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Wedding photographer PSA/vent

samm1225samm1225 member
Second Anniversary 10 Comments 5 Love Its
in Chit Chat
Ladies who are still planning, do yourself a favor and splurge on the photographer a little. I took a risk on someone who was just starting out; since I was starting out in my industry I know how hard it is to get that first shot. She had done shoots, but never a wedding, so since I loved her style I hired her. I have no pictures of me dancing with my stepdad, none of the reception, none of the guests. She gave me "the important ones" and the "ones I needed." Supposedly she will be emailing me the rest. She also missed multiple family members from my shot list. I'm just so sad and hopefully I can help another bride not make this mistake.
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Re: Wedding photographer PSA/vent

  • hellohkbhellohkb mod
    Moderator Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 500 Love Its
    I am sorry this happened to you. I made sure that I fit in a photographer I trusted into my budget. Splurging on a dress and pretty decorations won't matter in the long run, but I know that hosting my guests properly and having pictures were things that meant most to me. 

    Lurkers and newbs, please remember this!


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  • samm1225samm1225 member
    Second Anniversary 10 Comments 5 Love Its
    Thanks, she was great to work with up until the day of the wedding. I so didn't expect it. We spent over half of our budget on hosting properly so at least there were no complaints there!
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  • MyNameIsNotMyNameIsNot member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    We made photography a priority for the same reasons. I knew that years later, photos and memories would be all that was left.

    I do think you can find a good photographer without having to spend a fortune, but I also think it's a good idea to try to find someone who has done at least a few weddings. I also suggest negotiating an engagement shoot into your package. The opportunity to spend a few hour together and get a product back before the wedding can help you and the photographer make some adjustments before it is too late.
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  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    My brother and SIL used a start up.  He seemed a little off, but nothing big.  Until they got the shots.  They were horrible. Like, really bad.    I felt so bad for them.  

    Because of their experience (1) I knew i would hire an experienced professional and (2) I would never tip them until AFTER I got the pictures.  

    We tipped by buying prints from him directly instead of a less expensive options.   








    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
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  • kvrunskvruns member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    We used someone who had shot 2-3 weddings and that was it, and we got a really good deal on it.  Our theory was as long as we got some good shots we would be happy, we don't need 500 amazing pictures that will sit forgotten on the computer.  I just got the link to the pix about an hour ago and I'm dying to looking but can't at work, other than I quickly scrolled through the page. So far everything looks good, I'm sure there are some shots that someone with more experience might have done better but in my quick look I'm happy.  I will admit I was nervous especially having read experiences of other brides not having good pictures, but I think/hope we came out ok.
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    100 Love Its 10 Comments First Anniversary
    My cousin used a friend of hers and his mother board crashed on his computer. And the idiot didn't have any back ups. No memory card, no portable hard drive, nothing. She lost EVERYTHING except what guests took.  She took him to court but as far as I know, he's disappeared and she hasn't been able to get her money back, either. 

    This may be one of those karma moments, though... Really not a fan of hers and she waited to take the family photo until my brother and I had left (our family is huge and rarely everyone is in the same place at the same time). She knew we were leaving and we even asked if there was going to be a family photo we needed to be in. She told us no, just immediate family photos. Lo and behold, another cousin texts us 10 minutes after our conversation with the bride "where are you? family photo!!!" From what I hear, she was a total bridezilla throughout the process too and lost a lot of friends.
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  • wrigleyvillewrigleyville member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Our wedding budget was, in order:

    Reception
    Photographer
    Everything else
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  • MobKazMobKaz member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    jgrace8611 said:
    My cousin used a friend of hers and his mother board crashed on his computer. And the idiot didn't have any back ups. No memory card, no portable hard drive, nothing. She lost EVERYTHING except what guests took.  She took him to court but as far as I know, he's disappeared and she hasn't been able to get her money back, either. 

    This may be one of those karma moments, though... Really not a fan of hers and she waited to take the family photo until my brother and I had left (our family is huge and rarely everyone is in the same place at the same time). She knew we were leaving and we even asked if there was going to be a family photo we needed to be in. She told us no, just immediate family photos. Lo and behold, another cousin texts us 10 minutes after our conversation with the bride "where are you? family photo!!!" From what I hear, she was a total bridezilla throughout the process too and lost a lot of friends.
    "She lost everything except for what the guests took." ****This is the best argument for anyone that insists that guests "be present and in the moment" and attempt to demand an "unplugged" wedding. I hate to turn this post into a tangent/derailed thread, but a good photographer will be your best bet to assure your wedding is not only photographed well, but will know how to counter any renegade guest photographers.
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  • luckya23luckya23 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    MobKaz said:
    jgrace8611 said:
    My cousin used a friend of hers and his mother board crashed on his computer. And the idiot didn't have any back ups. No memory card, no portable hard drive, nothing. She lost EVERYTHING except what guests took.  She took him to court but as far as I know, he's disappeared and she hasn't been able to get her money back, either. 

    This may be one of those karma moments, though... Really not a fan of hers and she waited to take the family photo until my brother and I had left (our family is huge and rarely everyone is in the same place at the same time). She knew we were leaving and we even asked if there was going to be a family photo we needed to be in. She told us no, just immediate family photos. Lo and behold, another cousin texts us 10 minutes after our conversation with the bride "where are you? family photo!!!" From what I hear, she was a total bridezilla throughout the process too and lost a lot of friends.
    "She lost everything except for what the guests took." ****This is the best argument for anyone that insists that guests "be present and in the moment" and attempt to demand an "unplugged" wedding. I hate to turn this post into a tangent/derailed thread, but a good photographer will be your best bet to assure your wedding is not only photographed well, but will know how to counter any renegade guest photographers.

    And you'll typically get to see the guest photos first!  Waiting for the pro pics is TORTURE! lol

    Who needs to be "in the moment" besides the B&G?  Yeesh!

    My photographer, while not crazy expensive, was definitely the most important person of the day.  She was with me from hair and makeup, through getting dressed, first look, the ceremony, family photos, and reception.  She kept the timeline for me and reminded me what I needed to be doing when, and who I needed to corral to be there for what.  She was essentially my personal DOC, while the venue manager handled what was going on there.  I hadn't been to a whole lot of weddings, so she was the "pro" I went to with questions!

    I actually wonder if she got any photos of us cutting the cake because I saw on the video that she was coaching us through how to do it! haha

    image

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  • mrscomposermrscomposer member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Anniversary First Answer

    On the other hand, for people who do choose the vendors who are just starting out:

    Be extremely clear about what you want from them.  Push for a contract if they weren't originally thinking of one.  Be very precise about your shot list.  Tell them what your expectations are.  Let them know what are the most important things to you.

    My photographer had only done one other wedding before ours.  We had absolutely no complaints.

    **The OMH formerly known as jsangel1018**
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