Blindly researching photographers

rojacobs · February 2012

Oregon bride here, been researching photographers online, had NO idea how expensive they were, something I didn't realize when I made our budget. We are looking for just day of wedding coverage, and the digital picture files (rights to everything, etc); no engagement session, no photo albums, no prints. We've been quoted $2100 to $3000 for this. I understand the importance of photography, but can't afford it.

I went on Craigslist and found a few local photogs, sent some emails, got some quotes. I have been talking to one who quoted me $999 for full day coverage, unlimited shots, high resolution color and B&W photos on DVD, online gallery, Facebook-ready images, and the option of adding more things for additional $$. It sounds too good to be true. He is recently re-located from Florida, that could explain the low price. Makes me worried! Nice guy, very communicative, somewhat basic website, shoots with a Canon 5d mk2 (whatever that means).

What I need help with- what should I ask him to figure out if he is too good to be true? He told me about his style and approach to shooting a wedding, it's consistent with what I'm looking for. I don't think that he is a scam, but I'm afraid I am not sure the key questions to ask to make sure I get a finished product that is good quality.

I have looked for reviews of his business online, and can't find much at all other than a one-liner on onewed from 2 years ago. Even looked in his old location Tampa, FL, couldn't find him. I guess it's appropriate to ask for references, but that's getting pretty intense.

Thanks for your advice!

Any ideas?

atomicphoto · February 2012

Find out if he has the following things (all legally professional photographers will):

-Business License (shows they are running a legally legit business)

-Tax ID / Collects sales tax (again shows they are running a legal business)

-Liability Insurance (a lot of venues require vendors to have this)

Also, ask to view his contract in advance. I will read over it for you if you'd like and let you know if anything sounds out of place. Just PM me and I will get you my email address (as a pro, i can not post in on the board).

teejay2039 · February 2012

ASK. After all, it's your money, and you'll be paying for his service.

teejay2039 · February 2012

And I'm in the same boat. Everyone "professional" around here charges an arm and TWO legs. Sorry, I need mine! So I resorted to Craigslist..... tried one out for a boudoir session and she was nice/friendly enough, just not aggressive enough in setting up flattering shots. Guess she knew it too coz after she gave me the DVD, she never called, texted, NOTHING to see if I liked the photos, etc. So now I"m talking with another CL photog..... so far, not sure...... may not be what I'm looking for,. Got one more up my sleeve before I have to start from scratch again,.

Be sure to check out photos of their work, and ask if THEY took the photos....

CherandAl · February 2012

post on your local board and ask for recs. There are def some professionals who charge less who are just getting started on their own or relocating, etc. Craigslist is sketchy but there are always exceptions. Just ask around for more some other photographers who charge about 1k so you can compare him to a few others.

Jaime E. · February 2012

I would be VERY wary of someone that doesn't have any reviews. I would ask if they have backup equipment, a contract, liability insurance (in case they break something or someone), and how many weddings they've shot. Even if someone is relocating, I have a hard time seeing how a professional, full time photographer can charge $999 and still pay their bills. I would also ask if you can see an entire wedding that they have shot... not just their portfolio.

elizabethangel · February 2012

     I can help you weigh this out. No, a pro can't pay the bills charging under $1000 for a wedding. Oh well. He might not be trying to. (As in, he might have a different day job and do this on the side because he likes it).

    A 5DMarkII is an EXCELLENT camera. It is what 50% of the Canon-using professionals use. No problems there.
    Pros that charge $3000 always have back up equipment. He likely won't. That means BE CAREFUL. Don't let anyone push him into a lake or light him on fire. (I know that sounds ridiculous, but really, utube it... those things happen). For an extra $150, he can rent another camera from prophotorental, lensgiant, or borrowlenses . com. And speaking of lenses - it's THOSE that make the real difference. A wide aperature lens will let a pro shoot in the dark, blur the background away, and control the color, clarity, and detail like nothing else. Good pro quality lenses are $1700-$5000!!!! (He can rent those too, just for your wedding day, for about $80 each).

    To see if any Craig's list photographer is sort of legit... really, friends, inconvience them. I know you don't want to be a bother - but be a bother! It's your wedding day. Don't be wrong. Ask to meet them in their home (boy can you learn a lot that way). Ask to see previous work on their personal computer (if they are just starting, they don't have the $ order sample albums, but they sure better have computer files of past work). Ask to meet them in a coffee shop to talk over details. (Red flag if they are late, or miss the appointment). Ask for a mini-sample session (and then create the worst conditions possible - moonlight or candlelight let's say). There is a reason they are not up and running at a professional level - but the reason could be quite understandable - like "new" or "moved area" or "also a biologist, and just do this for fun".

Pros can shoot in the dark and make it look lovely (not blast everything with flash) - shoot in bright sun (and leave gentle detail in the whites, not blow all the highlights out to pure white) - and pros fix all the flaws of reality. (They Photoshop out the DJ's speaker cable... your bridesmaid's bra strap... the beads of sweat on the foreheads of the groomsmen) etc. It takes hours. That's why it costs so much.

