Calling All Patken Brides!!

Hi Everyone - I am considering booking Patken as my photographer on June 30th of this year!! (yes, I still don't have a photographer!!) I love Patken's Jorgensen album, BUT, the big downside to Patken is that you don't have the flexibility to choose your own photographer. They show a lot of pictures by Doug Patken which are gorgeous (in an effort to sell you), but then you soon find out that Doug Patken charges $2500 for a full day just for his time + the usual package price on top of that. Can't afford him, and I am concerned about not seeing the other photographer's work in advance of booking. Because we are booking with not much time in advance, I don't even know which photographers are still available on my date. So, a few questions:

1) For those brides that have used Patken for either their wedding and/or engagement photos, can you post your pictures or send me a link and let me know which photographer you worked with??

2) Did any of you view your specific photographers work before booking them? They keep telling me the only way they match you up with a photographer is through your engagement sitting.

3) What happens if you don't like the photographer after they take your picture during the engagement sitting?

4) Any recommendations on which photographers are best there? We like Doug Patken's style vs the more traditional style.

Thanks!! I am looking to book by tomorrow, so would really appreciate your help!!

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

Hi! We booked Patken. We booked them probably in November or December. At that point we didn't pick out a photographer. The main reason was because in my opinion, if they are a hired photographer they're probably good. (And pictures are VERY important to me so I'm not just like 'Whatever'.) So we just went last week for our engagement pictures. Jesse was there and she took our pictures...I loooved them!!! Being that I'm usually the photographer I never see myself in pictures...looking half way decent anyway. So she told us that she would be our photographer and if we didn't want her we could pick someone else. But I loved the pictures and I loved the way she worked with us. Then she asked what style we wanted...tradional or not...we want both...so she said great! You'll have both. So I don't think you need Doug to get great pictures. And if I can figure out how to post the pictures, I will! Hope this helps a little!

Hope adding these pictures worked...it's my first time!

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Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

When we went to book with Patken we were able to meet with Steve, since we liked his work we booked with him. I don't know if this makes a difference or not but we booked him in June of 2004 for July 2006.

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

WE BOOKED WITH PATKEN, AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAD A CHOICE OF PHOTOGRAPHERS. WE WENT WITH EVAN BASED ON HIS SAMPLE BOOK. I LIKE PHOTO JOURNALISM MORE THAN TRADITIONAL. WE ALSO PICKED THE JORGANSEN ALBUM.

1) For those brides that have used Patken for either their wedding and/or engagement photos, can you post your pictures or send me a link and let me know which photographer you worked with??

2) Did any of you view your specific photographers work before booking them? They keep telling me the only way they match you up with a photographer is through your engagement sitting.

WE LOOKED AT 3 OR 4 BOOKS (DOUG, EVAN, VINNY AND...SORRY, CAN'T REMEBER HIS NAME)

3) What happens if you don't like the photographer after they take your picture during the engagement sitting?

IF YOU DON'T LIKE OR FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER, REQUEST ANOTHER ONE, DO ANOTHER SHOOT. THEY WILL KEEP MATCHING YOU UP TILL YOU FIND ONE YOU LIKE (I BELIEVE THER ARE 12 PHOTOGRAPHERS ON STAFF)

4) Any recommendations on which photographers are best there? We like Doug Patken's style vs the more traditional style.

EVAN WAS DOUG'S APPRENTICE AND KNOWS ALL OF HIS POSES. SO IF YOU LIKE DOUG'S STYLE YOU WILL LIKE EVAN.

HOPE THIS HELPS...

LISA

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

Thank you!! This info really helps. I think I will call Patken tomorrow and see which photographers are still available on my date and also see if there are any of their e-pics online that I can view....

If anyone else has any feedback, I'd really appreciate it. Also, if you can post your pics or send me a link, that would be great! Thank you!!! -Laura

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

I just got the pictures downloaded Laura! Sorry it took so long! They're huge...I didn't know how to make them smaller!

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

When I went to Patken, I booked my photographer on the spot. I would definately give them a call and see who is available.

I booked Vinny for my wedding...

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

I used Nick from Patken and LOVED HIM! Great guy and takes amazing pictures. He truly captures every aspect of the day. At the reception, you don't even know he's there, it's all candidis. My pictures are in the community album, both my engagement photos and wedding proofs. He took about 500 pictures, so only some of the proofs are in the community album. Honestly, most of the Patken photographers all take similar photos.......I have seen other girls here post their proofs from other photographers at Patken and all of the poses are similar. Whoever you go with there will be wonderful, they are all great!

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

Thank you girls! I am thinking about booking Patken based on a recommendation from family! This helps!!

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

That is so great! We just found out that Jesse will be our photographer for our wedding next year. I am so happy that you had a good experience with her because I didn't read any info on her before. Now I feel more relaxed.

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

VINNIE was my photogrpaher, and he was sich a pleasure to work with. They all are very nice at Patken. Theres just 1 girl who answers the phone, her mame is Tammy and she's such a snot! But everyone else is great there!

Vinnie did our enagement photos - my cousin used him for her 2003 wedding and I loved her pix. and for anyone to deal with my cousin (who was one of my Bm too), they have to be very calm and relaxed! and that was vinnie!

Doug, hoever, charges extra. My other cousin used Patken as well, but her photographer was Doug back in 1999 and he didnt charge extra at that time, he does now, and I know even if i wanted Doug (which I didnt, I wanted Vinnie), when I booked in March 2005 (as soon as I got engaged) for my July 2006 wedding, doug wasnt even available, but thankfullty vinnie was! His does lovely, unique, different works. and he such a sweetie! so relaxed! so down to earth! i miss him! he was such a pleasure to work with him!

Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

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Posted by charliesbride

When I went to Patken, I booked my photographer on the spot. I would definately give them a call and see who is available.

I booked Vinny for my wedding...

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Re: Calling All Patken Brides!!

we used Steve, proofs in album. Personally I didn't care for Doug's work and Steve blew us away. We requested a the time of booking to make sure Steve was free and as soon as we booked we requested him. I loved Steve's work and he has amazing reviews here. Plus his personality is a major plus!