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I didn't explore too much... but my initial impression is that I like the local photog better. The style is maybe a little more traditional.... but i'm not a fan of the over-saturation thing that seems to be characteristic of the nyc photog. Granted, it is totally a stylistic preference. Regardless... i would not pay an extra 5500 :)
I think it just really depends on how important photography is to you and how much more you like the expensive photographer over the local one. It's hard for anyone else to really tell you whether or not this is something that you could / should spend YOUR money on.
I'd weigh the pros and cons of each, think about how much/not so much you liked the photos from your brother's wedding, compare those to photos from your other photographer, look at you and your FI's budget and see how feasible saving the money even is, etc.
Personally, I think if you like the style / photos of the local photographer, then you should probably go with that. It sounds like you're getting a great deal and you've personally seen his work before. He is right about knowing the area and knowing good, fun, unique, etc spots that the NY photographer won't. But if you don't like his style - don't settle. You want to make sure you like your photos since you only get one chance!
To be honest, I like the local photographer better.
Maybe you can compromise and have the local do the wedding and have the one you love to engagment pictures or couple pictures after the wedding? maybe even boudior since she does those ;)
But, I'm with Corgi..I wouldn't spend that type of money. And photography is one of my must haves
I was going to suggest paying for the 2nd photographer yourselves, since your family and FILs are paying for the wedding, but then I read further and saw that you are PhD students. You are already getting a lot of support-wedding and school/living wise. Is it really the style of the photos you like, or is it the style of the wedding you like? If your wedding has a really different laid-back (beachy theme?) I think that a ton of modern artistic type photos might be a little bit strange but can be done. How soon before the wedding will you be arriving at your destination? Could the first photographer do some pre-wedding modern-artistic e-type photos of you and FI a day or two before the wedding? Or could you send some him the link of the other photographer's work and see what he thinks he can do with the areas he already knows where you will be located? Do you could maybe work around your dilemma with the first photographer? Best Wishes.
I didn't look at either of the photographers' sites, but based on the financial situation you've described, I think you need to stick with the local photographer and move on. You said yourself that the NYC one is out of your budget. It's never a good idea to go into debt over a wedding, especially when you're both about to go back to school.
100% Go with Anglica Glass!! It is obvious that photography is important to you. You get one shot at this day. Your photos are your memories of this day and you don't want to look at your photos and wonder "what if I had hired her?". I've been following her blog for a while now and her work is a total inspiration to me. It also sounds like you got a great deal. I probably wouldn't ask your family to pay for her when they want to pay for someone else, but if you can figure out to do it I would go with who you love. I'm not saying the other guy is not amazingly talented and you wouldn't be satisfied. But as we all know there is a big difference then being satisfied and totally in love. At least the photos are an investment you will have for the rest of your life.
I really like both photographers, but given your financial situation, I would say go with the local one, hands down. He's got great style and you know already know he is great to work with (which is so hugely important!0 so you'll feel comfortable with him. Maybe you could show him some of your favorite shots from the other photographer and see if he'd be willing to try some of those. Most of the photographers I've talked to are willing/excited to try something new and to experiment with a new style. I also agree with the other bees that if you love the NYC style, maybe you could do an engagement session or a session after your wedding. :)
I really like your local photographer's work, I think you have an AMAZING deal already! He knows the area, which is awesome. He can guide you to awesome beautiful places & will know the ins/outs of the city. He "clicks" with you & your fam (which is a big plus). His pricing is very good!
Do you love the local one's work? Or are you looking cause you don't really like his work?
Have you heard of "trash the dress"? You can see if the NY photographer will do a trash the dress session (this doesn't mean you destroy/damage your dress & I can explain more if you'd like) with you after your wedding. I bet you could use that $5500 & fly to NY some weekend & do the trash the dress shoot with the NY photog. Or some other type of shoot with them & you'd still have money leftover & a minivacation :)
What I would do is email the NYC photog and explain the situation--that you love her, but she's out of your budget; is there any way you guys can work out a package that would fit your budget. She might not be able to bargain that much, or even if she does come down it might still be too expensive. But it doesn't hurt to ask!
Another question is, are you happy with the local photog? You say that he does "the best candids" and he did a great job at your brother's wedding. But are you excited about having him as YOUR photog?
You can also ask the NYC photog for recommendations for photogs who have a similar style but who might be less expensive/have less expensive packages.
I'm not sure where you live, but this is my suggestion:
- go with the local photog for the actual wedding. The pictures are really good, and you are going to be happy with them.
- do a studio session with Glass. Take a trip with FI, bring the dress, and have the artistic session it sounds like you really want. It will be much cheaper, but you'll still get those amazing shots you are desiring.
