Comparing Photography packages - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

MattandMegan · #1 10-19-2006, 06:33 PM

I know one of the "bargain" ideas is to go with a photographer who is just starting out if you're willing to take the risk. Someone came into our store a few weeks ago with a flyer of their services and this is one of the package offerings:

*leather bound album
*a CD with all wedding images for reprint
* all-day coverage
*100 -- 4x6 prints
* 3 -- 5x7
*1 -- 8x10

(If I'm reading the flyer right, I think they're offering this package for the rest of '06 for $600. Their price range says packages from $750 - $1150)

Their website isn't up yet, so I don't know what other specific packages are available yet. So, I guess my question is... what is a good number of 4x6's (as those would be most important to me). 100 doesn't seem like a lot, but when I think about it... it is a good bit of photos.

labeadel · #2 10-19-2006, 06:57 PM

Our photographer gave us a copy of each picture in 4x6 format. 100 wouldn't be enough for me.

And I'd be leary of a photographer that doesn't have a website. But, photography was EXREMELY important to Tony and me.

MattandMegan · #3 10-19-2006, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by labeadel

Our photographer gave us a copy of each picture in 4x6 format. 100 wouldn't be enough for me.

And I'd be leary of a photographer that doesn't have a website. But, photography was EXREMELY important to Tony and me.

... how many WAS enough for you?

breezy · #4 10-20-2006, 12:55 AM

I ended up with about 800 prints. In truth, that was/is too many for me. About 500 would have satisfied me.
I'd also ask if with the disc you get copy rights and what resolution those pictures on disc will be.

maroki13 · #5 10-20-2006, 01:26 AM

Our photographer promised us a certain amount of "great" photos...meaning that she promised us around 350 proofs. She took more at the ceremony and the reception, but gave us the best 350 photos, and that was definitely more than enough for me.

Even then, a lot of them were so similar (i.e. families with grandmas, families without gmas, BP with FGs, BP without FGs, etc.) that I didn't display all of them in the album. I picked the best out of a series and put the rest of the pictures away. I probably put about 250 pictures in my album and used about 90 pictures for our wedding scrapbook that I made.

NovemberGal · #6 10-20-2006, 04:19 AM

Our photog worked in digital, and gave us 4x6 copies of what he thought were the best 320 prints, and then gave us CDs with ALL the photos in both low and hi-res versions. I think 300-350 is a nice number of prints, although I found that I actually would have picked some of the "second" group over some of his "first group" choices--but that didn't matter, since we had them all anyway. If you only get 100 photos, I would find out if the photog would give you even a contact sheet (thumbnails, essentially--look at them with a magnifier) with all the pictures so you can pick at least some of your favorites. Otherwise, 100 seems like a pretty low number to let someone else choose your favorites. But the photography was also really important to us.

AngelRoseFyre · #7 10-20-2006, 04:58 AM

My photographer is going to take 800 pictures. We won't get prints or a photo album, but she will give us the photo CD / negatives with all the pictues on it, and turn the rights to copy over to us. She is only charging us $600.00, but the more I see, I think it may just be one of those small town, word of mouth, lucking out deals.

My mom went thru her to do our family photos, and a family friend used her for her wedding. She did a really good job on both.

MattandMegan · #8 10-21-2006, 07:20 AM

Ok... that helps a lot, ladies! I don't really have any experience with this and it's basically going to be my most difficult decision besides the reception hall. I have a florist that is a friend of the family and a DJ that was used at a friend's wedding. I know NO photographers, so this is truly going to be the toughest part for me as the photographs are going to be most important to me, as well. I don't know if I'm willing to risk using a new photographer.

I know many people have spent a big chunk on photography over other things, and I can definitely see myself doing that, too.

So, I'm guessing somewhere in the 350 - 500 range is what I should be looking at. I really didn't even know where to start nor did I have ANY numbers to really compare!

SerendipityCrafts · #9 10-21-2006, 02:04 PM

The most important thing is that you see their portfolio!

A photographer will most certainly show you all of their best shots but ask to see ALL the shots from one or two weddings. This way you will get a better idea of the percentage of "good" vs "bad" photos that you will get.

If they are just starting out with wedding photography, ask to see shots of their other event type stuff. Every photographer has to start somewhere, but I would be leery of anyone who hasn't photographed any kind of event whereby they have had to capture photos on the fly.

Ask for references and call their customers. Perhaps they would be willing to show you their proofs. Ask questions like -

Were you pleased with your photographer overall?
Would you hire this photographer again for other events?
Was he/she calm and in control?
How long did it take you to get your proofs/photos?
Was he/she on time?

There are other ways that you can ensure you get some good photos (besides hiring a pro) -

Put out disposible cameras with a scavenger hunt list attached. Challenge your guests to take pics of your first dance, the bride and the MOH, the groom and his mom, the two of you in the getaway car ...

Put a note in with your invitation to ask you friends and family to bring their cameras. Offer a prize to the person that takes the best shot!

Call a local photography club/school and ask if there would be anyone willing to take some photographs for little or no money to get experience & photos for their portfolio. There is nothing wrong with having two photographers!

MarthaA562 · #10 10-21-2006, 07:04 PM

I would not sign the contract unless you get the negatives and/or CD with the photos on it. That way you do not have to go back through him (and probably pay extra) to get extra copies. I am using a photographer that is just starting out, and all he asks is that I pay for the film, the development costs, and whatever I feel is appropriate for his pay. Ask for references and to see other pictures of weddings. If they are really just starting out, then they should go cheaper. But, sometimes you get what you pay for!! Compared to the prices around here for established photographers, that is pretty cheap. I would definitely research packages with other photographers to see if you are really getting a deal. These are going to be your memories... you don't want to end up with red eyes or people squinting in them!!

maroki13 · #11 10-21-2006, 10:14 PM

Another thing I would add is to make sure you are comfortable working with your photographer and that you get along with them. We didn't have a chance to take engagement photos with our photographer (we had them taken already when we found her) and had met with her several times prior to the wedding, but I found her very frustrating to work with on the day of the wedding, and that definitely took away some of the fun of posing for pictures and doing pictures throughout the day.

AngelRoseFyre · #12 10-21-2006, 10:32 PM

Make sure you get the rights to re-print off of the CD. Many places won't re-print from a proffessional photographer if they do not have some kind of written verification that it is OK with the photographer for you to do so.

MarthaA562 · #13 10-22-2006, 05:50 AM

With the photographer that I am choosing for my wedding, we are doing a trial run with engagement pictures tommorrow... a whole year before our date. We just want to make sure that this is the right thing to do. If we don't like his work, then we have plenty of time to find someone else. Also, because my grandfather was a wedding photographer (he passed), I have seen him in action and they have to be able to direct people, but not in an obnoxious bossy way, but so that the pictures do not take too long so you can enjoy your reception. They also have to give direction as far as poses. If you were to do a trial run... observe their proffessionalism and ability to suggest poses to make you look great. After all, they are behind the camera... you cannot see yourself. If all goes well and we like the pictures, I am going to use them to make and engagement scrapbook/ guest album.

AlanH · #14 11-11-2006, 03:06 PM

Martha,
If you end up not being satisfied with your photographer please take a look at us. We are photographers at The Post and Courier during the week and shoot weddings on the weekends.

http://lowcountryphotojournalism.com

Thanks.
Alan