HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

Original post by marc_rai

Sep 17, 2004 02:03 PM

Hey,

I booked with Patken (using Bones) but I really don't feel as if I got the best deal. This was actully the second vendor that we booked so I wasn't too good at the negotiating bit.

I really love their photography, but I keep thinking about a quote that I got from Cassarino that included more stuff for less $$.

I live out of town, so I came down to NY for a weekend and tried to see the photographers.

I saw:
Mark Kauffmann,
Bill Minnick
Cassarino
Patken
Conrad Rego

The problem is that I keep reading these boards and I think that I didn't see enough photographers in the price range I was looking for (Patken, Cassarino were okay, Kaufmann was a little pricey but I didn't click with him. Minnick and Rego were budget vendors so the price was excellent, but I didn't really like photography).

Patken offers a full refund of the deposit if I cancel b4 6 months, so now I'm wondering if I should have looked at Duet, Imagine, Leli, or some of the others that people are raving about. My budget is $3000 ($2800 is ideal!).

The only problem is that I probably won't be back in NYC until Nov or Dec. I guess I can ask my sister to look again since she's going to look for videographers for me.

Okay, I'm rambling. SOrry. Does anyone have any advice?

FLaCaTaCa Posted: Sep 17, 2004 03:42 PM

Re: HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

Posted by brooklynbridezilla

The problem is i don't know what it means, so i don't know what i'm laughing about.

MY FH thought it meant 'Skinny Taco'

Glad I could give you a laugh!!

Well...skinny taco is what my FI and his friends has translated it too!

Flaca means skinny and once upon a time, I was skinny. Taca just rhymes and that stuck over the years.

Sorry....we stole your thread marc_rai--really though, you should call Patken and have them make you feel better about your choice.

marc_rai Posted: Sep 17, 2004 06:06 PM

Re: HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

I think there is a rat. Actually I didn't know what she was saying.....

Anyways, I will call Patken but I feel that since I signed the contract they might just ignore me. Hopefully, they will try to work with me.

BriBri529 Posted: Sep 17, 2004 06:15 PM

Re: HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

Posted by marc_rai

I think there is a rat. Actually I didn't know what she was saying.....

Anyways, I will call Patken but I feel that since I signed the contract they might just ignore me. Hopefully, they will try to work with me.

No, they are not that type of business. Ask to speak with Doug. He takes the business and his customers very seriously- you will not be ignored and he will do his best to make sure you are happy!

lanikai Posted: Sep 17, 2004 07:07 PM

Re: HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

If you have the option to get out of the contract and it does not feel right to you then I say see what you can do to get out of it. I have heard only great things about Patken however. Also, since you are an out of town bride you can always use the excuse that you and FH decided to relocate the wedding outside of NY!

Good luck!

mia72098 Posted: Sep 17, 2004 08:06 PM

Re: HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

Imagine is a lot more than Patken. There basic package is $3600 and that does not include parent albums. You also get less than what Patken offers.

Justinsbabie32 Posted: Sep 17, 2004 08:25 PM

Re: HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

I am using Leli but would so stay with Patkin over Cassarino be careful.

junebride! Posted: Sep 17, 2004 11:53 PM

Re: HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

Interesting...the photographer is not listed on your profile list...

suezboss Posted: Sep 18, 2004 12:39 AM

Re: HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

Posted by junebride!

Interesting...the photographer is not listed on your profile list...

lol

marc_rai Posted: Sep 23, 2004 05:52 PM

Re: HELP!! Second thoughts about photographer. I placed a deposit, but is it too late to switch or re-negotiate for a better package?

Junebride,

Wow, I can't believe that you would even . I justed wanted to get the opinion of LIW because this has been something that I've really been going back and forth with. If you checked my other posts you would know that I'm not a vendor or a troll. I have not placed all my vendors in my profile (Church, DJ) and the reason we did not put Patken on the profile because we booked them after doing the profile and we did not update our profile yet. Obviously, there was a reason I did not go with Cassarino even though they had the better price (and I am cheap) but it mainly because of the complaints on this board, the Knot and their BBB rating. I just keep hearing all these wonderful things about Duet and I wish that I was in NYC to check them out.

No hard feelings... There's posts too that seem skeptical to me, but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt (and check their history) before making accusations.