Looks like you two inadvertently started a little controversy over there
I just wanted to add my two cents and say that I totally agree with Tara!!!! DO NOT go way over budget with the thought that the money will magically be there after the wedding. I almost fell for that too. I started to think that it was a good idea to pay for the photography and then the photos. But if I did it that way, I would have ended up paying twice what my photography budget is. Maybe that works for people with bigger budgets or who don't want something like, I don't know, A HOUSE, after they get married. It sounds like you have a pretty tight budget. Your know your limits, stick with 'em.
Keep looking, Wanda, you will find someone who you can afford without setting yourself up for spending a few thousand more AFTER the wedding.
Becky
taraalissa
Posted:
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Re: cw0904 & tarakinspa re the Vendor Board
Wanda,
Check out www.somethinginblue.com We almost went with them, they do great work and are very affordable. Trust me they are great people.
tarakinspa
Posted:
Member since
wow there is a controversy
oops didnt mean to start a controversy I just wanted to tell cw0904 to do her homework because I know how it feels to be on a tight budget and i hate how the wedding business is so high on the fact that they know that we 'have' to spend the money so they milk us for every penny, it's the same with funerals, to me it is sad. I mean just to take pictures at a local garden costs $250 for a wedding but of course is free if not wedding related, why do they all think we are made of money just because we are getting married, I feel more poor than ever because so many things are happening at once maybe i vented a little much seems like the vendors are upset enough....or maybe I hit a nerve. anyway back to the wedding planning, try VIP studios for photography I am booking with John, he is very reasonable as far as price.
Valenia
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Re: wow there is a controversy
I'm glad to see what you posted Tara. I met with Mark Kauffman, and was totally turned off by him trying to get us to pay for photography now and albums later. I knew that in the end it would make everything cost more then if it was laid out in the beginning, and would put me in a position of not being able to negociate album costs. We had the budget to pay now, and he kept pushing that model despite our obvious discomfort. I certainly understand that its hard to know exactly what we'll want before we get the photos, but I'd prefer to have 95% laid out and just 5% of potential add-on. To be honest, we loved his pictures but decided not to hire him because we thought he was going to try to play games with prices after the wedding. Ooh! And I also hated that he said book now looking at this years prices but you will have to pay next year's prices -- no one else played that game. I think you were 100% right to try to protect this bride from being guilted into spending more then she ultimately wanted to spend. Mark Kauffman studios takes beautiful pictures, but I find their sales tactics distasteful.
AlisonMT
Posted:
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Re: wow there is a controversy
Sorry to jump in so late but I am curious about two things
1. which photography vendor this controversy was with...sounds like mark kauffman, yes? (and if so, i had similar feelings)
and
2. how to actually reach something in blue. tara, i emailed you...not sure if you got my message. i tried calling them, but their line is always busy! then i emailed them last week and still have yet to receive a reply! any idea what's up?
Sonicstef
Posted:
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Re: wow there is a controversy
I think everyone has a different opinion about this.
I know some brides are very glad that they can postpone paying for an expensive album since they want quality photography but don't have a huge pile of cash to pay for it before the wedding. Many photographers will not do this for fear of not making the huge profits on the albums if the bride decieds not to do one altogether.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions but I don't think its fair to say Mark is being decitful or playing games because I just think he is trying to accomadate different budgets. Of course he is trying to make a profit (as is all photographers) but he also doing it to be flexible in my opinion.
You may have had a different experience but I think Mark is upfront about his pricing so you know before you go his range. Some photographers will tell you to come to their studio before they will even tell you what their fees are.
Just my 2 cents.
Valenia
Posted:
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Re: wow there is a controversy
Sonicstef - You have very good points here, and in the end I did not mean to imply that Mark Kauffman was in any way evil. My problem was that in my experience working with him on trying to get a quote I told him very clearly that I had the money to pay before the wedding, and wanted to know what the price would be for everything we could possibly predict. It was like pulling teeth to get a straight, solid answer on price. Perhaps I just caught him on a bad week -- and I have absolutely no criticisms of the quality of work (it was breathtaking).
