Does this photography package sound too good to be true?

Question

I found this site, and am wondering if red flags should be going up. Here is the package I'm looking at:

http://milespendletonimages.com/JustShoot.aspx

I'm finding that other rates for having 2 photogs for 5 hours with an album and cd/dvd are over $1000 easily. Did I just find a good deal, or do I have good reason to be skeptical? I emailed them, and the 150 proofs are the pics that they take that they consider to be the best ones. Is 150 too few for a ceremony and reception?

Answer 1

It's probably a good deal. The studio may have just started or just started doing weddings. HOWEVER--somethings did send up flags to me. First off, no editing, no soft focus or retouching. That's some of my favorite wedding photos. Blurring out the side so that just the rings show or adding star filter to the candlelight. Not to mention retouching is a NORM in the photography profession for wedding pictures. I mean if you have a red bump on your back, that's gone. A picture is taken and it has the exit sign in the background. My photographer took that out so that the picture looks nice.

You only get one album--no mother's album. It doesn't mention a bridal portrait. And yeah 150 proofs is really slight. I mean over 5 hours...thats only 30 pics an hour. So assume 30 prewedding, 30 ceremony, 30 posed shots (not very many when you consider your siblings, bridesmaids, grandmother, his side and the pics of Both of you with parents, grandparents, siblings) and then the reception. Just an idea--my photographer gave me over 600 proofs.

ANOTHER RED FLAG to me was that you have to pay him in full prior to the wedding. Not when the prints are delivered to you, so you may be waiting months without your pictures and you have no negotiation if they are horrible b/c you have paid him in full. My photographer I paid 1/3 when I booked, 1/3 prior to the wedding and the final 1/3 when the pictures were delivered to me.

Make sure you are getting the person you talk to and that it's not just a representative from that company or you might get some intern who has no idea what you talked about. Five hours is the normal--no photographers work all day--but find out if you are their only wedding that day or if they may be rushing from another wedding.

So I mean....there is a reason he is cheap. However, that doesn't mean bad. Look at his pictures and see. If that is what you can afford, it's better to have 150 pictures than no pictures. However I think $1,000-2,000 is worth it for pictures. After all, these are your memories for the rest of your life. I don't think you should scrimp on that. You'd hate to regret it. Just be cautious and ask a lot of questions before you sign the contract.

Answer 2

The reason this place is so cheap is because they have probably not been in business very long or don't have that high of photography skills, so therefore they can't charge more. 150 photos is more than plenty. You don't need 30 posed shots - more like less than 10. Do bigger group photos instead of You with each of your bridesmaids - it looks better plus it's easier the day of the wedding. 5 hours is also plenty of time to cover a wedding. If they start photography 1 hour before the ceremony to get as many posed photos done, then cover the ceremony, 20-30 min. tops to finish posed photos after the ceremony, then onto the reception for a few hours. You always want to do the most important things first (cake cutting, dances, bouquet toss) because older people leave after this. Once all that is done, the rest is dancing & drinking, which is really not great photography anyways (Drunks don't look their best). Paying 100 % upfront is nothing to be concerned with (if it is, ask for previous clients as references). You pay all your other vendors upfront.
Overall, ask to see several previous complete weddings (not just the best shots). If you like their style, it's a good deal.
Just remember, this is all your have left after the day's over with.

Answer 3

We got well over 150 pictures for our proofs, but honestly we didn't need anywhere near that many. I would ask, though, if you can help choose the "best" ones. They might be looking at which ones are the best photos, but you might be looking at which are the best memories. For example, I would choose a picture that has my dying grandmother in it, even if someone isn't looking at the camera, over one in which everyone is smiling at the camera, but my grandmother isn't in it.

The cost is fine. The album that you get with this package includes just 150 proofs. Most of the packages that you're thinking of include an album with ordered pictures, and probably not the proofs. If you want larger pictures or ones that are professionally retouched, you'll have to order them separately. So will your family, so check on their per-picture price for orders.

Answer 4

I agree with Phantom about the red flags....

For our wedding, we payed $799 (without tax and tip) and received everything you are getting, plus 400-500 pictures for 8 hours at 3 locations, editing, all the proofs, our own webpage for 3 months after the wedding for family and friends to view, AND $250 dollars credit towards our photos (an 8 X 10 was $15 so you can imagine how many pictures we bought in the various sizes).

Just from saying that, I would be skeptical....the "red flags" really speak volumes to me. Keep searching....just in case!

Answer 5

Doesn't sound terrible. Even though you only get 150 printed proofs, they're giving you all of the pictures on cd's, so you'll have more than the 150 they printed. I would ask to see some examples of their work (in an album, not online) and ask for references. If you like their previous work and other clients were happy with them, then you found yourself a good deal.

Answer 6

You realize that you don't get any actual photos, right? You only get 150 proofs - not even total professional quality, as they won't have any effects (like black and white) and they won't be retouched (meaning you could have red eyes in all of them).

Any pics you want to purchase cost extra, and you must ask what their retouching fees are as well. They'll rope you in with a low intro price, but beware.

Answer 7

It sounds like you're getting your money's worth. Untouched pictures and one album. Then it's your job to fix the pictures and create albums for different people, which isn't so bad if you have Photoshop or iPhoto. If you are comfortable doing this, then I suggest another photographer who will do all the bells and whistles.

Answer 8

check them out with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) it hink that is the site.
they only take pics for 5 hours...most do all day or 8 hrs etc.
it might be a new company. i would check them out with the BBB though

Answer 9

They are not going to do any photo editing- but you get the negatives.

I don't get why the dvd is 24k gold though.

Sounds ok to me.