maybe i should be a photographer...

amongthelilies25

..because these ppl make BANK!!!!

So my original photographer got pregnant and will not be able to do our wedding. (which is fine because she has never done wedding photography prior to my wedding....i want someone who knows what she is doing) So now i am researching photographers in my area. Roly Poly! They are sooo expensive! 

I found one and the starting price is $1500 and you have to buy the prints from her!!!! a 4x6 is $5! crazy! 

My wedding planner (who has been a lifesaver for this wedding) found a photographer who will do the ceremony and some reception for $800. She will take some of me getting ready, group shots, bridal formals, bridal couple formals (she calls them "the romantics"),  the entire ceremony, and important reception events (cake cutting, first dance, etc). She will give me a disc with permission to print up to 8x10s, it also includes a photo box with a photo on the top and some 4x6s. 

GREAT deal! but still $400 more then what we were planning on paying. 

oh well.... i am gonna need to figure it out so i can have good wedding photos. lol. 

praying for finances! 

kellya01

I know exactly what you mean -- all of the quotes I got STARTED at $850 and up, and that didn't include prints.  It only include low-resolution photos on a disc (not really good enough to print, but good enough to tell the photographer what pics you want printed or done in a photobook).  Ugh.  I'm a DIY kind of person when it comes to photo albums, and we got REALLY blessed by a couple in our church who do photography on the side.  They're giving us the images in hi-res, with permission to do with the photos whatever  we want to do.  So I can make my OWN photo book!!! :-) 

I'll pray for you to find the right photographer .... or at least the $$ for the photographer you do end up finding!! :-) 

amongthelilies25

thank you soo much!

pictures are important to me...so i dont want to end up not paying the money and then not loving my pictures. 

out of EVERYTHING at the wedding.... that will last the longest. 

so its important.

AllyG303

Ok, so if you think $5 is a lot for a 4x6, get this...my sister is a 2nd shooter for a photographer in Jackson Hole, WY.  For a 5x7, her boss charges $88!  Are you kidding me?? $88 for a 5x7?  GL finding an affordable one! I think finding the photographer is my least favorite part of the wedding planning process.

GJones27

I know, it's ridiculous.  Good photographers in the SF Bay Area are so expensive.  They start at $4,000, and I'm not impressed with the work of many.  Mine takes great photos, but he has bad customer service.  Takes forever to call back and has an attitude.

AshNoel8

The key is to find someone fairly new. There are some amazingly talented photographers out there who charge very little simply because they don't have as much experience. 

GL and let us know what you decide! 

DramaGeek

I found one and the starting price is $1500 and you have to buy the prints from her!!!! a 4x6 is $5! crazy!

That's cheap for my area.  Like, crazy cheap.  We paid that much 8 years ago, and our prints were definitely more expensive than that.

I understand that your budget is limited and you want to get a good deal, but make sure you really are getting a good deal.  A former knottie skimped on her photography - spent about $700 and hired someone just starting out - and she hates her photos.  It's one of the only last things from your wedding day - the only thing, if you don't do video - that it's worth it to pay more for that and skimp elsewhere, like on flowers or decor.

amongthelilies25

ally - $88 for a 5x7!!!! are you kidding me?? wow! 

dramageek - ya..... if we go with the $800 photographer i know i will be happy. She has worked with my wedding planner and i have seen her work...its really really good. we emailed and i really like her style. She usually charges $1000 for what she is going to do...but is giving me a deal because of my wedding planner. (: 

I wish there was somewhere else we could skimp...but we got deals on EVERYTHING! we have been very very blessed. our wedding planner is a MIRACLE worker and has gotten us deals on every single thing! 

i talked with my FMIL last night about it...but she didn't really say anything. I think that if we go in halves (she pays $400 and i pay $400 it will be okay.). 

i guess we will see.