Its one thing to let the brides know that there are flexible options on when to pay for what. I really got the impression though that he was encouraging people to spend above their means. Otherwise, why not say this is how much it costs for the photography that you owe now, and THIS is what an album will cost which you can pay later if you want one. (Instead of just hire photographers now, and worry about the album pricing later)
In the end, this is probably just a personality conflict, and difference in communication style. In no way do I mean to imply that Mark Kauffman studios would not do a fabulous job. I also think that in the end, the price would work out to be similar to comparable studios. I just felt that by hiring them, I would not know what the final price was until well after the wedding, and personally I wasn't comfortable with that. Pay now, or pay later, I had to know what it would cost.
NIHA
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Re: wow there is a controversy
I agree with all of you and that it depends on each couple's situation. The way we are paying for our wedding is by saving every month, up until the day of our wedding. We have exactly the amount of money that we need, no more and thankfully no less. The way I budgeted is to pay for quality photography first, and think about albums later, when we are able to afford it. We are paying $900 for 4 hours, 2 photographers and 200 proofs, because that is all we can afford. We don't have $2000 to pay for an entire day and 3 albums. Actually, what I decided was not to even think about buying albums because I might make them myself. Neither of our parents care either way if they have entire albums, so we will probably just give them each 8x10s. So, for me being on a tight budget and having a untraditional way of hiring a photographer, the paying by the hour and paying for albums later works out perfectly, and I'm happy that M. Kaufmann is able to work with me and that I can design my album on my own time.
taraalissa
Posted:
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Re: wow there is a controversy
Alison,
I met with something in blue about six months ago and had a hard time decinding between them and imagine studios. In the end we went with Imagine even though it was more money, because FH felt she was more experienced (which she is). I could have went either way, but I am comfortable with my decision. Anyway, I have no idea how to get in thouch with them now. Like I said, it was months ago that I was dealing with them. Have you sent them an email?
Regarding Mark Kaufmann- We felt that while his work, or the work of his photographers is very good- there is no doubt about that, he sells himself as a product, and makes you feel that you are missing out if you don't buy is product. I don't need to be treated as if I am just settling for some shmoe with a camera because I didn't get a 'fine-art' photographer from Mark Kaufmann. His sales pitch (i believe it is a pitch, finely crafted over the years) totally turned us off, and the fact that the album was going to be discussed after the fact is, in my opinion a scam. He called us many times to try to arrange a contract to work for us, and finally I told him not to call anymore because we booked someone else, even though we hadn't yet. Truth of the matter is, he creeped me out.
I am not trying to offend the brides who are using him, but for me and my fiance, we thought he was very seedy and manipulative. He made us feel very uncomfortable.
Teri
Posted:
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Re: wow there is a controversy
Hi,
I was debating whether or not I should jump in here, but I wanted to add my 2 cents with my experience. My FH and I met with Mark last Fall, and we also felt uncomfortable with his sales pressure. His work really is beautiful, but neither my FH nor I appreciated the sales pitch. We also didn't appreciate the part where he offered a certain amount off the total price if we signed the contract that day. That was a big red flag to us.
Maybe my outlook is different, but I try and justify the total cost of the vendor, and not when I can pay for the service. It makes no difference to me when the final tab is due, it's whether or not I am willing to pay X amount for a service. Just my opinion.....
Teri
AlisonMT
Posted:
Member since
Re: wow there is a controversy
Tara,
We met with Imagine too and loved them but think they might be a little out of our budget.
Were Something in Blue's prices better? I did send them an email, last week, but they haven't responded...
taraalissa
Posted:
Member since
Re: wow there is a controversy
Alison,
I came across some of there paperwork while cleaning just yesterday. Do you have a fax? I can fax you their price list before I throw it away. They are very flexible (on all of their packages), and less expensive than imagine. They are nice people, they came to our house twice to discuss possibly doing business.
I can fax you now if you like.