If you don't want to ask your parents for the extra money (and that is A LOT of extra), and you can't afford it yourself, I think that's your answer right there, regardless of their work. If you're not crazy about the local photographer, could you continue looking for a third option? Photography is one of my top priorities for our wedding, so I totally get the longing you're feeling, but if you can't afford her, you can't afford her. Wedding photography is important, but not worth going into debt over.
i think the end result will be fantastic either way. most photo's they have taken before either won't be taken at yours, or will be captured differently. keep that in mind. your wedding is different, and your photo's will be too even if you try to acheive the exact same shot :) hope you can figure it out.. tough decision
I really really REALLY think you should stay within budget. I would never tell someone to spend way out of their means. Please don't do it!
$5k when you are students is a lot. I would hesitate.
I made sure my local photographer had a good idea of what style photographs we liked and some shots/poses we really wanted to do throughout the wedding day. It was great because I totally got what I wanted and she didn't have to guess what I wanted.
If you want a more modern edgy feel see if your local photog can do that.
I think the 2 photographers are rather comprable in quality. Personally, I'd save the $5000, and go witht the local one.
I think it would be a bad idea to go SO over budget when you really don't have the money to spend on it. Unless you can move some of your budget from other areas to increase the photography budget, I wouldn't do it. $5500 is a LOT of money above what you have and will already spend. If you know the local photog is good and you think you will be happy with his photos, don't think about the other photog anymore!
I looked at both photographer's work, and I do have to say that I think the more expensive one does have higher quality photos.
BUT, that said, the $1,000 one is NOT bad. In fact, he's quite good.
I'm a photography snob. It was our biggest priority, actually. Is it one of yours? Can you cut from other places to afford the photography. If this question was about a dress or a venue or a great band, I'd say no, because those things don't last forever (you'll never wear your dress again, the venue is a one-day thing, and the band will only be there for half the day). But, photos last forever.
We spent about $5000 on our photographer (not including any travel fees or anything), and we just seriously cut back on flowers, didn't hire a DJ (iPod wedding!), got our dream venue for a fraction of what we thought they'd charge us, chose the most inexpensive meals for our guests (even though the offerings were lovely, we didn't serve lobster and filet mignon, and no one cared) and I got a budget dress. We made it work without increasing our overall budget. And we couldn't have been happier with our decision when we got our photos back.
I actually prefer the work of the local photog... he does amazing work. I think that you could easily show him a couple of the "artsy" photos you like from the other and he could do something similar to it for some and then do his signature style for the rest.
I can't see the first photog's website -- my computer keeps bouncing back a virus warning. 
It sounds to me like you and your FI will be needing to ask for money from your parents in the future while you earn your phd. It isn't fair to blow $6500 on a photographer and then turn around with your hand open later. $6500 could cover a lot of expenses.
No time like the present to start managing your money. Heck I could live on $6500 for 8 months pretty comfortably.
Thank you all for your honest comments. I'm so glad I posted this as it's been killing me for a while.
I'll have to admit I'm not that good at managing finances. While I and SO won't be in debt for paying for this $6500 photog out of our pockets but I do agree that it's ust taking out of the funds that should have been for our living expenses when we both go back to school. And yes $6500 could buy us a car (maybe even 2) or cover our rent for half a year. If I use that $6500 now eventually I will be coming back to my parents asking for that money to use in the future anyways.
Yes, I'm a photographer snob. Three years ago at my brother's wedding I though this photog was definitely going to be my photog, he had a charming personality and clicked with my whole family. I loved his work more than anyone else (at that time) and the e-pic album that he did for my brother was amazing. I looked at his wedding website and his weddings were pretty nice as well. But a few months later when I saw my brother's wedding album, I was not so thrilled with much. I started to think that he originally became famous from his e-pics sessions which to me seemed like he had more time to perpare and compose while weddings there are a lot of spir of the moment. But then again other wedding albums that he did looked very nice, it could have just been the style of my brother's wedding was not really my type. He was still my favorite at that time.
I stumbled upon Glass when I was looking for some inspiration photos. I loved her immediately but she was very pricey and I never seriosuly considered her. I continued to follow her blog though. Then one day I just thought I'd shoot her an e-mail for fun and we clicked right away, I was right in time for one of her special discount self portrait sessions that she offeres occasionally (but the timing is up to her convenience unfortunately.) I should have tried harder to arrange for my SO to go with me but eventually I just went in alone.
The pictures came out amazing beyond my expectation. I was in love and from then couldn't stop thinking about her.
The $6500 is already the price after bargaining and begging because $2500 of that along if the airticket for her and her helper and accomodation. I guess her price is just too high for me :(
@Ms Scarlet: I can definitely say, if you're not excited about your photog, then don't settle! That doesn't mean you have to go for Glass, but I think you should try to find someone who DOES excite you and get you really pumped about the pics they'll take at your wedding. I would really ask Glass for recommendations--she should be able to give you some suggestions for a photographer who is less expensive.
I think working within a wedding budget is actually really good practice for the rest of your life. In real life, if you decided to splurge on one thing, you cut back on other things. That's how you learn what is REALLY important to you.
