Confession: a photographer is the one thing I didn’t have at my wedding that I really, really wanted.
So let me preface this entire post by saying: if you can afford a professional wedding photographer…get one. They are, without a doubt, worth the money.
But chances are, you’re reading this not because you don’t want a photographer, but because you can’t afford one. No shame: we couldn’t afford wedding photography, either.
And it hurt. I felt kind of cheated, when I slashed it from our budget. It was basically impossible not to want a photographer.
Let’s face it: the shots are swoon-worthy. Good photographers make almost anyone look like models.
And we know the day will pass in such a blur, we want to remember every last detail.
And listen—those are all great reasons to hire a photographer for your wedding, if you can swing it.
But many brides can’t, because they’re also expensive. And sometimes the money just isn’t there.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure about affiliate links here.
Pros of Not Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Again, while I highly recommend hiring a photographer for your ceremony and reception if you can afford one, sometimes it just isn’t in the cards, and that’s okay.
Take a deep breath, think up some alternatives (more on that below), and focus on the pros of not having one.
- Save money. This is the biggest plus, even if the reason you’re skipping photography is that you can’t afford it. Congratulations (seriously): you’ll be in the minority of couples that don’t go over their wedding budget.
- Unique shots. Some photographers come up with truly unusual, never-been-done-before poses. Some venues are so incredible, your photos won’t look like the hundreds of thousands online. But a lot of them will. That’s just a fact—there are only so many poses and combinations professional photographers can do, and they often get their inspiration from one another. Leaving the job to novices or your guests (more on that below) is a great way to get unique photos of your day that a photographer might miss.
- More time with your guests. Actually, forget money: this is the biggest plus by far. The last wedding I was in, though incredible, had a very hands-on photographer. She was fantastic, and the photos were spectacular. But the couple was gone at least 25% of their reception, for various “mini-sessions” the photographer pulled them away to do. This might not be an issue for most people—some might even enjoy the break!—but personally, I’m glad I had a lot of time to spend with our guests dancing, talking, and laughing, rather than snapping pictures off to the side.
- Less work for you. Once you nix the photographer, no matter how reluctantly…that’s it! No more researching it, no more stressing over the budget. That’s just one more thing (and expense) to cross off your list. Feels kind of nice, doesn’t it?
I know these reasons don’t make up for not being able to afford a photographer. It still sucks. Chances are, it’s the one thing you’ve had to give up that you absolutely did not want to.
But it’s not the end of the world, and your wedding will still be amazing.
What’s more, you can still have incredible photos to remember it.
Why We Didn’t Hire a Wedding Photographer
The cheapest professional photographer I could find in our area was $600 for 4 hours. Not bad…but also not in our budget.
We weren’t having the photo booth I wanted, or the rented “getaway” car he wanted. We weren’t taking a honeymoon. My dress was cheap. His suit was cheap.
There was very little we could cut.
In the end, it came down to cutting alcohol, or cutting more guests.
We hated the thought of doing either of those things, so we decided not to have a photographer at all. My husband-to-be didn’t mind this one bit. But I sure did.
Thankfully, we had a family friend with a nice camera and photography experience. We asked him to take our wedding party photos, instead of a physical or monetary gift.
(Note: I don’t believe in asking friends or family for wedding help if it will limit their enjoyment of the wedding. It took our friend thirty minutes, then he got to enjoy the rest of the party. We also sent him home with the extra vodka. He was thrilled.)
Read on to get some ideas for your own photographer-free wedding.
Instagram is Your #Friend
Wedding hashtags are nothing new, but not enough brides utilize them to their full advantage.
The key to making Instagram work as your photographer substitute is to promote your hashtag.
In one wedding I was in years ago, the bride posted frequently about wedding planning and tagged each photo with her hashtag. It was a simple one, but unique enough that no one else had used it yet. The tag had nothing but her own photos for about a year.
Then, on her wedding weekend, the posts tripled.
She now had nearly 100 photos, slideshows, and videos from herself and her wedding guests—plus many candids and décor shots, posted by the wedding party—all organized under the wedding tag.
Some of the photos were amazing, too. Many guests had high-quality phones and a great eye for composition. The bride printed a lot of their photos to keep hard copies for herself, they were so good!
