Cheap Wedding Cameras: Investment or Trash?

Photo by Randy Son of Robert

These days everybody thinks they’re a photographer.  Including Aunt Betsy here.

Your wedding day is no exception.  Between your wedding photographer, the kids with bulk disposable cameras, and the amateur photographers among your guests, you’ll have your own personal paparazzi.

It’s become the fashion to buy those cute, cheap wedding cameras and plunk them down on each table at your wedding with a note asking guests to please take photos for the bride and groom.

But is the cost of bulk disposable cameras really WORTH it?

The short answer is, NO.

Most brides after their weddings report the cost of cheap wedding cameras was a waste of money.  By the time you add the cost of buying the cameras ($1.55 x 15 tables = $23.25) to the cost of developing the photos ($10.69 for the first 2 plus $3.29 each additional =  $53.46) you’ve spent $77 total.  Most of the photos will be unusable, the groomsmen are going to take them into the bathroom to share a “special” moment with the camera…if you’re lucky, you’ll get 6 photos you like for all the money and hassle you’ll spend sorting through 300+ grainy pictures.

However, if you’re a huge fan of disposable cameras and you’ve got the room in your budget…go for it.  Just assign each cheap wedding camera to a responsible guest you know will at least attempt to take decent photos.

On the other hand…why not take advantage of your wedding paparazzi?

You can easily create a wedding photo share site at a website like Shutterfly.com or Pictoma.com.  Your guests can upload photos they took of your wedding for FREE and you can view and print them if you choose.

Another way to capture your guests’ images is with the Canditto, a computer based kiosk that lets your guests download their photos into the device.  Remind your guests to insert their camera’s memory card before they leave, and you can take those photos home on a flash drive to view right away.

The Canditto is a bit pricey at $650 to rent it, but it’s sure to get cheaper in the future.

Are you for or against bulk disposable cameras at weddings?  Leave me a comment.