A battle has started with my future mother in law about the photo/video prices/packages. She thinks 80 pics in a bridal album is too much, she thinks 30 pics in a parent album is too much. The prices between 5000-6000 are high. She thinks I am being unreasonable and that there is something less expensive out there. Please help to set my mind at ease.
N.Y.bride
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Re: Photo/Video battle
There is much cheaper out there.
I paid less than 2000 for so many proofs I cant even tell you. So many! They were ALL given to me on CD so I could email them, print them out.. do whatever I wanted with them. I downloaded the ones I wanted to shutterfly and then bought them for .99 cents a piece to hang on my wall. I also made my own albums and my parent albums on shutterfly for $80 and they came out great!!
12th night!! Trust me - do a search. You will not be dissapointed. I also got an amazing video from www.jpivideo.com for under 2,000 and I cant tell you I LOVED both vendors. There were no problems. EVERYTHING went smoothly.
If you want to see my pics or my review just search on the review board. I think my review is on page 3 or so and my pics and a sample piece of my video is on there.
To put it bluntly, it's not your mother-in-laws wedding. Is she paying for it? If not, she's got no say. Sorry, I know I sound like a b*tch, but that just annoys me.
I paid a lot of money for my pictures and video, and I'm d*mn sure glad I did, I will have those for the rest of my life. I'm glad I skimped elsewhere so I could have great photos and video.
ETA:: This situation is exactly why I never told anyone what we paid for anything!
allybabie
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Re: Photo/Video battle
Thank you, I guess I just needed to hear that. No, she is not paying, we are. And I won't be happy if I skimp and settle for something that I don't want. I am not being unreasonable, she is. You're right, she has no say.
lcherian
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Re: Photo/Video battle
that sounds like a very reasonable price for what you are getting--an all inclusive package. i know amy mentioned twelfth night, who is cheaper bc you're not getting any albums....but that's good if you dont mind doing the albums yourself.
allybabie
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that is what i was thinking, why spend even 2k if i then have to do all the work myself. honestly, at that point it would never get done. and i know i just wouldn't be as happy.
irishsweetheart
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Re: Photo/Video battle
Sounds like a good deal to me. I budgeted $6000 for photo's and video and it looks like the place I want to go with, Franklin Square Photography, might end up running me $7000.
Like someone said before, it's your wedding, she already had the chance to do hers. No one else's opinion matters except your and your FH's. (unless they are paying for it)
Go with what is going to make the both of you happy and just remember, your photos and video are going to be the only thing you have to actually look back and remember the day!
allybabie
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yeah, i would rather pay a lot now, then skimp and have to put more money in after the fact
sr081906
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Posted by allybabie
that is what i was thinking, why spend even 2k if i then have to do all the work myself. honestly, at that point it would never get done. and i know i just wouldn't be as happy.
By doing albums yourself you would be able to cut costs. Most photographers make money on the album portion of your package.
This is a good option for some brides.
In the end, it's up to what each bride wants. If you want the proofs, albums, coffee table books, then go for it.
bluesashbride
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Although I had way less than 80/30 in my own do what you want since its your wedding. I would just be willing to pay for it yourself, you can't expect someone else to cover costs if they aren't willing to. We paid for a portion of our photographer for just this reason.
ETA: I just read that you are paying for it-so do what YOU want!
allybabie
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my in laws gave us money toward the catering hall but we are paying for everything else. so everyone is right by saying that she has no say. but her two cents is really annoying and stressful.
kathrynlinton
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I didn't get a video, but I got an extensive photo package with only an album for us and that ran us almost $4k.
That being said, I just got my photobook from Shutterfly that I made for my mom and it is very nice. So, if she thinks it is too much for parent albums, tell them to omit that and let her make one for herself!!!
October Bliss
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For a package deal like the one you mentioned there is very little out there that is less expensive. I visited 7 different photographers and $5K was the average for 1 bridal album with 80 pics, 2 parent albums w/ 30 pics each, portraits of & , a variety of 5x7's and thank you cards. There were less expensive packages out there from good quality photographers (like 12th Night), but those were proof only packages, and there was no way I was doing albums myself later.
N.Y.bride
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The album literally took less than an hour to put together and figure out. I would rather spend an hour of my time making my own then spending another $3,000 for no reason, but thats just me.
Id rather put that money to better use.
ETA: I got about 1400 proofs.
sarahbelle
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I definitely don't think 30 is too many pictures for the parent album - just wait until you have 1000 proofs in front of you and you have to narrow it down! You'll be glad you get that many
CKJ906
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Thats one thing we didn't watch our budget with. Those are the pictures you will have for the rest of your life.
citycrab705
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I'm actually paying just a little more for the same amout, we went back and forth about the price but agreed this is what you will look at years from now and you want something nice, Also as stated if she is not paying i would say thanks for the opinion/advice and then do what you want, and also don't tell people what you pay, sometimes i lie and kudos to those who do there own album, my sister did, but i could never, i am not creative
TaraJohn
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as long as she is not paying.....she has no say and i woujldn' t give her opinion a second thought. Do what you think is right and makes you happy. Pictures are one of the few things i refuse to compromise on
allybabie
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thank you, i totally agree, but i guess needed to hear it from an outside source
eden
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Posted by allybabie
thank you, i totally agree, but i guess needed to hear it from an outside source
You know we'll support you here, there's no way your mom will think 5-6k is reasonable when she got married decades ago where prices are alot cheaper.
All my family think I spend too much on everything too when I'm barely going above 25k, I skimped and am doing alot of stuff on my own. They all used wedding packages so spent much less. But you can't compare 'cus we all have different standards.
What I've learned is that the less you tell people about your wedding the less headache you will get. Just send them an invite! :D That's my friend's advice, she and her hubby did everything and had a fantastic wedding.
