Free family photographer or pay for experienced photographer

mrsbunyip

So my MIL is telling me her niece does professional photos and might be willing to do our pictures for free.  I've never seen her photots at all.  In fact, I've never met her.  

I've been checking out the stickies and am noticing a lot of people went with Amy Schrodt, Amy Boeve, and Amanda Williams.  I can probably afford them if I cut down my flower budget.  

What do you think?  Go with the possibly free photographer I don't know much about, or go with one of the ones with a million references whose work I have seen?

PS:  Someone should go post on my KOTW thread!  I just saw some tumbleweed over there.

Melgor78

I would want to see her work first, talk with her and make sure you guys have a connection and are on the same pages about what you want.  Is she a profession, does she have a company, does she have back up equipment or a person in case something happens and she can't make it?  I wouldn't go with someone without knowing these things.  Photos are they only thing you'll have down the line to rememebr this, so make sure you get someone who knows what their doing.  Also what does free include, just her taking the pictures what about editing and copy rights, albums ect.  GL with your choice.

abbeylynne06

I would absolutely pay for an experienced photographer.  I think the peace of mind knowing that you have a photographer who gets great pictures, rather than wondering how the other girl might do will be worth every penny.  Those other photogs you mentioned take beautiful pictures!

Also, I would be a little worried about possibly straining some relationships if for some reason you were really unhappy with the niece's work.  It couldn't hurt to meet with her, though, right?  But, I'd be sure to have MIL see if she would actually be willing to do the pics for free... if that's her job, I'd be kind of surprised to hear free.  Maybe a discount, though?

amyn1919

I agree with abbeylynne....go with a experienced photographer!! Your flowers will die the next day, but your photos will last forever. As a second time bride, believe me you won't be excited about how your flowers looked, but you will be excited everytime you look at those photos. Believe me, my friend had bad photos and she is so disappointed!

aegrish

Diddo PP.  Unless the 'free' photographer has some kind of portfolio of recent weddings she's done, I'd go with the professional.  Your wedding day is to important to risk with a non-pro that's never shot a wedding.  Maybe the free girl can come as an 'extra' to the reception if that's ok with the pro, or take photos of you getting ready if the pro cannot.  Or even your shower/bachelorette party, or RD.

Milsey32

I would imagine there would be some sort of cost, but this is a great way to meet her and get to know her. (Does your FI know her well?) If you're not comfortable with her doing the wedding, opt for something like the bridal shower or something... And when you say you could pay less for flowers & up the budget for photos - yes, everyone is right that photos last forever and flowers wilt. Why not go with silk flowers that are cheaper anyway and you can resell them to another bride? Or, if you have already thought about going with less expensive flowers, go with them! That doesn't mean you HAVE to put that money towards anything else.. put it towards an extra for the honeymoon or your savings account. Just because you have a budget for the wedding, doesn't mean you have to spend that amount.. I'm definitely okay with saving any penny I can! ;-)

best of luck honey!

emarston1

Personally, I would spend the money on a professional.  My mom had a friend take their photos (30 years ago) and they weren't good.  Shadows were covering most of the faces, they missed important shots, and they just weren't what she wanted.

FSIL and FBIL hired one of his co-workers who worked in the portrait studio at JC Penny's and was looking to get into wedding photography.  He did a horrible job.  He just didn't understand the timing of action photography (vs posed) and very few of the photos turned out well.  And he lucked into those shots rather than having them be planned.  She's never said it outloud because she was so sure she was making a great decision but I know she's really disappointed.

MMRoberts11

I would definitely get the professional. I was in a similar situation but my FI's dad was the one who wanted to take the pics.  We decided to go with a professional so he could enjoy the wedding more but still be able to take amazing pictures as a guest.

mrsbunyip

From what MIL tells me, she is a professional photographer.  She did my BIL's wedding.  I've never seen any pictures, since they are divorced now.  I'm going to ask him if he has any pictures left at all so I can see.  MIL says they were "very good."  She said I'd just have to pay for ink and paper for prints.  This is still just hearsay; I've never met her, and hubby hasn't seen her in 5 years.  Even before then, he hadn't seen her since he was a child.  I don't see why she would do the pictures for free (for either one of them).  

I agree.  If she does it for a living, why would she do it for free?  I think that's one of the things that is bothering me- offering to do something that usually costs so much free of charge for someone you don't really know?  I would hope she would offer me a discount.  I would feel weird accepting something like that from someone I don't know (unless it was a contest).

aegrish, that sounds like an idea.  She could take photos of the RD or us getting ready and stuff.  Plus, that way she can enjoy the wedding.  

Milsey, that is true.  I was going to go with fake, but one of my BMs is the floral manager at our store.  She can get us all the flowers for just over $400, so we're thinking about going with real flowers.  We're keeping our savings account after the wedding, and whatever we have left is going to go towards a new house.

Liz, those are good points.  I'm trying to get MIL to call niece's mom for the phone number, email, anything for me, but she keeps forgetting.  

MMRoberts, that's a good point. 

I guess I decided what I'm going to do: contact her, tell her I'm shopping around for a photographer, and look at her stuff.  If I like it, I'll ask her to do the wedding (whether pro bono, discounted, or full price).  If I don't like it, I'll keep looking.  

*Rebecca and Chris*

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_family-photographer-pay-experienced-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:2e8415ec-061d-4ea9-a5b5-3233421028e2Post:a0c22940-1d31-436f-9f39-f19cdd1671c2">Re: Free family photographer or pay for experienced photographer</a>:
[QUOTE]Go with a experienced photographer!! Your flowers will die the next day, but your photos will last forever. You won't be excited about how your flowers looked, but you will be excited everytime you look at those photos.
Posted by amyn1919[/QUOTE]
This!

MichiganMakeupArtistMichelle

Hello,

I'm a freelance makeup artist and I've worked with many photographers. PLEASE go with someone with experience. It may cost you some money, but it's way worth it. The saying "you get what you pay for" couldn't be more true with wedding photography.

I'm not trying to sound harsh, but with today's technology in cameras many people consider themselves "professional," when by most standards, they're not.

You want someone with experience at not only taking pictures, but editing as well. A true professional understands lighting, editing, posing, and time efficiency. I can recommend a few professionals that won't break the bank.  If you're looking for an affordable makeup artist, let me know and I can help you with that as well  woolcottmua.com