Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

curly2003 Posted: Jul 18, 2002 08:43 AM

Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

Hi Ladies,
I posted yesterday that the night before I booked Video. SOOOO HAPPY!!! I know I made a great choice. Now, last night I was SOOO EXCITED to book photo. Not as excited this morning. Maybe you guys can ease my mind. I had it narrowed down to two. Patken and Cassarino. Patken definitely gives you more for your money but I loved Cassarino's style and I love the elegance of their albums. Everything was fine except that AFTER I gave them my depsoit and I had checked everything in the contract, I see that my album will take 8-10 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!

For some reason that really upset me. I asked why and what they could do but they said it was industry standard. I don't think so. Patken had on my estimate 8-12 WEEKS. Just thought I would make you ladies aware of this. I still am happy with my decision but little things like this definitely make me second guess myself. I hope I made the right decision

I already signed the contract with FI last night so he said (to cheer me up) Just think of it as a 1st anniversary gift, lol. NOT!!!!!!!

Sonicstef Posted: Jul 18, 2002 08:50 AM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

Great tip!

If it makes you feel any better, most brides don't get around to it for months after the wedding anyway - they are just burned out.

chmlengr Posted: Jul 18, 2002 08:51 AM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

I would not second guess yourself. Any photographer we visited before we booked said at a minimum of 4-6 months for the actual album.

As a matter of fact, my husband and I just met with our album designer last night (Glenmar in Roslyn) to select the photos for our album, along with the parent albums and the enlargements, wallets, etc. We'll have our wallets for the thank-you's in 2 weeks, however, we were told to expect about 4-6 months for our album. It did not come as a big surprise to us. We were very happy with everything about Glenmar, we are so confident the wait will be worth it. We hope maybe it'll be a nice Christmas present.

Good Luck on your decision!! I know my two best friends used Cassarino and l love their albums!!!

Annie02 Posted: Jul 18, 2002 08:58 AM

Cassarino

I got married in June, and just picked up my proofs from Cassarino - they are beautiful and we are very happy. The album will take 8-10 months, but any photographer we looked at was pretty much the same thing. They did remind us not to procrastinate with the proofs, the sooner we design the album, the sooner we will have it.

jennbaby Posted: Jul 18, 2002 09:06 AM

Re: Cassarino

i booked patken but i am sure if you chose cassarino because you liked his style your pictures will be so worth the wait! they'll be beautiful and anyway, you'll have something to look foward to. i am sure you made the right decision!

dcbride Posted: Jul 18, 2002 09:39 AM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

I wouldn't worry about it. You will still have your proofs. Some people don't even pick the proofs for their album until a year later.

Elizabeth Posted: Jul 18, 2002 10:32 AM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

I am not telling you that you should cancel with them but just as an FYI: you can legally back out of any contract if it's within 48 hours. I'm pretty sure that is the proper time frame you can definitely do that legally. Again, I'm not saying cancel but if you are that unhappy, it is an option. It probably sounds like a long time to you right now but as someone said, you will have the proofs to view and share while you are waiting for the formal album. I would be more disappointed if my video took that long. Good luck!

edited to add a note: You make a good point for the reminder: READ EVERYTHING BEFORE SIGNING! Don't feel pressured to skim through something really quick because someone is standing there waiting for you to sign, tell them you want to take a few moments to review it and ask questions. This way you don't leave a place and get the surprise later. Even if it doesn't change anything in that contract, at least you know what you were agreeing to before signing. Best wishes to all!

2003wedding. Posted: Jul 18, 2002 11:46 AM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

Don't worry curly---you made a great decision-don't second guess yourself---8-10 months will go by quickly and you will have something to look forward to.......by the time you get back from your honeymoon and get settled--there goes a month already!

bearsbabe_113 Posted: Jul 18, 2002 12:02 PM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

Curly, I used Cassarino and I was very happy with my choice. Don't worry about the album taking that long -- it's the norm with any photographer. Everyone I know got their albums back w/in the first year. And the longer you take to bring back your proofs, the longer the album will take, plus it depends on how busy they are, etc. I did my proofs the end of Jan and my album will probably be ready around my anniversary in Oct. I did get a phone call on Saturday from them that my billboard -- I mean my portrait (my DH made us get a 30x30, don't ask, look for us on the side of the LIE somewhere soon) -- is ready!!! That was pretty quick!

If you have any questions about Cassarino, feel free to email me. Who's your photographer? Again, don't second-guess yourself!!!

curly2003 Posted: Jul 18, 2002 12:39 PM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

Whew, what a relief to hear positive feedback. It's just that it was a schock. I'm sure I made the right decision but it's really easy to second guess yourself when your talking BIG bucks and you just want to make the right choice. Thanks ladies for easing my mind.

Bearsbabe- Good to hear from a fellow Cassarino bride. Is there anything else I should know??? My photographer is Anthony Vasquez. Fedback is great!!! THANKS

bearsbabe_113 Posted: Jul 18, 2002 02:26 PM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

My photographer was George S and I LOVED him!! All the photographers there are good -- my sister and my friend also used Cassarino, but they each had different photographers, and their pictures came out gorgeous as well.

The hardest part was picking out the pics to go in your album, but Razz was a GREAT help (after 4 hours of being there) and he had some really good ideas!! Although I had to stop him from showing my husband any more of the BIG portraits! LOL :) I went from DH telling me '20x24 is too big, let's get the 16x20' -- to, are you sitting down, a 30x30!!!! Yup, you're going to see us alongside the LIE soon!!! And now that they called and told us it's ready, he tells me 'we're not hanging that up', um, excuse me, but why not? We just paid $200 more for the billboard. And his reason is, are you ready? It's TOO BIG!!!!
Is he kidding me?? I told him I'm hanging that picture and him along with it, even if I have to put it in the front lawn or somewhere on the LIE!!!!

Anyway, all my dealings with Cassarino have been good -- they were very patient (we went back about 3 times after because we couldn't agree on the billboard) and very helpful!!!!

Don't worry and good luck!

michele31 Posted: Jul 18, 2002 02:32 PM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

Post this on the vendor board also. Ask them how long albums take. I know many take up to 6months to complete. Also many brides take forever to give them back the proofs and do the album. I wouldn't worry too much about the time. Just give them the album stuff as soon as possible after the wedding and I am sure it will be done timely.

LaurenS Posted: Jul 18, 2002 02:33 PM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

If it makes you feel better, I have not heard of anyone who has gotten their album in less than 8 months (regardless of photographer).

curly2003 Posted: Jul 18, 2002 03:21 PM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

Thanks Ladies!!!! It seems like this was a schock to only me

I really didn't know it took that long but my saddness has turned into happiness.

Samanthas Mom Posted: Jul 18, 2002 06:25 PM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

good choice curley
I am using them too
do you know who your photographer will be?? I think they do so many wedding also compared to smaller companies and high quality books that it takes longer too

curly2003 Posted: Jul 18, 2002 09:30 PM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

My photographer is Anthony Vasquez

Laura Posted: Jul 19, 2002 06:50 PM

Re: Booked Photo last night....BEWARE!!!

Curly- we used Cassarino and I couldnt be happier with our album-- we got married end of April- did album designing end of July and our album was ready the following April--I know you dont want to hear it but ight in time for our 1st anniversary-- but I have to say the quality is phenomenal so dont worry about your decision!!
Laura