For a bride and groom who are planning their wedding on a budget, it can be difficult to know where to cut corners and save money. By beginning the planning process well in advance, you stand to save a lot of money and stress. As you look for your perfect wedding photographer, you may be pleasantly surprised to find out that you don’t necessarily have to pay out the nose to get lovely wedding photos. If you are looking for affordable wedding photography, save yourself a lot of anxiety and regret by implementing some of the following tips.

Choose Your Style

A wedding photographer is a wedding photographer, right? Wrong! Every photographer has his or her own unique style. If you already have specific ideas for the style of your wedding, look for wedding photographers who have done weddings similar to yours. If you don’t know exactly what you are looking for, browse through examples of wedding photography.

With prominent social networks such as Facebook and Pinterest, people are making photos from their weddings more available than ever before. Check out photos of your friends’ weddings. If you like them, find out what wedding photography studio they worked with.

Find Out What is Included

When you are looking for great deals on wedding photography, one of the most important factors is finding out what is included in the total wedding package. Does the price include a CD of the images, or will you have to pay for prints separately? Will your photographer offer a discount on a package deal of engagement pictures, bridals, and the wedding day?

One great way to make the photography more affordable for your wedding is to choose a two or four hour session, rather than having the photographer there all day long.

Communicate Expectations

Once you have decided on your photographer, the number one way to make sure that you love your photos is to maintain open communication. Speak with him or her in advance to go over specific poses and shots that you want. If you love the look of black and white photos, or have any other preferences, let the photographer know before the big day.

By following these tips, you can find an affordable wedding photographer without having to sacrifice quality.