i'm in the middle and soooo soooo stuck! do to our budget we've interviewed A LOT of photogs and hasnt booked anyone.
so here it goes, has anyone booked with a 'new' photographer before? new meaning, they use be a photog's assistant (etc) but they decided to evolve and do their own work. i've checked out their website and i've exchanged a few emails and they seem really great to work with...
the thing is.. how would I know they will definitely show up for my big day?? what if they bail out on me... i dont think i can ever afford not having a photog for my day... because if i book with a big company at least i can hold them liable and they'll have back up, etc...
has anyone been through this?
MD835
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Re: Please help.
sent you fm
xosweetiexo
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Re: Please help.
No I havent, but def. getting a contract will help. Also, many of the girls have found reasonable photographers that might be in your price range.... maybe post a thing asking the girls who they booked with that was reasonable.... Are you on a tight budget all around, or you just want to really budget your photographer??? I am on a budget too, but decided that pictures will be about one of the most important things to me because it'll be the memories of our day. Honestly, I wouldnt chance going with someone who isnt even known at all.... I mean, is the place you are getting your photographer from a real place that honors contracts??
dazey
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Re: Please help.
well i don't know your budget, but you can book a professional photographer for $1000-$1500 if you just get the proofs and no albums or anything. people pay so much because they get professional photo albums made, etc. if you can afford that, i would book someone experienced. i'm sure you can find someone to work with you on price.
it's hard to say, if it's someone trying to establish themselves with a wedding photography career, than yes i would say you can count on them. but if it's a side project for someone, it may not be worth the worry of what will happen.
wundmoretime
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Re: Please help.
If pictures are that important to you, bite the bullet or you will be sorry. We went cheap and got scammed almost $1k and money is very tight for us. We ditched that photographer and went with someone else that we felt we could trust. The photographer we went with was over our budget but did a great job and works out the payments with you. You only pay about 1/2 before the wedding so you can use the gift money for the balance. With video, thank yous and parent albums and all proofs we are paying about 4k.
Cpt2007
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Re: Please help.
i think this could go either way, to be honest. if they are a 'newbie' that means they aren't as seasoned or tested, so you risk getting not great photos one the one hand, or them being flaky (which i think is less of a worry, as long as you sign a contract).
That being said, everyone has to start out somewhere and somehow. Great photographers all had first weddings that they shot, and so in theory, one would think that a less seasoned photog would want to beef up their portfolio and so they'd want to go the extra mile for you to get the work and experience.
For me, we went with a person that was slightly more than our budget and she was worth EVERY PENNY. Photographs are one of the few things we get to 'take away' from our wedding days, so for us it was an important investment at the start of our marriage.
Go with your gut though, and as with any vendor, get a contract!!
GL!
DnT2010
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Re: Please help.
to be completely honest i wouldnt do it. pictures will be your memories forever and passed down for generations. yeah you can get a contract but there is still a chance that they might flake out.. and IMHO its not work taking that chance.
sophisticat13
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Re: Please help.
I think that your photog is one of the most important vendors (if not the most important)because they will be providing you with the memories of your day...the pics (and video if you have one) are the one thing that lasts way beyond your day. IMHO I wouldn't take a chance on someone new for your wedding. It's not worth the worry or the stress...maybe for the e-party or e-shoot but not your wedding...if you are on a tight budget, this is just a thought but maybe you could budget a little more for photos and less elsewhere? It's worth it
OY
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Re: Please help.
thanks everyone!!
PegaLega
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Truthfully I would be very very careful. When all is said and done all you have left are your pics and video if you get it. DO NOT go cheap on that!!! Find it somewhere in your budget, also remember alot of photographers do not expect full payment before the big day, usually you pay a certain % prior to and a balance when you pick up your proofs.
Please whatever you do DONT scrap on your memories you will regret it!
ETA: If you really want to use this photographer then maybe book a photographer from a company that is already set and use this one as a second photographer. This way you get 2 sets without the major cost of 2 photogs
BoxOfRocks
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Re: Please help.
If you decide to use a new person, make sure you are happy with his or her portfolio. Also, get a contract. Contact established firms about what their contracts entail or get FMs from posters here about what to cover when drafting your own. I agree that getting just images on CD, then designing your own album, is a great idea.
I believe I may have a spreadsheet of a lot of area photogs, including the ones on LIW and those not on LIW. A number are individual freelancers who may not charge as much. I can't promise I can find it, but FM me and I'll do my best to get it to you. Prices may also have changed, but I hope it is helpful.
FTR, our best man and his wife hired someone off of Craigslist who was branching out in wedding photography after doing other types of photography. They were pleased with their photos. They're OOT so the contact info isn't applicable, but it's a positive anecdote.
