Professional Wedding Photos - What to order?

Question

I hired a professional photographer for my wedding. I ended up with a little over 300 shots. Paid about $1400 total. I am getting a $200 credit toward prints. Plus a DVD with a release form allowing me to print my own additional pictures elsewhere.

The prices from the professional are as follows:

4x6 - $10
5x7 - $15
8x10 - $20
11x14 - $30
12x18 - $45

They are running a 2 for 1 special in about a week, so I am holding off for that.

If I take my DVD elsewhere, the costs are going to be considerable cheaper.

So here is my question. Do I use the credits to buy all the big size prints that I might want for frames? And then do all the 4x6 elsewhere?

Or do I have them create a memory book instead with that money? The books are over $200.

I am just not sure which way to go with this. My guess is that the pro prints will be on better paper and probably better spent on the bigger ones that I would frame rather than on 4x6 prints that will be in a photo album.

I'd love to hear what others have done... or wish they had done...

Answer 1

I would definitely use the credit towards a memory book. In retrospect, that's probably the most costly portion of the photography. I just got married and can't wait until I get my photo CD so that I can get them printed elsewhere. Besides, $10 for a 4x6 is expensive. It costs less than $0.25 at Target. People always see dollar signs as soon as you say wedding. Haven't you spent enough? Why not have the photographer do something that you can't do yourself which is creating a photo book? Good luck!

P.S. For the REALLY important ones that you want to put on your mantel you should just purchase 2 or three of the 8 x 10s. Or try going to Walgreens or CVS ask telling them what kind of paper you'd like to have them printed on.

Answer 2

First of all, you really need to question how your brother is going to react if you completely screw something up, and how that might effect your relationship with him. Wedding photography is hard work, and the probability of messing up is high. Also remember that it's hard(darn near impossible) to be a both a guest and a photographer at the same time. I notice this even when I take my camera along to a wedding for which I'm not the official photographers-it's hard to socialize when your nose is stuck behind the viewfinder. Consider, if you can, hiring a pro photographer as your wedding gift to your brother. If you're determined to do it anyway, here's my suggestion list: I would look into renting or buying and, most importantly, PRACTICING with the following Fast, pro grade mid-range zoom(24-105 or similar, but most importantly a constant 2.8), preferably with stabilization(Nikon calls it VR) Fast mid-range prime lens, like a 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 Sturdy tripod At least one back up of every major piece of equipment, including your camera body and main lenses(what happens if your camera decides to die right as the bride's about to walk down the aisle?) An SB600, or even better, and SB800, would be a good "idiot proof" flash. I would suggest, though, investing your money in a couple of less expensive older auto flashes, like a Vivitar 283, Sunpak 333, or Metz 36CT3. Of these(I own at least one of all three) the Metz is probably my favorite, since it is the most powerful and flexible, although it's also the hardest to find. These are all inexpensive enough that you could get a couple for the price of one SB600 on Ebay. You also want to have a selection of lighting modifiers and diffusers available. A lot of people really like the Gary Fong Lightsphere, although there are others. Even a chunk of plastic from a milk carton taped over the flash head can make a world of difference. Keep an index card rubber banded to the back of the flash head to use to direct some light forward when bouncing,

Answer 3

Wait for the special. Do your larger prints and definitely the memory book from your photographer. Ask for their recommendation of where to make prints. If you're doing them on-line, MPix is a good, reliable printer.

You are correct in thinking the pro prints will look better. (At least, they should.) But assuming you get corrected files and have them printed at a decent lab, your parent albums and show around album will probably be fine. Use the quality printing for your book and frame-ables.

Answer 4

It depends on what kind of memory book you're talking about. If you're talking about a digital composite coffee-table style book, they're WELL worth the money and I would put the credit towards that. If you're just talking about a traditional photo album, well, you can do that yourself so use the credit toward your big prints and get the smaller prints at Target (they're still very nice for $.20 apiece).

If you don't get the bigger prints from your photographer, get them from a nice photo lab (like Ritz Camera) to make sure you're getting top-quality prints.

Answer 5

Go with the larger print and have them do a few select smaller ones for the parents of the bride and groom and any other you will give as gifts. You can get a 8x10 done at walmart for 2.74 a 5x7 is like 1.79. I just did some.
But walmart any many other places have size limits so get the 11x14 and the 12x18 done at the wedding place.

Answer 6

If you have a good photo printer you can print your own by scanning and printing.So I would go with the ones you can't do yourself.

Answer 7

My friend is a wedding photographer and she charges more, so I believe this is a great deal.

Answer 8

You should have the bigger ones done. You can do your own samller ones and do you really want a scrapbook when you can make your own?

Answer 9

order the prints that you like or have them put them into a photobook

Answer 10

i took a picture of me taking a sheet toady wanna see