The Photographer Search: How We Found Our Dream Style Within Our Budget
About this Series: The Summit & Ivy Wedding Journey
Planning a wedding in Toronto is a big deal—we get it. To bring our professional advice to life, we're inviting you to follow along with "Jessica's Journey."
In this special series, we'll be sharing the story of Jessica and Mark—a fictional Toronto couple who are a composite of the many amazing clients we've worked with. Their mission is to create a dream wedding for 100 guests on a $35,000 budget.
As we guide them through every decision, from the venue hunt to the final toast, we’ll be sharing our pro tips, planning tools, and honest advice that you can steal for your own wedding. Let's get them to the altar!
From Jessica's Journal October 18, 2025
After locking in our venue, it was time to book our photographer. If you remember from our budget talk, this was my #1 priority and the one area I was prepared to "splurge" on. I’ve followed certain Toronto wedding photographers on Instagram for years, so I excitedly sent inquiries to three of my absolute favourites.
The replies came back within a day. And my heart sank.
The quotes for their most popular packages ranged from $8,000 to over $10,000. That wasn't a "splurge" for our $35,000 budget; that was a torpedo. I felt so discouraged. Was I going to have to sacrifice the one thing I cared about most?
Mark sat down with me and we decided to approach this just like we did the venue: with a system, not just emotion. First, we defined our preferred style: warm, true-to-life colours and candid, emotional moments. Second, we set a realistic "splurge" budget of $4,500.
My search method became a hashtag deep-dive on Instagram. I searched not just #torontoweddingphotographer, but also hashtags for our specific venue, like #torontobrewerywedding. This led me to a whole new group of photographers—incredibly talented people who were still growing their businesses and whose prices were more accessible.
After a week of vetting portfolios, we found her. Her style was exactly what we wanted, she had shot at a similar type of venue before, and her 8-hour package was right within our budget. We had a great video call and instantly clicked. We signed the contract that night and feel so relieved! To make sure we also capture all the candid phone pics from our friends, we're planning a fun QR code system for the reception tables, too. Of course. Here is the complete, final version of the fifth blog post, which now includes all of the topics and questions we've discussed.
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About this Series: The Summit & Ivy Wedding Journey
Planning a wedding in Toronto is a big deal—we get it. To bring our professional advice to life, we're inviting you to follow along with "Jessica's Journey."
In this special series, we'll be sharing the story of Jessica and Mark—a fictional Toronto couple who are a composite of the many amazing clients we've worked with. Their mission is to create a dream wedding for 100 guests on a $35,000 budget.
As we guide them through every decision, from the venue hunt to the final toast, we’ll be sharing our pro tips, planning tools, and honest advice that you can steal for your own wedding. Let's get them to the altar!
The Photographer Search: How We Found Our Dream Style Within Our Budget
From Jessica's Journal October 18, 2025
If you remember from our budget talk, photography was my #1 priority. This was the one area I was prepared to "splurge" on. I’ve followed certain Toronto wedding photographers on Instagram for years, dreaming of their signature styles. So, feeling excited, I sent out inquiries to three of my absolute favourites.
The replies came back within a day. And my heart sank.
The quotes for their most popular packages ranged from $8,000 to over $10,000. That wasn't a "splurge" for our $35,000 budget; that was a torpedo. There was simply no way we could make those numbers work.
I felt so discouraged. Was I going to have to sacrifice the one thing I cared about most? Mark sat down with me and we decided to approach this just like we did the venue: with a system, not just emotion.
First, we defined our preferred style: warm, true-to-life colours and candid, emotional moments. Second, we set a realistic "splurge" budget of $4,500. Now we had our two key search terms: "warm & candid" and "under $4,500."
My search method became a hashtag deep-dive on Instagram. I searched not just #torontoweddingphotographer, but also hashtags for our specific venue and other local breweries, like #torontobrewerywedding. This led me to a whole new group of photographers—incredibly talented people who were still growing their businesses and whose prices were more accessible.
After a week of vetting portfolios, we found her. Her style was exactly what we wanted, she had shot at a similar venue before, and her 8-hour package was right within our budget. We had a video call and instantly clicked with her personality. We signed the contract that night. It turns out, we didn't have to sacrifice our dream style; we just had to get smarter about how we searched for it.
Summit & Ivy Planner's Note: Jessica's journey is the perfect example of how to approach finding a photographer. It’s not just about cost; it’s about finding the best value for your specific needs.
How to Save on Your Photography Budget
Look for Rising Stars: Find talented photographers with a few years of experience who are building their portfolio. Their quality is often incredible, but their prices may be lower than seasoned veterans.