AlisonMT
Posted:
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Re: wow there is a controversy
Sure, but it's long distance. 202-885-1211. Or email me the info at [email protected]. Thanks!
cw0904
Posted:
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Re: Tarakinspa and all-resonse to original photo post
WOW- Good going Tarakinspa!!! I have been avoiding this website (not b/c of all of you ) but b/c I have to study and focus on other things right now. I just opened up the original post directed to me and Tara. I don't want to do pay for the albums afterwards IF it is done by a photographer. I will do them after the wedding IF I do them myself. This is the angle I was trying to get at. I visited Kate's Paperie's event yesterday and I got some really good ideas on photo albums. I would rather spend more time and effort on making the albums customizable to me and FH's family rather than do the way the photographer wants to do it and heck charge me and arm and a leg for it! I completely disagree on the still paying for stuff after the wedding. Right after the wedding we are going straight to saving for a home. BTW this will never end: saving for a home, saving for kids college, saving for kids and more kid savings. Oh and don't forget those kid vacations ladies! This is what happens when we become adults. I still wish I was in HS. Anyway, Thank you all for your opinions but unless I get some great package from a photographer that can cover all my needs, I will pay for the album BEFORE the wedding is over. If not, I am more than happy to do it myself. I knew what Mark was getting into. But its not for me! Sorry but he lost me as a possible client.
Sonicstef
Posted:
Member since
Re: Tarakinspa and all-resonse to original photo post
Hey CW - I was at the Kates thing too! It was a total madhouse so I didn't really get to see a whole lot. But I am completely paper addict so it was a good excuse to shop :D
cw0904
Posted:
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Re: Tarakinspa and all-resonse to original photo post
Kate's was a madhouse. I got fed up after weaving through people. I will have to take another trip soon. I loved it!
michele31
Posted:
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Re: Tarakinspa and all-resonse to original photo post
Not sure where the controversay is, as I visit this board almost everyday. And I agree that tons of places tack on $$ when they hear 'wedding'. I mean just look at those white slippers that say Bridal on the package. They cost $20 more for a row of cheap craft pearls added to the tip. Totally unfair.
My experience was sooo different. He was totally open about his prices, told me to check around and make the decision that was best for us. He offered the pay for albums later option, which I thought was a great option, but I decided I didn't want an after wedding bill to deal with. So I opted to get everything up front. I know some people who do not want albums and Mark gives you that option too. Lots of other places do not. I do agree that sometimes Mark can be a bit pushy, he never was with me, but I know a few brides on the board have complained. I have actually mentioned it to him. I think that the wedding photography business is very competitive and each studio owner is just trying to get business, like all of the vendors. But he is super responsive to me and very helpful.
Becky
Posted:
Member since
Re: Tarakinspa and all-resonse to original photo post
Michele,
I don't think there is an MK controversy. I was referring to the post from Michael (aka Music by Michael) about brides posting on the vendor board and his post to Tara when I said that.
By the way, I met with Marie and Bill on Saturday and booked them. Thank you so much for helping me make that decision. They were so nice and I almost cried watching the DVDs they showed us. Can't wait for mine!
Becky
tarakinspa
Posted:
Member since
Re: Tarakinspa and all-resonse to original photo post
becky i agree, that micheal guy was the rude one 'are you a vendor? I mean obviosly I'm not, that was just a snotty comment, the photographer was just using the sales tactic that he uses which I happened to not like,but he didnt come back with a comment which is what a proffesional would do. I'm sure he read my comment and just took it as an opinion, or maybe rethought the way he has been selling with any luck.
SomedayBride
Posted:
Member since
Not to beat a dead horse on this topic, but....
I haven't even started visiting photographers yet, but I have to say that I sort of agree with Mark Kauffmann's sales tactics. If you request info from him, he sends you a price list. If his photos/albums are out of your budget, don't bother visiting him. He only suggests paying for albums afterward to alleviate budget constraints. I'm not sure what I'm willing to spend on photos yet, but I know that if it's not over $2k, I won't bother going to see his work. Why waste my time, and his. As for the comment by Music by Michael, I agree...very snotty. Now that's a bad sales tactic.
