How much did you pay your wedding photographer??

[L_n_O 3]

Our photographer is a friend of my SIL and he's beginning to act really weird in both her and my eyes...

First off, he initially said he won't charge us at all b/c he's her friend...

Now he wants us to sign a contract and gave us a pricing package to choose from...

he's also going all crazy about having to meet us ahead of time and wanting to know what specifics to shoot... I've told him and my SIL has too that we want the wedding prep, the ceremony and bridal party and reception shot...

I even gave him a page long list of specifics like "cake cutting" etc...

so, I want to know how much you all paid for your photographer...

Our wedding is in NE PA and it's a really small town... the whole wedding's coming to about $10,000 for 150 people and so I'm not sure if his price is even warrented. He's NOT a professional wedding photographer, but photography is his passion.

He has shot about 3-4 weddings and i just liked the artistic way he shot them as opposed to the traditional style...

here are the prices. would appreciate your input!

Package 1

$1250

1) 6 hours of photography

2) 2 photographers

3) 4 x 6 unmarked proofs

4) CD of images for web and email

5) 1-11x14, 4-8x10s, 5-5x7s

Package 2

$1450

1) 8 hours of photography

2) 2 photographers

3) 4 x 6 unmarked proofs

4) CD of full resolution images for print

5) 2-11x14, 4-8x10s, 10-5x7s

6) Hardcover coffee table book including 50 images

Package 3

$2100

1) 8 hours of photography

2) 2 photographers

3) 4 x 6 unmarked proofs

4) CD of full resolution images for printing

5) 2-11x14, 6-8x10s, 14-5x7s

6) 10x10 hardcover coffee table book including 80 images

7) 2 5x5 parent albums with 20 images/book (book bound)

[Amby 490]

we didn't pay for our photographer because my uncle is a pretty well known photographer and he did ours for free, but my friend paid about $3500 for her photographer in January

[L_n_O 3]

we didn't pay for our photographer because my uncle is a pretty well known photographer and he did ours for free, but my friend paid about $3500 for her photographer in January

what state was your friend's wedding in?

big city?

[Amby 490]

small city in Indiana

[Cassie 8]

We spent $500 for three hours for a photographer / videographer couple (we got the price of the videography for free because my hubby bartered and set up a website for them -- marrying a computer geek has its advantages sometimes!) that were recommended to us by the people who owned the wedding site.

The videography was excellent -- he positioned the 3 cameras in such a way that I didn't even notice they were there during the ceremony, and the editing of the video was wonderful. He included pre and post ceremony clips set to music, and the best part was when he did a segment where the video morphed into the actual photo taken -- it's hard to describe, but it's cool. I am glad we had the video done, so that we could send copies to our grandparents and parents so that all those who couldn't be at the ceremony could see it. That video had more showings than some indie films!

The photographer....well, you get what you pay for, I guess. She took some nice pictures, but overall I wasn't happy with her. The only picture I have of all the wedding party together that was decent was taken by DH's sister, and even then it was kinda dark. We were glad that 1) we have a whack of camera-happy people in our family, and 2) we gave my brother (an awesome amateur photographer) a bunch of film and told him to go nuts. Some of the B&W's that he took of the ceremony are my absolute favourites of the whole day. But, she did give us a copy of all the negatives and a CD copy of all the digitals she took. If I could have done anything different on that day, I would have done a smidgen more research into different photographers and not just looked at the one because it seemed like an easier choice.

[MrsCat 6]

My very good friend is a photographer and does a lot of weddings (90% of her business). Typically for 2 photographers doing the reception and wedding, and wedding party/family photos she charges around $3500. Typical day is 8-10 hours of work. This is in Edmonton, Canada.

Part of that price includes an uber-expensive photo album that costs her about $1600 to order it. She works with the bride and groom post wedding to select images for the album and thank-you cards.

However, I can tell you that she spends about 30 hours + on every wedding - editing photos, cropping, etc etc etc. She takes exceptional care to make sure the day looks like magic. For her that is where most of the time and cost is - her time to sit in the evenings an make sure everything is perfect.

Before you sign anything - since he isn't a "professional" - I would ask how much editing he does and what program he uses. If he doesn't edit your photos, IMHO, he's probably charging you too much. Otherwise the prices seem reasonable. Also, I would ask if anyone else will be shooting that day, catching the candid shots - especially since there are 150 other people attending.

Annoying that he's suddenly decided to charge you $$$ now - he probably just realized how much work it is.

Make sure you have some good chemistry with your photographer - otherwise you'll have a lot of photos with faces like "####### is he doing?" - like our photos did.

[L_n_O 3]

well, our chemistry isn't doing too well right now..

we haven't even met yet...

sigh..

keep em coming folks! this is helping..

