why are wedding photographers so expensive?? amateur photographers a possibility?

Question

I am getting married soon....and I am appalled at the price of wedding photographers. My husband and I are both attorneys (i.e. make good salaries), but have no desire to spend thousands of dollars on a photographer! We just want photos to keep the memories, nothing fancy. We are having a small American style ceremony followed by a Chinese style banquet (I am Caucasian) and he is Chinese. We have kept the other costs very low while still planning a classy gathering (small guest list, the chinese banquet is quite inexpensive, etc). What have other savvy brides to be done to avoid these outrageous costs? (so far, the entire bill is coming up to about only $10500.) I considered having a friend who is an amateur photographer serve as our wedding photographer, which he offered to do for free, but I will probably pay him $250 anyways. I didn't know if this was a good idea...has anyone else done it? (we are in los angeles and getting married in santa barbara)

i meant the total for the entire wedding will be 10500. still looking for a photographer - that's the last thing.

Answer 1

Photographers are very expensive. One thing I've done instead of hiring a professional photographer was buy a great SLR digital camera - it cost a lot less than paying for a photographer and you can take as many photographs as you want with it - and all the pictures taken with it so far have been amazing!

If your friend who is an amateur photographer has a great camera and is willing to take photos, it would probably be just fine. Just because someone is an amateur doesn't mean that they are not skilled - they probably just don't make it their primary profession. Take a look at his pictures and if you are happy with them, let him know what sort of pictures you'd like taken at your wedding.

I'm having a friend do the videography for my wedding as well, it certainly saves a heap of money... plus our friends know us and will know what to capture. It's great to have talented and generous friends who are willing to offer their skills to us.

Answer 2

Let me first say that going with an amateur is a risky thing. Pictures are what you will have after the wedding. And they will hang around for years after. Some of the best advice I was ever given was not to try and save money with the photographer. Unfortunately, getting married has turned into a money making machine. Getting a good photographer is well worth it.

Answer 3

You are not paying the professional photographer for a couple of hours of snapshots, which is what your amateur friend will probably give you. Professionals have the proper equipment, backups, and experience to deliver images worthy of your wedding day. This expertise and knowledge isn't cheap to obtain or maintain. Particularly for the ethnic elements, you would be advised to find a pro who has shot a Chinese style banquet before.

I agree with the post about having your cousin who watches Court TV to defend you in a trial. You are thinking in the same manner when you contemplate having amateurs capture your wedding day. To me, $10,500 is a fairly big amount to spend and then have mediocre images of the day.

That's not to say that an amateur, with enough talent, experience and a bit of luck couldn't come up with some good photos, and maybe your friend can produce.

Sometimes on this forum, I give tips and pointers for brides who have to go with amateurs or family photographers because they cannot afford pictures any other way. But if you are both attorneys, you should be able to afford decent photography. So if pictures of your wedding day are at all important to you, my suggestion is to look at several pros's portfolios and go with the vision you like best, and not even consider the cost.

Best wishes for your wedding and future, and I hope your images are all that you hope.

Answer 4

In my opinion there are things to skimp on, favors, centerpieces, but the photos are the one place where you are wise to spend your money. Remember those are your memories and you can never recreate your wedding day. With a professional photographer you are guaranteed all good pictures, with a friend who doesnt have the proper experience and equipment there are no guarantees at all. What would you do if no shots came out? You wouldnt be able to go back and look through them, you would never be able to show your children your wedding day.

Keep looking, where the money really comes in to photography is the albums, see if you can find a photographer that will give you the shots on a disc that you can print your own photos from (you own the copyrights), thats a big money saver.

But yes, they are expensive, but in the long run thats one of the things you will be happy that you spent your money on. Dont skimp in this area.

PS I do photography as a hobby and have done a couple of jobs for friends who needed pictures of their kids and some real estate photography. In a million years I would never agree to do a wedding. If I screw up photos of a kid or a house I can go back the next day, the subjects will not have changed, but a wedding is one day of your life, you dont get a do-over. Remember that.