For our own wedding, I chose a slightly different method of “promotion.”
I was new to Instagram and hated most of my wedding planning process, so I didn’t post photos with the hashtag until the day of.
Instead, I did signs.
At the front of our venue, we set up a large sign that read, “Do You Instagram? Please share your photos from today to Instagram and Facebook with our hashtag!”
I even drew the Instagram logo—which was the original/“vintage” one at the time—for good measure, which caught guests’ attention on their way inside.
We also scattered smaller versions of that sign anywhere guests were likely to take photos, such as:
- The women’s bathroom (guys just don’t take many bathroom selfies, apparently?)
- The photo area we set up (just a tapestry thrown over a room divider)
- A cute little bridge on the venue property
- Some of the larger tables where guests would be dining
- Near our guestbook
Either method is fine. Some brides brand their invitations and save-the-dates with their hashtag, too, or post it on their wedding website.
Whatever you do, make sure people know your hashtag, and encourage them to use it!
It might feel strange, but it’ll be worth the hustle. I love clicking on our wedding hashtag every now and then when I’m feeling nostalgic, and seeing all the wonderful posts our guests made that day.
As an aside: want to know my favorite photo from my wedding?
It isn’t one our photographer friend took. It isn’t one I planned at all.
It’s my first official kiss with my husband, at the very end of the ceremony. In the background, you can see my best friend/MOH holding our child on her hip. Both have tears streaming down their faces (one happy, one throwing a royal fit).
And believe it or not, it was taken with my great-aunt’s iPad.
Give Your Guests Cameras, Instead
You can do this instead of or in addition to Instagram encouragement. I think “in addition to” is best, because you really can’t have too many photos!
It’s kind of an old-school idea now, but that makes it all the better: put cameras on all your tables, and let guests snap pictures throughout the night.
Nowadays, you’ve got plenty of options.
- Disposable cameras. They’re relatively cheap, easy enough for anyone to use, and give you a great surprise when the wedding is over. You have no idea what’s on those things until you get them developed, and that can help fight post-wedding blues.
- Instax cameras. These are far more expensive than disposables, so you might have to limit them to one or two in a central location (a DIY photo booth, for instance). The advantage—besides how cool they look and their throwback feel—is that your photos are printed immediately, and guests can take some home.
- Cheap digital cameras. These are easier to find than you think: your in-laws, parents, aunts and uncles, and friends (as well as their families) probably all have an old digital camera or two lying around. Ask to borrow them for the big day, buy a big pack of memory cards, and stock up on fresh batteries.
Obviously, all of these options are a great way to capture candids and guest photos for your wedding—but what about fancy posed portraits and close-ups like you see on Pinterest?
If you’ve got your heart set on those, even with a limited budget, read on.
Posed Photos and Close-Ups: Is a Photographer a Must for These?
This is where most brides cringe when they think of forgoing a professional photographer.
I don’t blame you, because I cringed, too. (Actually, I might have cried.)
These are the shots we swoon over. These are the ones we save to Pinterest time and time again. They’re the ones our bridesmaids text us for inspiration, and the shots we want blown up x20 and hung on our walls for evermore.
Well, I’ve got some good news. You can still have them.
Alternative 1: Ask a Friend/Family Member—But With Conditions
This is what we did, and the photos turned out beautifully. The friend wasn’t a professional photographer—not for weddings, anyway—but knew about good composition, how to take advantage of lighting, and how to use photo editing software for fine-tuning.
I offered him payment, but he refused. We decided to call it our wedding gift, which he was thrilled to do (we were all young and very low on funds, at the time).
I also insisted he put his camera away after thirty minutes. I wanted him to enjoy the party and feel like a guest—not staff.
In short: offer some kind of compensation, and don’t ask them to shoot the entire night.
Alternative 2: Hire a New Photographer or Photography Student
This is a bit like the “go to a barber school for haircuts” or “hit up the dental school for a cleaning” trick that frugal lifestyle bloggers love – and for good reason.
If you can’t afford a pro, go to someone who’s learning to be a pro.
Will all your photos be perfect? Probably not.
Will you have to provide more direction than you would with a seasoned veteran of the business? Almost definitely.
