Photographers

Has anyone used for photography BMatthews? We are strongly considering them but i have heard mixed reviews.

1) Does anyone have specific complaints?
2) Has anyone worked with Steve?
3) What was your experience? Day of? After - how long did it take to get photos?
4) Did anyone use them for video too?

Try J O V O N photography!! Pics are unbelieveable. I've been married over a year and my family & friends are STILL talking about my pics and how awesome they are.

FM me for my online proofs.

Thanks - yes I believe they do no provide a dvd with photos for like 5 years if that helps you... people have to order through them online.

I am hoping to learn about people's experience if they have used bmatthews personally...

Also - J O V O N (the previous reply) is not on the vendor list for my RH unfortunately, but I have heard great things about them!

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Posted by seashel821

Thanks - yes I believe they do no provide a dvd with photos for like 5 years if that helps you... people have to order through them online.

I am hoping to learn about people's experience if they have used bmatthews personally...

Also - J O V O N (the previous reply) is not on the vendor list for my RH unfortunately, but I have heard great things about them!

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Are you only allowed to book photographer's that are on your RH's list?

The only person I knew that used Brett was happy with her photographs, but was kicking herself that she didn't think to visit J O V O N, consider she lives within walking distance from the studio.

I just used BMatthews for my May 2009 wedding. I really loved our actual photographers (Noah was the lead photographer and, unfortunately, I can't remember the other photographer's name). Noah was great and outgoing and yet didn't get in the way at all so it was like he was barely there. Not to mention that I loved the way the pictures came out. I thought he did an outstanding job.

However, I unfortunately would not recommend the studio. First and most important complaint is the fact that they do not give you rights to your photos (until 5 years later, which you then must pay an additional $350 for). They will not give you the photos in digital format to share with friends and family. You will just receive boxes of your physical proofs to look through which I assure you is very difficult and time-consuming for you and your fiance, not to mention your parents and in-laws (especially if you don't live in the same state). If you would like any of your photos on their website (under 'My BMatthews') you have to pay for that too (first 20 are free, then it's $1 per picture). Pay close attention to all of the prices of prints and albums. If you decide to go with them make sure you negotiate for as much as you can upfront. While it may seem over-the-top expensive to pay for it all at that point, you have more leverage then and can probably get them to include additional prints and albums for reduced prices. If you wait until after the wedding there is no incentive for them to work with you on the prices and they are shockingly expensive. For example, the cheapest print you can get is a 4x6 and it is $10. The cheapest album holds 25 pictures and starts at $1000 (if I remember correctly). This is most shocking because they are on the high-end of most of the photographers we met with and yet don't include as much. The digital format is the most shocking to me and I didn't even think to ask up front because I just assumed all photographers, nowadays, allowed you to share their photos online and I mistook the photos in the 'My BMatthews' section of their website as photos of all their weddings that were posted for the bride and groom on there as a normal service (for free). I fought with them about this numerous times when I realized after the wedding that we would not be able to share our photos with anyone (especially upsetting since we don't live in the same state as any of our parents). Finally the owner agreed to send me CDs of the images but only in low-res. This means that you can't print them out and they can only be viewed online in a very tiny picture (or else very blurry). I was told that this is intended to preserve the integrity of their photography which they consider 'art' and to make sure that the pictures won't be printed in poorer quality than they print it. Really we all know it's so they can suck more money out of you.

In addition to these tangible complaints, I had a few instances where I really butted heads with management there, both before and after my wedding (but both after I signed the contract). I wanted to have one of our two photographers go to my husband's hotel room to take some pictures of his getting ready beforehand with his Dad and groomsmen while the other photographer was with me. The photo manager (Chris, I think) told me that they didn't do this and no one wants pictures of the groom getting ready, it's the bride's day (I don't subscribe to this theory on weddings). I kept telling him that I didn't really care what other people wanted, that I wanted pictures of my husband and since that's what I wanted they should accomodate me. He was very rude about it and basically called me stupid for wanting that but agreed to do it. Another time, I asked to extend the time so the photographers could be there longer while I got ready in the morning. Again I was told that no one does this and that I won't want those pictures, that he's done hundreds of weddings and no one ever orders those pictures. Yes, it was going to cost me more money so I appreciated that he wasn't immediately jumping on the opoportunity, but my feeling was that it's not my concern what other people do, I want to do what I want for MY wedding. He eventually gave in to this request as well, though not without being completely condescending towards it, and I will say that I'm 100% happy about both of these decisions. The third time I argued with him was over the digital photos. You can't even imagine how rude he was to me and so condescending, again. I was obviously extremely upset because I was just realizing that I wouldn't be able to share these pictures with anyone and he just made some sarcastic comments in response to my questions and was generally not budging on anything, giving me the same canned answer to everything I asked him. I also then asked to talk to the manager and he told me 'You don't need to talk to her, I can tell you right now she's not going to give you your pictures on CD' and I told him 'well why don't you let her tell me that for herself.' So the next day she calls me and immediately says 'Yah I'll send you a CD of the low-res images so you can email them around and put them up on Facebook.' Was that really that hard? It wasn't what I really wanted but it was a start.

Anyway, all that rambling to tell you that I wouldn't recommend them a) because of the attitude of some of the staff and b) because you will not have control of your photos and you will be very upset if you don't. It might not seem like that big of a deal now but it really is. There are plenty of photographers who do just as good work but will allow you to do what you want with their (YOUR) photos after the day. Some might charge you a premium for this but it's totally worth it. No matter who you book with make sure you find out if you can get the prints online, if you will have control over them, if you can make prints from an online site, if they will stamp them with their copyright. Remember that you have the power over them at this point because they want your business and there are lots of other photographers out there that will give you exactly what you want, you just have to look for them. Oh and even if you decide against BMatthews it would be really great if you could call them and tell that your decision to not use them was based on the fact that they don't give you rights to your photos!! I'm hoping enough complaints will encourage them to change their system. It would benefit everyone, including themselves, so it's beyond me why they still stick to this archaic way of doing things.

Sorry this was so long. If you have other questions just let me know. Also, if you're interested, Noah (our BMatthews photographer) also shoots weddings solo w/o the studio and his work is gorgeous. He charges way less than the studio and I would highly recommend him. Let me know if you want his contact info. Good luck!

I called them to ask questions and make an appointment and I felt like the guy was talking down to me. He never told me about that additional $350 fee to get it in 5 years. Thanks for that long review! It really helped confirm my decision to not use BMatthews.

I also met with a photographer who gives a cd of high res and has done celebrity weddings and was featured in magazines such as In Style Weddings. There are great photographers out there that are willing to give photos so I'm not considering anyone who's going to hold our pictures hostage and at ransom.

I booked BMatthews and I couldn't be happier. I negotiated with them a lot of upfront and basically got them to add a lot of stuff in, for example, they told me we can put a 100 pictures online for friends and family to look at for no extra charge. I looked into J O V O N and really didnt like them at all. There pictures are beautiful but he really annoyed me and basically refused to discuss anything and kept saying how they are the best and then went on to bash other photographers that we had seen, which I thought was pretty tasteless.
If you want any other info on BMatthews FM me.