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posted by Irisheen
From my recent experience - please do the trial/engagement shoot!!! We did one, (asdescribed in makeup/MOH issues) and it was horrid - bad makeup, which was obviously not the photographer's fault but I'm sooo glad I saw that ahead of time, and we just didn't click (bad pun) with the photographer. Then we had another trial/engagement shoot with a different photographer and it went much better - we actually look like ourselves, and happy, which is what I want on the wedding day. The photographer we're going with is amateur, so she's very reasonable. The package costs $900 (incl.tax - I live in Canada so that actually make a difference!) and includes the engagement shoot (about 200 photos on cd; she just uploaded a few to the website); 6 hours on the wedding day; 100 4x6 prints; 10 8x10 prints; 25 5x7 prints; and a cd with all the photos on it (very high resolution) so we can print them at photo stores as we wish later, and we can own all the photos. Our photographer's not as formal as some, but I wanted a more photojournalistic style. So, if you can afford it, I would HIGHLY recommend getting the engagement package too - just to make sure you have someone you'll be happy with.
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posted by doodlebug1981
The photographer that I am talking to is not an amateur but she has just graduated from Grad. school and has only done one wedding by her self. I was hoping to get more prints but I would own the pics. so I guess it doesn't cost too much to go and do it my self.
Did you think that 200 images will be enough to capture your day? I was worried that I'd want more, or is it plenty?
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posted by syringa
Two hundred images is more than enough if that is the number of good ones that you get. Most photographers take 200 or more to get about 125 good ones. Someone will invariably have their eyes closed or someone will walk by in the background, making a portion of the photos unacceptable. Those shouldn't be included on your finished CD or in your final proofs.
I second the thought that it is a good idea to do an engagement session with the photographer. The personality of the photographer is very important, as is their photography style. You may not be able to see the person in action at a wedding before yours to observe their style, however. The one thing that is important is that the photographer not draw attention to himself/herself and away from you. They can get quality photos without being intrusive. I talked to a videographer a few days ago who had just filmed a wedding where the photographer actually walked down the aisle backwards IN FRONT OF the bride as she and her father entered. He also kept his large light shades in place in the church sanctuary during the ceremony. They would pop brightly every time he took a picture. He totally took over without the bride and groom realizing that he would do so. He is no longer allowed to photograph at that church because of his insensitivity. If your photographer does something that you feel is intrusive, be sure to tell them. They might say that they are doing their job, but there are ways to do it tactfully.
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posted by mrsyarwood2b
I found my photographer on Craig's list. She had done several weddings, but was just really starting to build her business as a Professional Photographer.
Our package was $575.00 which included 5 hours of coverage, one photographer, 4X6 prints of all the images and possession of all the digital images. I thought this was really reasonable.
Also, I LOVED my table cameras at the reception! The pictures on these were great... and I loved getting some of the pictures back right away so I could start reliving the experience immediately after the wedding.
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posted by baconsmom
Remember also to look in odd places. You may be able to get a pro photog from your local newspaper - they might be willing to do a wedding on the weekend, and since it's a side business, I'm sure they'd be cheaper.
I'm going to troll the local community college for photog students. I heard of one girl who got the forensic crime-scene photographer from her local police department to do pix for her - the guy like having live subjects! - and it was much cheaper.
I would try to stay away from any one billing themselves as a "wedding" photographer. In my experience, anytime the word "wedding" is attached to a service, the price goes waaaayyyyyy up.
Good luck!
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posted by syringa
I must disagree with some of Baconsmom's comments. Not anyone can photograph a wedding and do it well. I see many commercial photographers who want to do weddings on the side. There is a big difference between shooting inanimate objects on a table and shooting groups of people. For you to get good quality photos, the photographer needs to understand posing, lighting, and all of the emotional and other variables that go into working with largr groups of people.
The one thing that I hear from former brides is that if they could change one thing about their weddings, they would have chosen a better photographer. Two of my children have expressed those feelings. One hired a high school photography teacher and the other hired their college photography teacher. Both were married at a time of year that required everything to be done indoors. Neither photographer owned the necessary light shades and other equipment that a commercial wedding photographer has. Consequently, the photos are dark and faces are not well defined.
The high school photographer had his film developed somewhere that definitely wasn't a commercial lab. Now, over 10 years later, the photos have all turned yellow. My daughter has tried in vain to find a way to restore them. She has the negatives but no one will make reprints for her because the photographer, who retired and moved, didn't give her a written copyright release. Bottom line, be sure that you see the photographer's portfolio before hiring them and be sure that it includes wedding pictures.
Also, if your photographer uses a digital camera and they are printing your photos themselves rather than having a commercial lab do it, be sure that they are not using an ink jet printer. The ink life is approximately 15 years. You won't want to be disappointed a few years down the road.
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posted by NovemberGal
In addition to making sure you find someone who can shoot a wedding well (whether they call themselves wedding photogs or not--syringa is correct in her points, but it is possible to find someone who isn't a professional wedding photographer who can do it well--just be sure to ask lots of questions and look at lots of their photos!) you want to have a person you connect with well, personality-wise. This person will be spending most of the time following you around pretty closely, and if you don't like them, or they have some irritating little habit, or whatever, you're not going to be happy.
The photography was my #1 important thing for the day (after getting married!) and I'm also kind of shy and hate having my pic taken, so I wanted to be sure I found someone I was comfortable with and who could draw me out some and not make me so self-concious. Got him, too, definitely worth a splurge to me.
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posted by baconsmom
I should have added that pictures aren't important to me, so I'm willing to go for lesser quality for a cheaper price. (I don't photograph well. Ever. In any light, in any pose, doesn't matter.) We're also not having a videographer, so that's not an element we need to worry about rolling into the package.
Long way to say - if pix aren't at the top of your list, my shortcuts are pretty decent. If pix are, try traditional wedding photogs or fashion photogs.
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posted by wynelle
I don't think I posted any points in this thread..
photography sticker shock
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