Photgraphers

I wish I could help, but I am still looking for a photographer.

We booked Imagine Studios, husband and wife team, what stood out of us was the AMAZING work that they do and how passionate they are about their work and photos.
We also met with larger venues and the pictures did not stand out.

Best thing is so search around and see how you get along with the photographer and quality of photo.

Feel free to ask away with anymore questions

We're using a husband & wife team. Visual Concepts (Bob & Debbie) they are a LIWeddings vendor. located in Islip.

It was very important for us to hire talent and the one way to make sure you know who your photographer will be is to go with a smaller company. An owner takes pride in their work, sometimes people that work for a company don't put the same effort in to it because it's not their reputation on the line.

It was important for us not to be just a number, but be the sole focus on that day.

For this you do pay a little extra but it depends what is important to you.

If you're looking for talent and pride-and not just to see how many proofs or albums you're going to get (which by the way doesn't mean you're not going to get a lot) check them out...

my two runner ups were Christina Bohn and Verdi.

just wanted to add that to really get the best you're going to pay at least 3-4K.

There are other photographers who are cheaper but you get what you pay for with photography.

We are using Thomas Paul photo.

We chose a small studio because we wanted to make sure we knew and were comfortable with the photographer.

I'm using Verdi. They're a husband and wife team. The advantage to it is the personalized attention. I clicked really well with both Rich and Mindi and I'd recommend them in a heartbeat. . . but that's also personal preference. I met with a different studio that I know a bunch of girls are using and I really didn't like their style, but people rave about them on this site as well as theknot.

Disadvantage would be if you're looking to budget. A smaller studio is going to charge more- they aren't about mass production so they take care and in my opinion, more pride. . .its about being an artist to them.

Having said that, though, I would also recommend Duet- all of the pictures I've ever seen from them are beautiful.

good luck!

We're using a husband/wife team. We knew all the work we saw in their office/online and from other brides was all THEIR work. So many times I've walked into studios... looked at albums and would then be told 'oh, that's so and so's work'. I wanted to be sure all the work I saw and loved was done only by my photographer.

ETA: Disadvantage: They usually cost more b/c they'll only do 1 wedding a day compared to 3 or 4.

Someone here is using a husband and wife team based in Manhattan - their engagement pics were awesome!!! I wish I could remember the name of the Studio - it was a really cute wedding-ish name too.... if I think of it, I'll let you know. I didn't find out about them until after I had a photographer, but I definitely would've checked them out.

ETA: it's Something in Blue. They really do great work!

12th Night is another one - I'm pretty sure Dom's the only owner and the main photographer and that he uses certain freelancers for a second photographer if he needs one.

I didn't go with a really small studio, but Duet is a family business, so this is kind of true for them too. One of the biggest advantages to a one or two-man shop I think is that your photographer's working for himself and not for his boss and I think that in any job, not just photography, people simply do better when they're working for themselves. You probably get more attention and for less money too. Plus, you never have to worry about someone giving you someone else the day of (barring any tragedy for the photographer you do have anyway).

Good luck!