   So - if you hire from Craig's List, be prepared for snapshot type photojournalism without a lot of editing work; but (like in the case of this guy) if they have a great camera, the pictures should be clear and clean. You can afford what you can afford. No judgement here.
   I am a pro photographer in west michigan. You can call me and ask questions anytime. I'd be glad to tell you if it's a good camera or how to evaluate choices. My cell phone minutes are unlimited, and I love to make new friends! 269-598-7736 (angela). You can google my business (almost fantasy) and find images if you're curious what sort of work I do. But seriously. If they're willing to shoot for $999, they really want the job, and they should be open to meeting you, or doing a low-cost/free evaluation session. Then you will know. (As long as your evaluation session isn't at 3pm outdoors on a semi-cloudy day... most people can take great pictures under ideal circumstanses. Really... tell them you want a moonlight engagement session. Then you'll know FOR SURE! )

   Have fun!!! Auditioning a photographer can be a really good time!
Happy planning!

ElisabethJoanne · February 2012

We found a similarly-situated photographer - new to the area, half price compared to established photographers. I could tell he was legit 'cause he knew the tax implications better than anyone else we talked to, as well as the intellectual property law, and his contract was professional. I'm a lawyer, so these were reliable indicators to me.

Also, he had an extensive, professional website, and yes, some yelp reviews. When we met with him, I didn't get any creepy vibes. [Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts.] He didn't have an extensive printed portfolio for us to review, but we recognized the locations as local. Also, he only requested a 20% deposit, and he encouraged us to wait a few months before sending it in. (Our wedding is on a Monday, so we're not really worried about our favorite vendors being available, and neither was he.)

Again, I'm a lawyer. I know a really sneaky, OK (artistically) photographer could shoot a few local weddings, set up a website, consult a lawyer on a contract, then collect a bunch of deposits, never show. And profit several thousand dollars. You never know. But most people don't do complex cons, and there's really no way to protect yourself from someone intent on stealing from you.

We've had our engagement shoot (more or less included in the contract). He was early, stayed late. The pictures were ready ahead of schedule. He gave us some free prints. Our "half price" photographer is not the wedding issue keeping me up at night.

rojacobs · February 2012

This is the best information I have received yet, and gives me a lot to think about (because wedding things don't already rule my thoughts 24/7). My bridesmaid's parents are photographers, and no matter how they looked at the numbers they would never be able to even come close to a similarly priced package, even with part of it being a wedding present. They said the bulk of the hours are spent after the wedding prepping each of the 1000 image files.

We originally were not planning on having engagement pictures, as a way to save $$, but from reading a ton of posts it sounds like the engagement session is the best way to figure out if the photographer works for you (how professional they are, if you're comfortable with them, how they help you pose, then how long it takes to get the pictures back, how they are edited, etc). I am hoping that meeting each photographer in person would suffice.

Another thing my friend's parents mentioned was that a less-professional photographer probably wouldn't take the time to go through a questionnaire or to meet with me, time is money as we all know.

I don't want to regret not paying more $$ for a tried-and-true photographer, but I can't put myself in debt to pay for one. My budget is quite bare bones already (no favors, programs, planner, coordinator, open bar, calligrapher, florist, flower girls, ring bearers, fancy invites/STDs, etc).

Well, no one said wedding planning was easy. I appreciate the insight SO much, thanks for all the help ladies!!

teejay2039 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_photos-video_blindly-researching-photographers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:30Discussion:9758db09-8af9-4a62-9f1b-c1877b58dcbdPost:a00f672a-2223-4e04-ac5b-79d22fb49f0a">Re: Blindly researching photographers</a>:
[QUOTE]elizabethangel, you gave a lot of very helpful ideas and valuable advice, but vendors aren't allowed to post on the boards.
Posted by LucyHC[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I may be wrong, but I think the issue is more that they aren't allowed to post ADS or tout their business..... and she isn't. She's simply giving *extemely* helpful advice, and the fact that she's offered up her phone number to all of us, not just those local to her, if we have questions about photography in general (not what her price are, etc.) shows that she's just trying to help. :)</div><div>
</div><div>Elizabethangel, thank you sooo much... that was really interesting information, and I'm glad you posted it. I learned *several* new things.

</div>

teejay2039 · February 2012

Well, thanks sooo much for setting ME straight! I didn't realize the Knot had hired you to troll the board and attack people that YOU think may be vendors..... I've seen your name quite a bit today. Don't you have a wedding to plan or something?

treelover2120 · March 2012

This is a greaet discussion. I am just starting too and don't really know how to judge a photographer. There is so much talk about prices and packages and stuff but how can you tell if the photographer is really good? If two photographers are both nice and about the saem price how can I tell which one is better?

Blindly researching photographers

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