Budget Photographer??

Re: Budget Photographer??

• randomslove member

  

  February 2016

  Photography is one of those areas where it's harder to cut back if you want quality. While you may not need a Vogue quality photographer, any good professional photographer is going to be more expensive. If you cut back, you risk getting someone who has a sub-par camera and equipment, who doesn't really know photo editing, whose shots are slightly blurry and out of focus as often as not... the list goes on and on.
  
  While negotiating based on less need (2 hours of work with less photos during that time) helps, the day-of shooting is only a portion of what a good photographer does. They also spend a few hours getting ready before a shoot, and a lot of time in post production.
  
  I'm personally very picky with photography-- I worked as a journalist/photojournalist for several years, and my parents were wedding photographers, with my father being a trained photojournalist who worked in the field for a decade. We talked to a few photographers whose work we liked and were slightly out of budget to see what they'd be willing to offer us if we asked for less time, less post production work, etc, but I also knew they had the power to say no.
  
  Have you talked with the photographers you like over the phone? If not, that's going to be the biggest thing you can do-- that or in person. Tell them what you're looking and be prepared to negotiate. Ask what they'd be willing to do that amount of work for.
  
  Even for 2 hours of work, they may come out with a hundred photos. Sifting through them, editing them, etc., would still take quite a while. Make sure they know you're aware of that. It goes a long way.
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

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• tigerlily6 member

  

  February 2016

  Do you live anywhere near a college or university with an arts program? We are having a former student do our photography. She has professional equipment and even has experience doing weddings before, so we were able to look at her portfolio a bit to know what kind of quality we'd be getting, and it was perfectly sufficient for our needs. We also did do engagement photos with her, just to make sure she worked well with us (she did), which I recommend (could just be a simple photo session if you don't want an all-out engagement photo shoot). Since she's still a student and still trying to set up her own independent business on the side, she was willing to negotiate our price down from what other local photographers had quoted us, which has been awesome and a huge help to our budget. 

                      
  
  
  

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• scrunchythief member

  

  February 2016

  What time/day/season is your wedding?  If it's during the "traditional" Saturday evening slot in the late spring through early fall, photographers might be less willing to negotiate their package rates.  If they think they could book a full package at the same time, then they'd lose money doing just your hour or two.  If it's at a different time/day/season, I think you'd have a better negotiating position.  
  
  For particular photographers/packages, I'd try your local board for advice.  

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• [Deleted User] member

  

  March 2016 edited March 2016

  I am doing this same thing!  I talked to 4 photographers, and 3 were willing to cut the price in half for 4 hours instead of a full day.  We also split the 4 hours so my fiance and I are doing a 2 hour shoot in the woods the day after, and doing 2 hours the day of.  It was a huge help on our budget and we still get quality shots.
  
  *Our wedding is on a Sunday, which may have also helped.

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• JediElizabeth member

  

  March 2016

  A lot of wedding photographers schedule themselves for the whole day for a wedding, so taking half a day or even a few hours for you would exclude them from getting a full day of work from someone else.
  
  Have you tried to engage non-wedding photographers? I have a friend who's mainly a cosplay photographer. We're asking her to do our engagement photo shoot, and may engage her for the wedding itself (depending on what level of photography we eventually settle on - FI cares a lot more about this than I do).
  
  Especially depending on the season, if you expand your search, you may be able to find a professional or aspiring photographer who has some event experience but who doesn't mainly do weddings.

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• MandyMost member

  

  April 2016

  The wedding photographers who have established businesses are unlikely to be able to help you out. They have packages (as you've found) and are booked every weekend for weddings. They're not going to give up a day with a full package at another wedding to give you an hour of shooting time. 
  
  I don't think you need to go to a student/college, but I'd try to find some photographers who are just starting out. These people won't have established packages, and will not be booked every weekend for weddings. If you use Facebook or other social media, I'd start there and ask around if anyone knows any photographers who are interested in work. 
  
  Once you get connected with a photographer, I'd be clear that your expectations are 1-2 hours of photography with a single shooter, (and give them the time and location), with approx. 50 edited images provided digitally with full rights within a month of the event date. And then see what they have to say. 

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• MesmrEwe member

  

  April 2016 edited April 2016

  Post to your local board asking for recommendations of photographers.  Pick up the phone book or search white pages for photographers.  Do some due diligence as even basic photographers have website portfolios.  Call up and say "I want 2-3 hours of pictures at our wedding (ceremony and family pictures), and to purchase prints individually or purchase the digital images to print ourselves" and negotiate from there.  There are photographers out there who do great work who don't advertise in the big magazines or bridal websites.  I have two friends who are professional photographers and actually prefer to do weddings/anniversary parties like you want by booking out for the hour and being paid per print rather than massive overpriced packages and they do equal or better as good of work!  We hired a photographer for my daughter's First Communion like this - and I'm so glad I have those professional images!  Just expand your search area!

  
  

  ETA: ARGH!  Caught by a "Zombie Thread"...

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