Book for Shorter Coverage: You may not need 12 hours of coverage. An 8-hour package often covers everything from getting ready to the main reception events and can save you thousands.
Go Off-Season: If you’re flexible, booking a wedding on a Friday, a Sunday, or in the off-season (November-April) can sometimes lead to lower prices.
Skip the Album (For Now): Your photos are delivered via a digital gallery. You can always design and purchase a physical album from your photographer months or even years after the wedding as an anniversary gift.
Photographer vs. Content Creator: What's the Difference?
This is a new trend, so it's important to know what you're hiring for!
A Wedding Photographer is an artist who delivers high-resolution, professionally edited, timeless images for print and albums. This is an essential vendor.
A Wedding Content Creator acts like your personal paparazzi for the day, capturing candid, behind-the-scenes moments on a phone for social media. They deliver hundreds of unedited clips and photos almost immediately for you to share on Instagram or TikTok. This is a fun, modern "nice-to-have" if your budget allows.
Bonus Tip: Crowdsource Your Candids!
Want to capture all the fun photos your guests are taking? Set up a QR code on tables that links to a shared photo album service (like Guestpix or a shared Google Photos album). Guests can scan it and instantly upload their pictures and videos from the night. It's a modern, free version of disposable cameras!
Your Top Photography & Photo Questions, Answered
Q: Is a photo booth worth it, and what's the best way to have one?
A: Photo booths are almost always a huge hit with guests! They serve as both entertainment and a personalized party favor. The "best" way to have one really depends on your budget and priorities. Let's look at the options so you can decide which works best for you:
Option 1: The All-in-One (Bundle with a Vendor).
How it works: Many photographers and DJ companies offer a photo booth as a convenient add-on to their packages.
Best for: Couples who value convenience and want to deal with one less vendor. You can sometimes get a discount for bundling.
Keep in mind: The equipment, props, and backdrops might be more basic than what a specialized company offers.
Option 2: The Specialist (Hire a Dedicated Company).
How it works: These companies only do photo booths, so they're experts. They offer a wide range of options from classic booths to 360-degree video booths and GIF makers.
Best for: Couples who want the highest quality photos, the coolest props, a custom backdrop, and a dedicated attendant to create a high-energy experience for guests.
Keep in mind: This is typically the most expensive option.
Option 3: The DIY Darling (Create Your Own Photo Station).
How it works: You create the experience yourself! Set up a fun backdrop (think streamers, a flower wall, or a custom sign), provide a box of fun props, and add a ring light.
Best for: Budget-conscious, creative couples. This option offers maximum personalization and saves a lot of money.
Pro-Tip: Guests can use their own phones, or you can set up an iPad on a tripod with a photo booth app to capture all the fun. Don't forget your QR code linking to a shared album!
Q: Do I really need a second photographer? A: For most weddings under 150 guests, a single skilled photographer is often sufficient and it's a smart place to save money. However, a second shooter isn't just about getting more photos; their main benefit is providing more coverage. For example:
Getting Ready: They can capture one partner's "getting ready" story while the main photographer is with the other.
Ceremony: They can get a shot of your partner's face as you walk down the aisle, while the main photographer focuses on you.
Cocktail Hour: They can take candid photos of your guests enjoying themselves while the main photographer is busy with your formal family portraits.
The Verdict: If you have a relaxed timeline and are okay with your photographer focusing on the main events, one is great. If you highly value those extra candid moments, a second shooter can be a worthwhile investment.
Q: Should I give my photographer a 'shot list'? A: Yes, for family groupings. No, for creative shots. Provide a list of your "must-have" family combinations, but trust the professional you hired to capture the candid moments creatively. I also advise my clients to include some photo examples so that the photographer has an idea of the type of photos that you want.
Q: What is a 'first look' and should we do one? A: A "first look" is a private moment where you see each other before the ceremony. It's amazing for logistics (you can do portraits beforehand and enjoy your cocktail hour!) and creates a beautiful, intimate memory just for the two of you. We are huge fans.
Want to make sure you ask all the right questions? For our complete, printable questionnaire to help you interview and choose your perfect photographer, check out the Summit & Ivy Ultimate Wedding Planner on Etsy! Link is below
With our date, venue, and photographer officially booked, it's time to officially tell our guests! This feels like the perfect time to get a little creative and save some money.
Next up: We explore how to create beautiful invitations without blowing our budget!
How did you find your wedding photographer? Share your stories and tips for finding amazing talent on a budget in the comments!
Cheers,
Please check out my Etsy page for more amazing wedding tips and journals