[PlatyPius 5]

We paid nothing. Mom took the pics. Of course, it was a courthouse/JOP deal, so no need for a pro anyway.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

My Mom has been pushing me to video capture weddings since that's what my degree is in. I had no idea what they made before this....hmmmm...interesting.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

We paid nothing. Mom took the pics. Of course, it was a courthouse/JOP deal, so no need for a pro anyway.

Same here, but I think my husband's grandfather did ours. Dunno. There was never any posing at any rate. Pictures do exist though.

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

well, our chemistry isn't doing too well right now..

we haven't even met yet...

sigh..

keep em coming folks! this is helping..

have everyone show up with a digital camera, then they can put the pics on a cd for you, or hand out disposable cameras. get the disposable cameras developed at wal-mart and get the pics digitally on a cd. that is what we did. about 100 pics, total cost: $50

[rae_and_scott 1]

My advice would be not to go with this guy. I think it's best to avoid using friends of friends or favors like this when planning a very important aspect of your wedding -- the photos, after all, are the main thing you will have to remember the big day. I say hire a professional. If you're going to spend a couple grand, why spend it on someone who might not know what he's doing, and who you already have bad vibes from?

[Sister Fracas 5]

well, our chemistry isn't doing too well right now..

we haven't even met yet...

sigh..

keep em coming folks! this is helping..

have everyone show up with a digital camera, then they can put the pics on a cd for you, or hand out disposable cameras. get the disposable cameras developed at wal-mart and get the pics digitally on a cd. that is what we did. about 100 pics, total cost: $50

This was one of our biggest mistakes. I took 8 disposable cameras to be developed that we'd put on tables and came back with maybe 20 usable pictures as people thought it would be funny to take pictures of their feet, someone giving the finger, half eaten food, and mostly blurry #######. And then the 3 year old niece got her hands on one and wasted almost an entire camera. I was very annoyed...to say the least.

And our photographer was also the pits. I unfortunately took the advice of my MIL and SIL for photographer since the wedding was in England. I had to rely on them. The photographer they recommended had taken the photos of my SIL's wedding and they were nice. Well, she (the photographer) must have had a melt down between weddings because she was a disaster. The day of the wedding it rained and when she arrived to take some pre-wedding photos, she asked me to go outside. I told her it was raining and that I didn't want to go out there (seemed reasonable). She said it was only a little mist and would be ok! Thankfully my mother gave her an earful, but the photographer only mumbled something about not having enough light indoors. Excuse me, but isn't it the responsibility of the photographer to bring adequate lighting? After the wedding, she took photos outside (after it had stopped raining) and she put this astroturf thingy on the grass so we wouldn't get clothes messed up....BUT the astroturf thingy was visible in several pictures!!!! She was a nightmare. She took about 50 pictures and that was it. And then she was so expensive....she charged $20 for each 5 x 7 photo we bought. We only bought 20. But paying $400 was WAY too much. I so totally regret not finding a photographer on my own. I planned everything else from thousands of miles away and was pleased, but I have no really nice photos.

Edited June 9, 2008 by Sister Fracas

[MarkNAshley 0]

We paid about $2200 for our photographer and I would have paid quadruple that for him.

We got married in Phoenix Arizona, so it wasn't a small town wedding.

I found him online, looked at their website and fell in love...and am STILL madly in love with my wedding pictures.

-6 hours of wedding day coverage by 3 photographers

-Unlimited number of photos taken

-DVD of high-resolution digital images

-Online proofing and ordering on Pictage.com

-Reception slideshow of your wedding photos (on monitor)

-Website slideshow of your wedding photos on visionyard.com

-Event cards to direct guests to your images on Pictage.com

-Engagement picture session

-Thank you cards

They are now charging almost double for this year compared to what we paid last year as they have become so popular. Their website (they do travel to do weddings) is www.thevisionyard.com.

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

well, our chemistry isn't doing too well right now..

we haven't even met yet...

sigh..

keep em coming folks! this is helping..

have everyone show up with a digital camera, then they can put the pics on a cd for you, or hand out disposable cameras. get the disposable cameras developed at wal-mart and get the pics digitally on a cd. that is what we did. about 100 pics, total cost: $50

This was one of our biggest mistakes. I took 8 disposable cameras to be developed that we'd put on tables and came back with maybe 20 usable pictures as people thought it would be funny to take pictures of their feet, someone giving the finger, half eaten food, and mostly blurry #######. And then the 3 year old niece got her hands on one and wasted almost an entire camera. I was very annoyed...to say the least.

that's why i said hand them out, preferably to responsible adults, and let them know what the cameras are for.