Photography suggestions?

Narwhal · July 2011

We didn't really budget for photography, because we won a free package from a really talented photographer. She backed out and now we have nothing (I won't get into it on here, I guess you could PM me if you're interested) so we're looking for a photographer now. It's at the top of our list of importance, but unfortunately because of the situation, we don't have too much to spend. We won't have a problem setting a little extra to the side, but we definitely can't afford $2000 worth. Hopefully we will be able to find some discounts because our wedding will be on a Thursday and we probably only need 4 hours, at the most.

Who are/did y'all use? Know of anyone to avoid? A google search is only bringing up the same 5 companies.

ms_teach · July 2011

I'm sorry to hear that. Did you have anything in writing?

We used Island Photography, but they definitely break the budget a bit.

We also met with George Farah (https://www.farahphotos.com/Home.php). His prices were MUCH cheaper and he was very friendly. His work is a bit more traditional, but I'm not sure what style you were looking for.

We also met with Coleman wedding shots. He was more expensive than George but still less than others in the OBX. His style is also more photojournalistic. http://colemanshotsweddings.com/index2.php

Narwhal · July 2011

We were in the process of building the contract, so nothing was official yet.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll look in to them.

We're looking for something along the lines of photojournalistic, but we're flexible. If the work is good, it's good, you know?

Flip0330 · July 2011

We are using Matt Lusk who is very affordable...I am not sure what his rates are for 4 hours - but take a look at his website.
http://www.mattluskweddings.com/

He is also a super nice guy!
Good luck!

JAK33 · July 2011

Oh gosh, I am sooo sorry, this stinks!

I have looked around for budget photographers as well, check out Chris Neito:

http://www.nietophotography.com/
original package price is $1200 for 6 hours plus $50 travel fee, but he lowered this a bit when I mentioned krhoy recommended him.

There are a few additional ones out there that are on the mainland for less with a small travel fee.

Good luck!

sarahebrown · July 2011

We booked Ginger Harvey of GingerSnaps. We are paying $1,700 for 4 hours, and rights to the pictures. This issue of owning the rights to our pics was important to me, so we are paying a little more for it. She might be a little out of budget for you but she's wonderful to deal with and her work, that we have seen thus far, is phenomenal. So sorry you had the other photog bail on you!! How unprofessional of them! Hope it all works out and you find what you're looking for. Keep us posted

keb2482 · July 2011

We are working with Matt Lusk. He is one of my "splurges" because he is about $2400 for four hours and two photographers. We loved him though. I couldn't find anyone else cheaper whose work I actually liked. Good luck! I'm sorry that happened to you. Where did you win the package? That is a terrible thing for the photographer to do!

OBX2011 · July 2011

Try Outer Banks Productions....I got 4 hours, 2 photogs and that was on top of the digital dvd, 2 8x10's, plue 100 prints of our choice for $1200. Now this is mainly b/c I went to the wedding expo and received a dicount for that, but he may be wiling to work with you if you explain your situation. I cannot say enough good things about Doug and his wife....I have talked to them countless times, sometimes for over an hour and just love his personality!

obxlaurak · July 2011

Photographer is way off our radar right now, but at first glance I really like Kristen Lewis and Neil GT. We'll see!

I'm curious to know who backed out on you! Stinks!

Krhoy20 · July 2011

I booked Chris Neito for my Sept 2011 wedding. For 6 hrs, we are paying $900, which includes all rights to photographs!!!!
JAK mentioned him above. def check out his websites. very easy to talk with and quick to respond. Explain your situation and Im sure he can work something out with you.
Good luck,

ftdr2b · July 2011

my FI and I used Matt Lusk and we loved him! He was wonderful to work with! We went ahead and booked him for our wedding next spring too. In the big scheme of pricing, he really isnt that bad compared to some of the other photographers on the island. Our engagement pics were up and ready for viewing within 4-5 days too.

Narwhal · July 2011

So much information! Awesome! You girls are the best.

To answer keb: we won it on FB and through her blog. it was one of those "tell us about your story and we'll choose someone to give the package to" sort of things. But when we changed our venue (actually changed it to being a lot closer to her, so that wasn't the problem) because they screwed us over, she decided it wasn't what she was looking for anymore. We knew it was for advertising purposes, but she never said that was the reason that she was choosing or that she chose us. So... there's that.

keb2482 · July 2011

That's terrible.

OBX2011 · July 2011

Nar...that is an awful story! It's strange that this photographer is a "her" though b/c someone at the wedding expo told me a horror story that her daughter got married 2 years ago and STILL doesn't have ANY of of her pics. The photog says they owe her more money and according to the contract and cleared checks, everything has been paid.

I just wonder if this "she" is the same photographer? If so, that is a really crappy way of doing business.

