To pay $200 for outdoor photo shoot location or not?

tdmaus

Philly has this japanese teahouse with garden in one of it's parks. I was thinking, it would make a great backdrop and outdoor location for our photo shoot on our wedding day... so i contacted them and they request $200 for a 1 hour photo shoot there! Ugh! I told them, we dont have a bridal party, so it will be just me, my FI and the photographer...but still $200 an hour... And that's during their opening hours, so there might be other visitors during that time of our photo shoot. If we want a private photoshoot after hours, then it would be $400 fee... ugh... we have the budget for it, but i just dont feel comfortable to shell out $200 for a 1 hour photo shoot... and if it's raining that day,  then we can't even get a refund...

Decisions, decisions... would you pay that fee?

gpapale1

How far in advance do they need to know?  Can you just wait until 2 days before so you can have a better idea of what the whether would be like?  I think it really depends on how bad you want to have photos there, if you have time in your schedule to travel there and back on the wedding day, and you definitely need to decide if the $200 is worth it.  Is there something else you would rather have for $200?  If not, I say go for it.

vineyard12

I'd have a hard time spending that money, honestly. You'd get some great pictures, even if it rains. And if people are around, I am sure they would stay out of your way. Irregardless, I don't think I would shell out that money for an hour. Are there other gardens in the area that would be...free?

mancila60

I say no. While pictures are one of the most important things I don't think it is worth it for just an hour.

MelisMC

I didn't think it was a bad idea until you mentioned it would still be open to the public. That would turn me off and make it a no. I paid $100 to the town historical society where I'm getting married so I can use an old barn next door to the venue for pictures, but it will be for our private use.

JoyjoshM

I must agree, I wouldn't pay the $200 for it. There has to be somewhere else free or much cheaper you could go. The one thing that gets me is, it's not private. Im not sure of your "must haves"for your wedding. but I say no, unless this is high up on your priority list.....

leahstinson

not for $200. While the spot is gorgeous, how many images will you get from it? So if you get 5 awesome images, that's a pretty expensive image right there. If it was more than an hour and private, yes, I'd do it but not during open hours.

KatWAG

Personally, I would shell out the $200 especially since its in your budget. How I look at it is, photos are your take away. After your weddings is over all you will have left are your memories and great pictures. Photography was a splurge of mine. Pictures last forever.

However, I do think its a great idea to wait until 2 days before when you have a better idea about the weather.

AurorasEnvy

Not if there were going to be other people there and not if I didn't get a refund if it rained.

bpphoto785

Could they really stop you if you just showed up and started taking pictures? It's a city park right? I would just pay the admission fee!