Photographers

Photographers

Hello - I am a bride planning my LI wedding from Boston. I am planning to make a trip down next weekend to speak with some photographers (my FI has to work so it is a solo mission). I have read a lot of things on this board about various photographers. I was wondering who you are using and what made you decide to choose a certain photographer.
Also - did you meet with any photographers that completely turned you off?
This board has been so helpful to me thus far, so thanks in advance for your help with my next planning task!

Photographers

I used Laurie Studio. The reason I made this decision was because first and most importantly, my husband and I clicked with Ken the first time we met him. Within a few minutes we were laughing and talking like old friends. We knew that he was someone we would enjoy spending our entire wedding day with.

The second reason was that I wanted to work with a photographer, not a photography company, and not a company that specializes in weddings. I felt most comfortable working with an artist, and that is what I got. : )

The third reason was that we felt Ken had a great mixture of classic and contemporary, and color and b&w pictures in his samples, and that his sample albums told the entire story of a wedding. It seemed that he really got inside his subject's personalities. and we liked that.

The fourth reason was we liked his packageless pricing style. We paid for the amount of coverage we wanted, and were then able to choose what kind of albums and how many pictures we wanted AFTER we saw our proofs.

My wedding was last July, and I am 200% in love with our album, proofs, engagement pictures, and everything else we got from Laurie Studio. I highly recommend them!

We did meet with a photographer who turned us off immediately. Some of the things that did not sit right with me were that he refused to give us any idea of where he would take post ceremony pictures, claiming that this was privleged info he only gave out after a couple left a deposit, and he told me that he doesn't 'allow' his brides to wear any of their hair down (like tendrils) because it ruins his wonderful pictures. Needless to say, we did not book him. A friend of mine got married 2 weeks after we did, and booked him in spite of our negative experience. To make a long story short,he over exposed 2 rolls of their pictures (the only pictures of the grooms children) and refused to compensate them in any way.
So... my final advice is if your gut says no, walk away!
Good luck to you! : )

Photographers

If you want to e-mail me I will send you all of the details I have about photographers.
[email protected]

Photographers

We are using Mark Kauffman's photographers (I had a long post of why a few months back if you want to search). Of the many photographers we saw, their style and custom package were the best fit for us.

The only photographer I did not like was Patken.

There are lot of great photographers in this area so you have lots of choices.

If you have questions, you can email me at [email protected]

Photographers

I made the mistake of using B rett M atthews for my wedding. VERY BAD EXPERIENCE. They treat their customers like they don't need the business. And, my pictures were nothing great. They were also very sneaky when it came to the contract. Please take this advice and pass it on to every bride you know!

I would recommend Creative Compositions, Jovon or Patken. Lots of friends have used them and were extremely happy.

Photographers

We are using Kornfelds in Rockville Center. We have heard wonderful things about them. One place we did not like was Cassarina Studios. I know some on this website did like them, though.

Photographers

I am using VIP. He was very relaxed and laid back...not a pushy salesman at all... HE was very open about his work. He actually offered a set of proofs that he had just picked up. and he was reasonable. I had heard a lot of good things about him on the board and was a bit nervous going to see him b/c I thought he would be out of my price range.

I also met with Verdi, who I thought were very good. and Personal Touch who was a close second.

the photographer I did not like was ADA. it was a gut thing as well. they tried to have me sign with a photographer and the seller point was that he was fun and would be drinking with your bridal party!! WHAT??!! no thank you ...I do not want my photographer drinking!

Wanted to add to what Yabbobay said...

I don't want to put down any photographer, but wanted to share a friend's experience with ADA. She had a precise list of mandatory family photos to be taken. Never being a bride myself, I would assume it is very difficult to make sure the photographer is fulfilling your requests. Well, when they returned from their honeymoon, it turns out only 1/2 or so of the photos on the list were taken. She was devastated. I guess the moral is, try as hard as possible to either check up, or put someone in charge of checking up on whether or not your photographer is fulfilling your requests the day of the wedding.

JennRenee

Thank you so much for the info! I was wondering if you would be able to share the name of the photographer who you did not like. If you do not want to post the name on the board, please email me at [email protected].

Thanks again!