Narwhal · July 2011

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same person! We were really upset for a day or two, especially when she started trying to blame US for her dropping us. We didn't have the date because we hadn't finished the process with the venue, but we told her the month and told her that we would work around her schedule with paying customers, so if she got any bookings for that month, we would work around that. We really tried to be as cordial as we could since we appreciated what she was doing for us. Then she tried to tell us that she didn't see how we expected her to wait around and turn people down for the entire month of September... Uhhh... not what we talked about at all!

keb2482 · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina-outer-banks_photography-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:598Discussion:cf54638c-af2b-4647-b23b-a96a3e1250afPost:add091e0-62e3-4221-bc1c-5b95b5a98f50">Re: Photography suggestions?</a>:
[QUOTE]Nar...that is an awful story! It's strange that this photographer is a "her" though b/c someone at the wedding expo told me a horror story that her daughter got married 2 years ago and STILL doesn't have ANY of of her pics. The photog says they owe her more money and according to the contract and cleared checks, everything has been paid. I just wonder if this "she" is the same photographer? If so, that is a really crappy way of doing business.
Posted by OBX2011[/QUOTE]

OBX, these people should know that they shouldn't treat ANY of us like that because we'll share it with each other!! I wonder if vendors monitor these boards at all... They really should!

Narwhal · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina-outer-banks_photography-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:598Discussion:cf54638c-af2b-4647-b23b-a96a3e1250afPost:871a0264-c190-42b8-ad28-516925fba0e0">Re: Photography suggestions?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Photography suggestions? : OBX, these people should know that they shouldn't treat ANY of us like that because we'll share it with each other!! I wonder if vendors monitor these boards at all... They really should!
Posted by keb2482[/QUOTE]

I have a friend on the boards who posted a negative vendor review about her venue, and they posted and tried to discredit her... so I would definitely say they moniter the boards. I'm just waiting for the photog I'm talking about to jump on here. ;)

But like you said, brides stick together. She tried to tell me that her other customers wouldn't think it was fair for her to give us the free package if we changed anything about the wedding (which, btw, I told her wasn't set in stone yet... I mean we were about two years out when we won this thing. Of course they weren't set in stone!). I told her that I think she should probably ask them, because any bride would think messing with someone's wedding day like that is crappy. ;)

keb2482 · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina-outer-banks_photography-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:598Discussion:cf54638c-af2b-4647-b23b-a96a3e1250afPost:0580fa4c-42fe-4406-8df8-f45b828f8e2f">Re: Photography suggestions?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Photography suggestions? : I have a friend on the boards who posted a negative vendor review about her venue, and they posted and tried to discredit her... so I would definitely say they moniter the boards. I'm just waiting for the photog I'm talking about to jump on here. ;) But like you said, brides stick together. She tried to tell me that her other customers wouldn't think it was fair for her to give us the free package if we changed anything about the wedding (which, btw, I told her wasn't set in stone yet... I mean we were about two years out when we won this thing. Of course they weren't set in stone!). I told her that I think she should probably ask them, because any bride would think messing with someone's wedding day like that is crappy. ;)
Posted by Narwhal[/QUOTE]

Sorry to be stoking a fire, but to me, it sounds like she picked you because you WERE so far out from your wedding day. It seems like she wanted an excuse to not provide the free service when it came down to it. I mean, who isn't going to change anything two years out? I've already teetered around several options and I'm 10 months out! I booked a venue in Northern VA then moved it to OBX less than a year away from my wedding.

Maybe I'm petty, but I would post a bad vendor review on a public forum where they specifically rate photographers.

Narwhal · July 2011

I considered doing that. I might will later when I have a good photographer booked and I'm feeling better about the whole situation. It still stings a little.

Phillyboy06 · July 2011

Sorry to hear that bad new Narwhal.

I know Kel and I haven't even picked venue or anything out yet, but photography is going to be one of our big "expenses". I looked at Matt Lusk's site and it looks like he does fantastic work. Not sure what we are looking at as far as budget, but I would like to have 5-6 hours, 2 photogs, a disk, and rights to our pix. I know, not asking alot, eh?

ms_teach · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina-outer-banks_photography-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:598Discussion:cf54638c-af2b-4647-b23b-a96a3e1250afPost:6af21912-3100-40cd-908c-e12ec605b8e4">Re: Photography suggestions?</a>:
[QUOTE]Sorry to hear that bad new Narwhal. I know Kel and I haven't even picked venue or anything out yet, but photography is going to be one of our big "expenses". I looked at Matt Lusk's site and it looks like he does fantastic work. Not sure what we are looking at as far as budget, but I would like to have 5-6 hours, 2 photogs, a disk, and rights to our pix. I know, not asking alot, eh?
Posted by Phillyboy06[/QUOTE]

That's exactly what we did... plus we have a $200 photo credit toward online purchases (big prints, canvas, album, etc). It's not asking too much!

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