But, bottom line, it’ll be cheaper. Most photographers at these stages are looking to build their portfolios, so they won’t charge as much as someone who’s been doing this 10+ years.
Alternative 3: Get Yourself an iPhone or Pixel
Wait, hear me out!
I know this sounds like some shameless product promotion, but I promise it isn’t. I mention the iPhone and Google Pixel specifically because:
- I’ve used them, and
- I know firsthand how incredible their cameras are.
(Note: There are a lot of phones out there with great cameras, so please mention yours in the comments! For the purposes of this tip, I’m just sticking with what I know.)
Cell phones have come a staggeringly long way since the days of flip-phones and ringtones you had to buy.
Most smartphones are equipped with cameras so sophisticated, you’d never know the photos aren’t from some fancy standalone cam.
Yes, the nicer phones will be more expensive than hiring a pro in many cases – but you can buy a used phone, borrow one, make payments over time versus all at once…or you might already own one. So I still think the idea is worth mentioning.
If you go this route, do three things:
- Write down all of your must-have poses and photo ideas. And make sure to add combinations of people you want (example: bride and all the groomsmen, groom and ring bearer) and locations at your venue you want to include.
- Go to your venue, if possible, close to your wedding date. Scope out possible spots where photos would look amazing. See what the sunlight looks like at the same time your wedding will take place. Bring your phone and snap some practice pics, just to see how the light and colors look. Add any new ideas to your list.
- Choose a camera-person.
This last step is tricky, because you need someone who isn’t in any (or most) of the photos, and who knows how to take good pictures.
They don’t have to be perfect, but they should have a good eye of angles, lighting, and where to put people – as well as which setting to use on your phone and when.
If we had done this, I probably would have chosen my bridesmaid/best friend Harriet. She takes truly stunning photos with her phone, so I know she could have done a great job on mine.
For photos that included her, I would have temporarily subbed in someone else who was at least familiar with that type of phone, if not exactly proficient.
Alternative 4: Buy a DSLR and Train Yourself (Then Train Someone Else)
This can get expensive fast, but it doesn’t have to.
DSLRs have gotten cheaper in recent years. You can now find really high-quality DSLR cameras at inexpensive prices, some as low as $300 new.
Used DSLRs are also an option, if you don’t mind hunting around on eBay or Craigslist, or even Facebook Marketplace for a while.
Once you have your DSLR, teach yourself to use it. YouTube tutorials are invaluable.
Practice, practice, practice—snap pics of your engagement band on an ornament. Take photos of your fiancé while he plays with the dogs. Round up your sister’s kids and dress those cuties in fancy outfits.
Whatever you practice on, just keep learning!
Once you’ve mastered the basic functions of your camera and can take photos you’re happy with, it’s time to train someone else.
Again, this is tough: finding someone with a good photography eye who won’t be in the photos, or at least most of them.
And now you have the added challenge of finding someone who’s at least a little tech-savvy.
If we had done this, I would have (again) chosen my bridesmaid Harriet, because she fits the above criteria. Failing that, I might have gone with my father-in-law. He isn’t super technical, but he can point and shoot (and that’s likely the kind of DSLR I would have purchased, anyway).
Without a doubt, photographing your own wedding can be challenging – but you’ll also capture some incredible shots only you and your “trainee” could get.
“But I Still Really, Really Want a Photographer.”
Trust me: I feel ya.
I’m not here to talk anyone out of a photographer, if that’s what their heart is set on.
I’m here for the people who know they can’t afford one, or wonder if their budget would be better spent elsewhere.
If you just can’t give up the idea of Pin-perfect shots and breathtaking poses, there’s nothing wrong with cutting certain areas of your budget to make it work.
Some examples include:
- Less guests (whose feelings wouldn’t be hurt, like acquaintance-level coworkers)
- Wedding cake alternatives, like candy or cupcakes
- A cheaper wedding dress
- Skip the honeymoon
You can also start a side hustle to increase your wedding budget.
I say this a lot, but at the end of day…all that really matters is that you married the one you love.
Photos will be taken, by someone, somehow. If you can’t afford a wedding photographer, don’t despair: your day definitely won’t go undocumented, and you’ll still end up with plenty of photos to look back on.
Will you have a photographer at your wedding? If not, what alternatives are you considering? Share below!
