expense. 

1. Choose a Unique, Free Backdrop

One of the most expensive aspects of wedding photography is the backdrop; many couples opt to hire a local venue or private estate for the day, and while this undeniably reflects the grandiosity and prestige of the occasion, the cost of such an endeavour will cost you a pretty penny. 

However, an easy way to skirt this issue is by taking advantage of free venues within your local area. Parks and public gardens are a great place to start, as they don’t require any kind of entry fee, provide rustic, naturalistic scenery for your photo and allow for the happy couple to have their photos taken with the wedding car. This is especially great if you require group photos, whether you need family photos or wedding guest photos, as the wide open spaces of greenery provide ample room for everyone to get into the frame.

Alternatively, suppose you’d rather go for an indoor setting. In that case, the lobby of a local fancy hotel or village hall can provide many unique backgrounds for you to snap serious, romantic or funny wedding photos – all without the expense of renting out an entire luxury suite. 

2. Take Advantage of Natural Light

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to create beautiful wedding couple photos is to leverage the natural light of the sun. Professional photographers will often utilise expensive, state-of-the-art lighting equipment for their shoots, which is why their rates often balloon to such high costs. However, using natural light not only eliminates the need for expensive equipment but also adds a pure, intimate touch to your wedding couple photos. Outdoor settings are a perfect opportunity for this, particularly at either dawn or dusk, as the orange glow of the rising/setting sun offers the perfect lighting for soft, flattering shots. 

3. Hire A Friend or Up-And-Comer 

Wedding photographer prices can be high, especially if you’re paying for a seasoned professional from a well-known photography company such as Memoirz or Emma-Jane Photography. However, many up-and-coming, highly skilled photographers would jump at the chance to shoot a photo of a wedding and would be willing to work for a fraction of the price of the bigger companies. Before hiring them, make sure to review their portfolio to ensure that you are satisfied with their skills and are on the same page concerning wedding photoshoot ideas.

Alternatively, if you have a friend with photography skills who you trust to take your wedding couple photos, this is also an easy way to get around the issue of paying for an expensive wedding photographer. 

4. Keep Your Poses Simple

Elaborate poses are a staple of every wedding couple photo, but these require a greater amount of time and effort to organise on the part of the wedding photographer, which in turn can result in the price of the booking increasing. Conversely, simple, natural poses are easier to shoot (thereby making them cheaper) – embrace candid exchanges, spontaneous interactions and quiet, tender moments with your partner, as this can result in equally gorgeous wedding couple photos.

For a more in-depth breakdown of the different wedding poses, check out our article on wedding couple poses.

5. Go For A Digital Album

Print albums are an undeniably attractive purchase, but they are also incredibly expensive – an average wedding photo album can cost up to £270. Instead, consider opting for digital images that you can then print out yourself or share with your loved ones, thereby saving an extra expense. Some photographers even offer packages where you can choose to receive digital files, giving you the flexibility to make prints and albums later at a more affordable price.

Additionally, if you require additional help with planning your wedding, check out our comprehensive guide here, complete with downloadable spreadsheets.