Is anyone else frustrated with Cashman having the exclusive at almost every hotel?

toughcookie508

I was really hoping to do my ceremony at the Hyde in Bellagio, but along with just about every hotel on the strip Cashman has the exclusive. Most of the reviews are terrible and the prices are insane, it amazes me they have all of these exclusives. They must have an amazing sales team. 

I don't know, i'm just ranting but personally its too much of a risk with them. I would die if i spent ALL this money and ended up with no good pictures of the ceremony. After the wedding is done and over with all you have left are the pictures, so why leave the decision up to the hotel who probably gets kickbacks for the photos you purchase?

Looks like i'm sticking with Ghostbar They have no deal with Cashman

vegasgroom

My theory, as a business owner, is that they simply give very large kickbacks to the resort, while at the same time, hiring 'staff' photographers who work for a lot less than independents.  It's a great deal for the casinos as long as people keep buying the services, which they do, and it's a great deal for Cashman, so it's a self perpetuating nightmare.  They're even willing to give away large events to keep everything status quo.  My wife and I were about to go forward with Venetian for a private ceremony and reception that they quoted out at about $40k, and then we came across the fine print about Cashman being the only photog permitted on the property.  I said well I need a quote for all day coverage (8 hours) and digital rights to the images; $9000!!!!  It made me so angry I told them to forget the whole thing.  In hindsight it was great as we ended up in a place that made us much happier and we were able to use the photog we wanted on top of that, but damn I was pissed lol.

vegasbaby2015

I also wanted a ceremony at Bellagio, but decided not to have it there because of Cashman! I'm going with the Flamingo and paying the outside vendor fee.

KrisLSmiley

Yeah the Cashman deal is crazy!   There are days when I think F-this, I'm cancelling the Bellagio ceremony and going somewhere else too... even with the loss of deposit it might make sense.

Rosebubbly

Eeeh it doesn't bother me so much because it's included anyway. I don't plan on buying anything from them. I hired my own photographer anyway for everything else.
To me...if I got married at home I would've had to spend 2-3 k on a photog anyway.
Paying for my photog plus having one included from Cashman photog is still less than I would pay at home.
Yeah it sucks that's hired photog can't take pictures for that 15 minutes but I trust it'll come out okay.
Not having freedom of choice is a bummer though.

TH28754

The same is true for Image Las Vegas.  They are exclusive at quite a few hotels and I just don't like their photography.  PH said I could have my own photographer and videographer for a $200 outside vendor fee (which actually ends up a lot cheaper because I wanted all of the digital images).  However, I decided I wanted to go with Paris instead of PH and they told me under no circumstances would they allow it.  After discussing with them what PH said and arguing that it was under the same owner, they gave in. 

If you really want your wedding at Bellagio and want your own photographer to film the ceremony (and you care enough about it), try to negotiate.  All they can say is no. 

Rosebubbly

I don't really get why they don't allow it. It's not like people ask for a credit for the unused Cashman photographer. That seems like more money they're keeping because they're not paying a photographer.

69 days for me!!!

khristiana

I'm already dreading having to go through all my precious photos (memories!) and not being able to really take home what I want, due to how expensive they are. At this time, we are on such a tight budget that other than friends taking photos, Cashman is our only route.

Bummed, for sure.

myriah505

I had Cashman as my photographer at TI, and they were great! And Inexpensive. I don't get why everyone seems to think they are so outrageous. for $900 you get all your photos on a disk, with their copyrights! That's a steel! When I was looking for a local photographer, before we decided to go to vegas, a decent one would have been over $2300 and that did not include any digital versions or the copyrights! I would challenge you to find a different photographer who charges less that $900 and takes decent photos.

hashtaggroomzilla

Well from one photog that's listed on VG....

Packages

     8 Hours $898
     6 Hours $748
     4 Hours $548
     2 Hr. Pkg or Tour $348

   All Packages Include:

• Unlimited quantity of images on disk
• All photos on DVD with rights to print
• 50 to 180 4x6 Prints (based on pkg.)
• Digital retouching
• Both Color and B&W 
• Free shipping
• Photo tour can be incorporated with any package

KrisLSmiley

 It sounds like you got a really really good deal!

I do not get the digit rights to my photos with the $800 package that I had to get (on a saturday you can't get the basic package) what a racket.  I get 20 5 x7 photos and an album.  If I want the digital rights to my own photos and the rest of the photos they took, most people have said it's an additional $1000+ or more!  That's for 1.5 hours of photography.

AustralianSam

yeah, im only paying about $920 for 8hrs of photography, all photos on CD etc - I suspect its the package mentioned above. Its with Bentley and Wilson. Im at the Flamingo and happily paid the $150 outside vendor fee... but they no longer use Cashman anyway... they now use Imagine studios.

AustralianSam

wow! I just read the comment above! $100+ for 1.5hrs of photos?!?!?! that is indeed a massive rip off.

vegasgroom

myriah505 said:

I had Cashman as my photographer at TI, and they were great! And Inexpensive. I don't get why everyone seems to think they are so outrageous. for $900 you get all your photos on a disk, with their copyrights! That's a steel! When I was looking for a local photographer, before we decided to go to vegas, a decent one would have been over $2300 and that did not include any digital versions or the copyrights! I would challenge you to find a different photographer who charges less that $900 and takes decent photos.

I assume you're talking about just the ceremony?  Assuming it was 20 minutes or less, $900+ for digital rights and a few prints (which they then will also charge you $20+ shipping on) is not what I'd call inexpensive or a good deal.

Jixxt

As you all probably know (because I complained about it here!!) I was initially really super duper frustrated with Cashman and risking $$$ on them, BUT since then I've seen quite a few pics and they're actually quite nice. We also expressed our concerns with Wynn, and they have talked us through the options. We've decided to stay with Cashman and also purchase the whole day on top of the included value in our package. It includes video and photography and we've negotiated the raw footage for both. It is pricey, but I am suprisingly not tooooooo nervous now.

nicolajane81

Jixxt - we are the same as you and just having Cashman at the wynn. I liked some of the pics they sent me through and I'm meeting with them before the wedding!
It's only 2 weeks away so will be sure to post some pics and reviews for you!

Jixxt

Thanks @nicola!!

myriah505

vegasgroom said:

myriah505 said:

I had Cashman as my photographer at TI, and they were great! And Inexpensive. I don't get why everyone seems to think they are so outrageous. for $900 you get all your photos on a disk, with their copyrights! That's a steel! When I was looking for a local photographer, before we decided to go to vegas, a decent one would have been over $2300 and that did not include any digital versions or the copyrights! I would challenge you to find a different photographer who charges less that $900 and takes decent photos.

I assume you're talking about just the ceremony?  Assuming it was 20 minutes or less, $900+ for digital rights and a few prints (which they then will also charge you $20+ shipping on) is not what I'd call inexpensive or a good deal.

Hmmm, well compared to the rates of photographers where I'm from, it was a great deal! I didn't realize other photographers were so cheap in Vegas. You guys are lucky!