So, this is my thought. If you really want the expensive photograher, then do it. BUT, cut out $3000 from the budget somewhere else (and then save the other $1500). You simply can't have everything you want, either for the wedding or for the rest of your life. Are you willing to go with less expensive flowers or food or dress so that you can have the photog? If so, then adjust the budget and go for it. If not, then you've learned what your priorites are.
Angelica Glass does amazing work and is extremely well known in the industry. If you've already met her, had her take your picture and love her and her work, I say go for it.
Yes, budgeting is a big part of life, but you don't get married every day. So if you're going to splurge on one day, then the photographer is the place to do it, because you'll have the pictures forever.
I think that if you end up going with the other photographer you're going to regret it as soon as you sign a contract. You're already emotionally invested in her and picking the right wedding photographer is a very particular thing.
If you're going to book Angelica, you need to move fast though, because plane ticket prices aren't going anywhere but up!
Let us know what you decide!
Thank you for your comments! I had a lot to think about and I'm leaning towards sticking to my budget...unless $5500 magically appears (like I win a prize or an awesome job comes along). I'm not sure if I am happy with the first photog though, haven't been able to sleep whenever I think about it.
Sorry for the website warning! I guess coz te website is from a foreign country.
@hilsy85, I just keep looking at the first photog's work. He has more wedding albums in his personal blog. Some wedding are pretty nice some aren't. I plan to shop around a bit more. Even if I come back to the same conclusion my family and brother had (by chosing the local photog). I have asked other photos in the US that I considered before, none are really in my budget (just coz of the travel!). I did find one I liked more than Glass but he was double her price!!
@nmsooner, that is really good advice for my finances in general, I suck at making priorities!
@Queenbecca, I agree! I already feel like I will regret choosing the other local photog. I calculated and I probably can earn half of the extra cash I would need to get Glass. Still can't decide but I have already tried to look for other local photogs that have similar styles with her (not much luck with that!)
I know how you feel. I'm a photo snob too and had a REALLY hard time finding a photog that I liked that was within our budget. In the end, I said no to my dream photog, Caroline Tran. Her packages started at half our wedding budget! As much as I adored her work, it just wasn't worth it to spend so much on photography. We're trying to save for school, a house, and kids; that's our reality, and those are our priorities.
I agree with hilsy85, if you're that dissatisfied with your photog, keep looking until you find someone that you like AND you can afford; if you'll be asking your parents for $ down the line, then you can't afford it. I thought I had seen all the photogs out there, and then I stumbled onto mine on this site: http://www.wpja.com/for_the_bride_and_groom/
Good luck with your decision!!!
after the wedding all you have left are the memories and the photos. Do what your gut tells you, try trimming the budget elsewhere and scrounge up some extra money. If its that important to you two, you'll find a way to make it happen.
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Hi hive, I really need some advice here. I’m going to sound like a whining spoiled brat but if it’s true do tell me so I can get to my senses and make the right decision.
I’m very grateful that my parents and SO’s parents have granted us with a pretty generous budget for our wedding and so far we have worked pretty well with it. Until I fell in love with a photog that was wayyyyy out of my budget.
I’m having a destination wedding, we’re getting married halfway across the globe where my parents and all my extended family lives.
So, for the photog we were originally going with the same person that did my brother’s wedding. He’s one of the most famous and hard to book photogs in the city (I’d even say country..it’s a small country) for his non-conventional, artistic saturated colors and does the best candid photos. He really clicked with my family from my brother’s wedding and he told me that in the future he’d make himself available to do mine. He’s also done so many weddings in the city so he claims to know the best spots and images for every venue. Since he’s local and the cost of living in that country is so cheap compared to in the US his package is around $1000.
However, due to my 3 year engagement I was tempted to look around here in the US and happened to fall in love with a photog based in New York. I love her style, her pictures are very contemporary and artistic and I clicked with her personality. She quoted me $6500 to do my wedding (for the shoot, air tickets and accommodation).
I really don’t want to ask for any more money from my parents so if I go for her I’d have to save up that extra $5500. A part of me thinks I’m being ridiculous because both I and SO are going back to school for our PhD and will need a lot help from our families. Already our parents’ help allowed us to keep all of our savings these past years to be used towards our future 5 years in school, and still on top of that we’ll need more financial support from our parents if we don’t get enough funding or scholarship form the University. Another part of me is just a spoiled brat that wants her favorite photog. Am I being too irrational? Should I just move on and go with the local photog?
here's a link to the photogs I'm talking about. Thank you all in advance!
$ 1000 photog (Local photog) [WARNING FROM MR. BEE - GOOGLE HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT THIS LINK: The website at www.artofaud.com contains elements from the site dodo.busop.info, which appears to host malware – software that can hurt your computer or otherwise operate without your consent]
$ 6500 photog (My favorite photog)