We are looking at photo/video quotes and it is getting confusing. Is the 2nd photographer and videographer worth it? Also - can you do parent albums yourself? They seem to be a $500 add-on with one company.. I don't have any problem doing it myself if it is doable.
Kimberley2015
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Photo/Video Questions
FH and I discussed about needing an additional photographer as well. Since we are not seeing each other before we get married, we want pictures of us getting ready for our special day. As far as the parents albums, I am sure you can do them yourself however it may not look as nice as if they were done professionally. But to save money I am sure you could do something really nice with the albums.
HesLIgirl
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I think it depends on personal preference and size of your party. Also if you want to capture both you and your FH getting ready-- you'd need two people for that. Since I'm having 250-300 people, it was recommended to have a 2nd photographer/ videographer since we will have so many people and so many possible people/actions to capture. You can always do albums yourself. They are some companies that you can just send files and they will either do the layout or let you do the layout yourself and just print it. It just depends on the quality of the books you want. My inlaws wanted top of the line, leather bound thick paged books-- and they don't want to design their own themselves. They wanted to be walked through the process and they wanted their own personalized book, not a 'clone' of mine as some photographers offered. So we went with a photographer that probably charged a bit more, but was able to fulfill that.
Jsabbatino
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I think a second photog could definitely be worth it - we are still on the fence about video. We are going to try and negotiate a parents album or maybe do it ourselves
haw4
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I think you can easily make parent albums. There are special websites that allow you to print wedding style albums. Just make sure your photographer gives you all rights to your photos. I learned during the hiring process that even though you get a disc with all of your photos you may not be able to print them due to watermarkings. I'm not sure how photographers get away with charging you more for the rights to your photos, but double check, especially since you want to make your own albums.
Dani10
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Re: Photo/Video Questions
i toped for the second photog last minute.. and im glad i did. they were able to go to my dh house and take some photos..plus get a different perspective at the ceremony and reception. do i think it's necessary? not at all.
the video on the other hand.. if you can, DO IT!! im in love just seeing my highlight reel. i cannot wait for the video!! i got to see things just in those 4 minutes or whatever it is, that i couldnt see that day. and i got to see US. it's amazing. my package did not include raw footage, but it was really easy and cheap to add on at the end. one day when it's rainy ill go thorugh it. she said there are hilarious moments she's glad ill get to see now. and she didnt tell me that until after i said i wanted it lol!
ETA: im doing my albums. my cousin did hers on shutterfly and it is gorgeous!! and SOOO many pictures.
JaimeLin
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Photo/Video Questions
I'm sure you can make your own album. As for the second photographer I asked about it because I wanted FH getting ready but I'd have to pay for the photographer to be there for the entire event. I found a baby photographer I know to just go to the hotel for an hour and take some pictures of the guys and his parents. I saved almost $600 doing this, I knew I didn't need two at the reception so there was no way I was paying what they wanted.
rcotter90
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Photo/Video Questions
I think the second photographer is worth it (idk about video because we aren't doing it). The second shooter is the one getting all the photojournalistic, artsy shots while the main photographer is walking around with the list of must-haves. We really wanted those candid artsy pics and felt it was so worth it and our photographer doesn't even offer a package with just one because he feels it's so important (or because he wants or money. Either way.). It's really about what you and FH want. As for the parent albums, we went back and forth also on it and I looked into all the ways to create them yourself and I just don't have the patience for it and know myself.. They would never get completed. If you feel like you can devote the time, it can save you a ton.
I am not doing parent albums since I can't afford it but if your parents want them you can ask them to chip in for the extra cost ..I don't think you should pay extra for a second photographer..a good photographer will know if you need two and include that in the price.
alissacataldo
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Re: Photo/Video Questions
The second photographer is SOOO worth it. You get pics from two different angles of the same thing, which makes for interesting things. Plus, some of the really creative pics you see on Pinterest can only be done with two photographers.
I'm not doing albums. They are so overpriced. You can get gorgeous albums, with the hard cover, online for like $60.
msj288
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Photo/Video Questions
My photographer said that for weddings with more than 100 ppl and/or large wedding parties, he'd prefer to have a 2nd shooter. He reasoned that theres too much going on to capture everything, and that even when he captured lots of candids and the couple's 'must have pics', they always wanted more pics from different perspectives that just wasn't possible without a second photog. This was the case with my cousin. Although her pics were lovely, you could def feel like there should be more to it, or wholes in the story. For example, the photog only got pictures of the bride walking down the aisle, not the groom’s reaction to her walking towards him, and she wanted both. During the first kiss, the photog only got a close-up from behind the couple (facing the crowd), and not a full-length picture. I think with that being said, it really boils down to what your priorities/expectations are, and what your budget will allow.
For us, pics and video is an absolute must since the day goes by so fast, and we want to be able to remember every aspect of it. And knowing me, I'd prob forget even walking down the aisle since I'll be a wreck. So it'll be nice to see/hear FH saying his vows, and me to him. As for albums, we opted not to get parent ones since we upgraded our album, and its cheaper to do it with an outside vendor, albeit a bit time consuming.
cets1290
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yes you should 100% get the 2nd photog!!!! MY MIL was a professional photographer for a very good company for about 25 years, and explained how that 2nd photog goes to the guy's house to get pics of them, and then that 2nd photog is there for the reception getting all of the shots that the 1st photog would miss... the 1st photog focuses on the bride and groom, while the 2nd gets all the cool shots of the guests. Also, that 2nd photog is the guy that gets all of those candid shots people always ask about.
hope this helps!
summerbridejen2015
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Photo/Video Questions
I didn't go for the 2nd photographer, We don't have a bridal party(if so possibly I would have,and our wedding is going to be about 120.If I could pick one over the other I would do video before 2nd photographer but we didn't go with either.