Answer 5

I found a recent college graduate who has been doing studio photography (quite well might I add) for a few years and wanted to delve into wedding photography. She doesn't yet feel comfortable charging (because rates are so high) since she has little wedding experience, so she is doing free weddings until she has a portfolio built up-but she does have professional equipment. It happened by chance-she put out a posting on my local freecycle group, so it worked out well. She is going to give us the CD with all the digital proofs so we can print what we want at a less expensive rate. We are going to give her about $250 and a meal for her time, as well. I know, the rates are insane. Some of the packages were the same cost as my entire reception! It's a ripoff, but they know people will pay because they want those memories. True extortion!

Answer 6

By Boyfriend is a photographer. In fact he's doing a wedding tomorrow. When are you getting married? We live in Northern California. By the way an amateur photographer offers for free because he needs experience (not a GOOD IDEA IF HE'S YOUR ONLY PHOTOGRAPHER). Your wedding is the most important day of your lives! You can contact us at [e-mail]. And I'll have him give you an estimate of cost!

Answer 7

Your going to regret it!! I'd rather skimp on something else than the photographer. Go on craigslist

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/crs?query=wedding+photographer

http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/search/crs?query=wedding+photographer

How about this place?
http://www.weddingone.com/wgo/main.html
4526 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA

They are based out here on the east coast and started something on the west coast, from a korean background and may be able capture the chinese wedding traditions. I used a photographer for my wedding that came from this company. Real artistic compositions and lighting. And the prices are reasonably good. Make sure there's nothing lost in translation:) Get it in writing.

I just wanted to mention I'm a graphic designer by trade and have some experience with photography. The main problems with taking posed pictures of people are usually depth of field and subject movement. Both are problems that are at their worst when light levels are low. There are also special problems when using flash. Something to think of, maybe you can try your friend out for engagement photos with your family.

Answer 8

the photographer is the way you are preserving your memories from the wedding. remember you can not be everywhere - but the photographer will be capturing pictures of things you didn't get a chance to see perhaps. I would go with the pro on the photography - but if the amateur is a friend and you trust him then go ahead.. but you really should want quality when it comes to your wedding photography.. how much was your dress that youre going to wear once.. thats where you should cut costs.

Answer 9

Amateur photographers are a great cheap way of getting fantastic photographs, especially for your wedding. I would recommend you see some of this friends work before paying him anything, or if you are happy with his work, at least offer to pay for his equipment such as film.

I myself am a photographer and realise what a great opportunity this could be for the both of you, your friend because of the experience and you because you will know the person, trust them and therefore will be much happier about the turn out regardless.

Answer 10

What would your response be if someone said "Attorneys charge horrible fees! I'm going to court on a trumped-up manslaughter charge and my second cousin watches Court TV a lot. He thinks he could be a good lawyer if he went to school and had more experience. should I use him?"
A professional photographer has had training, experience and has invested more than $20,000 in equipment. He has backup equipment for emergencies, uses proper reflective lighting to hide shadows. He will not give you photos with red eye or drool on your chin. He will take about 1000 digital photos, edit them, colour correct them to allow for sun distortion, and will give you enough proofs to select your best. His fees generally include several enlargements, 8 to 20 hours of his time (on site and in lab) at a modest $50 an hour (less than half what YOU charge to frown and say "..uh hummmmnn.") and an eye for detail. When you are thirty years older and thirty pounds heavier, you will be able to look at your photo album , preserved on professional acid-free paper, and remember when you were young and passionately in love and smart enough to put the dollars where they count! I am NOT a photographer. I am a woman who depended on amateur friends for my own wedding. Good friends who hit the booze as hours passed and the photos reflected their casual attitude to our photos. I am a mother who married off 3 kids and regret the one wedding that scrimped on photos!! The kids regret it too, every time they see the other two professional albums.