I feel your pain...(long)

My fiance and I are planning from Chicago & we just spent the last 6 days interviewing one photographer & band after another. I would suggest really thinking about what you want ahead of time: how much $ are you willing to spend, how big a package do you need, do you want to work with a big studio or a smaller operation, do you want more posed pictures or photojournalistic style, a black and white mix or all color? I would make a whole list of things you are looking for and try to eliminate studios over the phone. My fiance & I ended up schleping over every inch of Long Island because we didn't do enough homework ahead of time. We ended up booking Fullview Studios in Commack/Great Neck & we are really happy. We also liked VIP in Pt Jefferson & Verdi in Patchogue. I didn't care for ADA or Patken because we were looking for more photojournalistic pictures & wanted to work with a smaller studio. Best of luck!

I feel your pain...(long)

Can you give the number or website to fullview? I am interested in checking them out. Thanks...

Coselige

The photographer I didn't like was Bart Stevens. I think there are people who love and swear by him, but I was completely turned off.

Good luck! : )

Thank you to everyone for all of your help! *NM* *NM*

Photographers

Aren (if you are who you say you are and not a representative of B rett M atthews) - I'm so glad that you had a good experience. That is what your wedding day is supposed to be. Too bad B rett M atthews put a big damper on mine. I am standing strong on my recommendation NOT to use them, for anyone else reading. You are correct in saying that they are all 'nice', and Lisa is very nice and extremely helpful. But the second you express dissatifaction with something, they turn on you with a 'too bad' type of mentality. They act like your business isn't important to them, whereas most other businesses would be apologetic. I am not the only one who feels that way. I've seen other complaints about them on other wedding sites, as well as through word-of-mouth. Too bad it's too late. If you or anyone else would like to know specifics, feel free to email me at [email protected]. I don't want to see anyone go through what I've been through.

Aren - long

Aren, First of all, I find it very hard to believe that you have nothing to do with a company that you are willing to fight so hard for. If you are actually a real bride, get over it. You had a good experience with your photographer, Liz didn`t. Big deal, everyone has a bad day once in a while. I can say that even though I use this board for suggestions, I have visited many vendors and have always used my own judgment no matter how many good or bad posts they have. It`s all a matter of personal preference. I can say however, that if B rett M atthews Photography will openly badmouth a customer, no matter how hard they were to deal with, they are extremely unprofessional. They were paid to do a job, if the customer wasn`t happy, and everything in their power was done to rectify the situation, they should just drop it. Move on, forget it, do not tell other customers. Moreover, I find it much easier to believe Liz having a horrible time with them, after seeing what you have said in their `defense`. A company that will go to such length, putting you on the phone with her actual photographer has to find something better to do with their time. That being said, they`ve lost a prospective customer.

Well said, KittyKat.

Since I'm an old married lady already I didn't bother commenting, but I agree wholeheartedly with what you said.

Shame on 'B rett M atthews Photography' for airing their dirty laundry and shame on 'Aren' for repeating it.

Disclaimer: I'm not a photographer, I love my pictures and I've never met anyone from B rett M atthews.

Happy planning brides to be!
:)

aren

the audacity of you to say something like 'maybe it`s not the pictures you don`t like, it`s what you see when you look at them'??? To make such a hurtful personal comment in response to someone`s opinions regarding their photographer is horrible. And it is SO TRUE, that I think so much worse of B rett M atthews since you just told that story, maybe I`ll call them and let them know how much business you cost them....

Photographers

Aren, you and Bret Mathhews should be ashamed of yourselves. GROW UP!! Oh and I agree with everybody, there''s no way in h*ll that I will ever meet with them after reading these posts.

Photographers

I agree with Marcela. I am looking for a photographer and will not be calling Bret. If he really did say all those things he is far from professional!!! You never talk about customers like that! I will deffinatly keep looking! Also, was it neccessary for Aren to say that coment on looks???? This site is to help each other not make digs!! Grow up!

Aren....you must think we are all stupid

So, you got married last october, huh?? Then why are you on this board, because you really feel like helping brides? Why is it that you have only posted 3 times, all about B rett M atthews and all in the last 2 weeks? And, why haven't you ever posted on the newlywed board either? Before you started what you did, you should have thought a lot more about what you were doing...thousands of $$ lost for your company. That's really too bad.