i can't believe how expensive wedding photos are! what is a way to get good quality pictures at a low price? Trying to stay under $3,000 for everything and most places want 1,000 just for picts.
2006-06-23 06:51:20 · 13 answers · asked by littlefoot 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
You should be able to find someone who can keep you under $3,000. Look around and do your research. On The Knot, you can search for photographers in your area and narrow it by price range. If you know people who’ve gotten married fairly recently, ask them who they used and how it all turned out. See if you can find a photographer who is experienced and who will give you the negatives or a disc with the pictures (depending on whether they use film or digital). My mom is a photographer, and she’s done this. Of course, it takes time for them to shoot your pictures, but any good photographer is going to go through your pictures, weed out the bad ones and possibly edit some of the others, so if you get the film or a disc, that saves them time, which means you don’t have to pay them for that extra time. It might be more work for you to go through your pictures and put together your own album, though. Photographers also have access to labs that develop high-quality pictures, which is especially important if you’re getting anything in a large size (11x14, for example). If you really need to cut back, see if you can hire someone for the ceremony and the formal pictures, and find someone else (a student, for example) to shoot the reception. I wouldn’t recommend having a friend or relative do it (unless they’re a professional, but even then, consider some of this) because they will want to enjoy the wedding, they probably won’t get anywhere near as good of pictures, they won’t have the same equipment, and if something goes wrong, it can be very stressful. Some people don’t have any of these problems and they just want basic pics, so it all works out. My friends had a relative shoot their wedding and the pictures are terrible – most of them are blurry, the lighting was wrong, and the bride was very disappointed. Also, don’t waste your money on disposable cameras at the reception – they’re too much money for such low quality, and depending on your guests, you may just get a bunch of nothing. Good luck!
2006-06-24 13:26:52 · answer #1 · answered by KrisD 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
KrisD had some really good advice as did the other responders. Don't use a student or guest for the reasons they mentioned, but don't get ripped off either. A lot of photographers think they are God's gift to Brides. Be smart and don't let them strong arm you. What I didn't hear you mention was Video. Video aside from giving you another perspective is a good back up. If the photographer you hire doesn't do a good job or doesn't get the pics you want you can always pull prints from a digital video. Video is less expensive than photography also, so it shouldn't ruin your budget. If you want an idea on pricing and what to expect for a video check out this place http://advancedvideo.50webs.com They also have links to photographers and other wedding related vendors that may help you out. Do lot's of research and you'll be a smart shopper.
2006-06-26 21:31:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would strongly urge you not to have a friend or family member do it. This is for several reasons
1. They will want to enjoy the wedding
2. If they don't turn out, what are you going to do?
You can have an acquaintance do them, only if they are wedding photographers and you wouldn't have really invited them to the wedding otherwise.
I also would not have a student do it. If they are just starting out, they have a much higher potential for messing everything up. They also haven't learned what works and what doesn't. The lowest onthe totem pole I would go is to have an assistant to a wedding photographer do it.
The thing with photographers is that it's one of the few things that is actually worth the expense. It's what you will remember moments at your wedding from - not from dead flowers, not from your wedding dress that's locked up and put away somewhere, not from long gone centerpieces and tablecloths. They are what you will have to help you relive your memories - for the rest of your life.
At least hire them for the ceremony and the posed pictures. Use disposable cameras for the rest, but don't expect the quality to be anything spectacular and you won't be disappointed.
Good luck to you!
2006-06-23 16:22:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well have you thought about passing cameras around disposable ones and ask everyone to give back and you will surprised a lot of my sisters wedding pictures where even better than a photographer and half the price boy some where even priceless and a lot less stress posing on Q unlike a pro but real fun. as for the ceremony all you need is someone with a real good digital like 8.1 or better great pics why hire someone when the technology is out there ....and congrats
2006-06-23 15:49:30 · answer #4 · answered by LIZA P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DO NOT have a friend or family member do it. If anything happens and these pictures don't turn out, there goes a friendship. (Trust me, I've seen it happen.) Shop around, you should be able to find a good photographer for under a grand. I work at a studio and do weddings on the side and both are under a grand. Are you getting married on a friday, sunday, or during the off season? (usually november-march) If so ask if there is a discount for that. Just don't rely on a non-professional person or those disposable cameras. (The flash is rarely bright enough in the reception room during dancing.) Go on theknot.com and ask people in your area if they know any reasonable, good photographers. Good luck and Congratulations!
2006-06-23 15:22:41 · answer #5 · answered by Karebear 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We actually had a friend film the wedding and went to someplace like Glamour Shots for portraits afterward. That way we had professional shots, our ceremony was on film, and guests used disposable cameras at the reception. We only spent a coupe hundred dollars all together and have great photos.
2006-06-23 14:10:42 · answer #6 · answered by bubb1e_gir1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our photographer was our big expense. She charged $3000. That included her amazing self being at our ceremony and taking pictures of my husband and I on our own as well as the posed shots of the families. We didnt have her stay for the reception. That also included an album for us and the proofs. All in all she was at our wedding with an assistant for about 2 hours, max.
2006-06-23 14:43:32 · answer #7 · answered by jenniferaboston 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use a photographer that is digital and will give you the negatives/CD's of all the photos and a release saying you may make copies. I had a wonderful photographer and can print off copies whenever I want and I think I paid around $2300. He had a digital so every photo is saved on the CD's in color AND black and white!
2006-06-23 13:56:29 · answer #8 · answered by KL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow that is a lot of money for wedding pics.. i only paid $150. and she put them on a cd and i went to Reasor's photo and copied all the ones i wanted. i also like this way b/c since you have the cd, you can make as many pics as you want and not worry about their price they have to do for developing. :D i will check around for a better photographer. congrats and good luck
2006-06-23 14:39:50 · answer #9 · answered by laurieprentice 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have found that it is nicer to get a friend to take the pictures. Buy a digital camera from Walmart and some disposable ones for the table and then after get them developed yourself. That is the cheapest way to go and you and your guess will have so much fun!
2006-06-23 14:03:40 · answer #10 · answered by justmethen29 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