Frustrations with photographers

WBAustin

So I'm planning my wedding and I've had my own frustrations and then I thought, "wait a tic, maybe I can avoid some of my own frustrations by getting some lessons from others who have experienced their own". 

I'd like ask follow brides-to-be this question.  If, like me, you are looking at portfolios galore, varied pricing and value, what is it that you think I should be considering.  (I realize we each have our own opinions and desires, that's why I'm getting YOUR input versus just thinking of myself.)  My mother in law said I should post it and open my eyes.

What are your frustrations with trying to select a photographer?

fallbride1109

My biggest frustration was finding a photographer I liked available on my date.  My first 2-3 choices were already booked and I started 9 months out.  I just kept weeding through all of them until I found the right one.

Also, it was hard to choose because here in Dallas there are so many great ones.  It finally came down to really clicking with someone on a personality level and not just their porfolio.

WBAustin

Thanks Stephie.

Tabbie11

My biggest frustration was pricing, it was bit of a sticker shock for me when you get so little in return.... 4k for less than 8 hours of someones time w/no prints just a disk, felt outrageous. Photographer was a toughy because you want the best pics possible and it takes a lot of looking to figure out what style you like but also you have to really click with them since you'll be spending time with them.

WBAustin

I agree Tabbie!  I mean, everyone debates prices and value, but it's not like it's 1976 and there is an incremental cost to taking photos (or not much). 4k for a photographer seems crazy when that's the cost of my niece's surgery.  I almost feel like 2500 is too much as well. Do you feel that 1k-1.5k is more reasonable, assuming you get some prints?

[Deleted User]

We paid 4,000 for our photographer cause there was no one out there doing what he does. We were very happy with what we go in the end and we flew him from Austin, TX to Maine to shoot our wedding. 

All we go was a disc and we were pleased with that being that it included the rights to the photos. You really end up paying for the level of talent, reputation, and expertise. I say those are all worth a great deal of money. It is kind of comparing cars...they all do the same exact thing...they drive...but why is a Hyundai only 20k and a Mercedes is 40k?

MoonlightSilver

Prices were the hardest for me, but I think I got my monies worth once I realized the going value in the area. My photographer was a fantastic shooter AND person, so I'm really glad we went with them.

The cost is really dependent upon the area you live in, so ask your local board for more information about prices.

The things you should look for are:

-Engagmenet session, so you can see their work before your wedding and get to know them / see if you're comfortable around them

- Having rights to print the photos after the wedding

- Ask to see a whole album, not just the good pictures

- Ask to see before / after pictures if they do touch ups

Tabbie11

Ours ended up being around 2k, an that is very good for our area, and we did have a second shooter... We loved him though and got some beautiful shots.

fallbride1109

I agree it depends on the area.  $4k is what I spent -- in 2009.  $2k here is someone with just a few weddings under their belt, or someone making the transition from family photography to weddings.  I saw a very big difference in a $2k photographer and mine and it was worth it to me to pay more, especially since I wasn't having video and pictures were all I was going to have.

OP, we had a Dallas Knottie use Jeff Loftin and her pictures were phenomenal.  His website says his pricing starts at $3K.  But $3K for fabulous pictures is fair IMO.

http://www.jeffloftinphotography.com/

ETA:  A lot of a phtographer's time is spent in preparation and editing and if you pay more, you get more--my photographer did everything from bustle my dress to pin bouts on my family members.  I would have been lost without her. 

It's not like they just show up on the day of with a Polaroid and then their job is done.

katyo2012

My greatest frustration was not having a personal touch, as I found with most companies I researched. I knew I wanted something unusual, but when you are not able to meet your photographer first and go over things, it doesn't matter how much money you save. 

I decided to go with someone that truly adds a personal touch.  She blogs about each of her photo sessions online and has many followers. She is incredible. She comes with at least one other person and the shots you get are .... perfect.  I don't know what words I can use to describe them.  If you check out her website you will find a collection of brides like other photographers, but you will also find families, children and maternity... including homeless families and pediatric cancer patients because she donates her time as a photographer to people in need as well.  Amazing woman, gifted photographer....Jessie Cadenas at Story in Time photography.

http://storyintime.com

smead418

So I have a bit of a different perspective because our wedding is already over and we did not have a great photography experience. I chose a photographer who I have known for years (her daughter was actually in my wedding). My SIL is also a wedding photographer, but my husband wanted her to enjoy the wedding and not work. 

My advice is this: ask a photographer to look through ALL of the pictures of ONE wedding. They will often show their best 5-6 on a website or sometimes 30 or so on a blog, but that is far from all the pictures they take. Out of the 1000 we have, I LOVE just a very few of them. I know they can't all be perfect, but you don't want someone who is just shooting a bunch to get numbers in and isn't doing a good job with their lighting, etc.

Other things I wish I had known to ask about are: 

-Are there watermarks on all of the pictures you give us? (our prints we had for the wedding AND our CD came with them - SURPRISE!)

-What happens if you don't take some of the pictures I request? (I gave a specific list to my photographer that included names and table numbers of our family members and somehow my husband's ENTIRE family "slipped through the cracks" at the reception - but all I got when I mentioned it was "oh man!")

-How many pictures are usually taken at each event? (I have 1000 pictures from the day, but only 300 of them are from my reception - and most of them are doubles. AND we had 2 photographers. So as you can imagine, we have pictures of less than half of the people who were there)

I would also talk to other people who have used the photographer before. Although I had known mine for years, I had never seen her working (I had only seen her pictures after). She was unbelievably rude to EVERYONE - us, our families, and our guests. I get being bossy, but this was over-the-top. You don't want people to remember your wedding because your photographer was mean! 

Good luck!