- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
YIKES!!!! Im a photog snob... I know what youre saying and that it is expensive SOMETIMES... Look for professionals though if you keep your eyes peeled you might find someone whos not that bad, because honestly, its your wedding day, you can repeat it. If you really want a student photographer... I have no good advice where to start, but if you get good advice I might follow it for video! Good luck
Art and photography departments at universities are great for this! Contact the head of the department or even just track down some professors email addresses and tell them what your looking for. Most of the time they know which students are good and can pass your information along.
By the way you are looking for photo-journalistic style photography. 
I do NOT recommend hiring a student photographer for your wedding day. I had a Fine Art Photography Minor in college and took post-grad photography courses at another college and nothing in a classroom can prepare you for real-life event photography. My school didn't even TOUCH on event photography, just the basics of exposure, framing, composition, and other artistic elements that help you recognize a good photo when you see one and hopefully create some of your own good photos.
They don't teach you how to do all this is .2 seconds flat to create that candid/artistic style you're looking for, all while not missing any important moments. If photography is important to you, unfortunately, real talent and reliability is going to cost you.
I would try craigslist for up-and-coming photogs that have experience but aren't quite as established, and thus not as expensive. Honestly, though, photography was my #1 priority, and it gave me peace of mind to hire a "real" photographer that was established and had a real track record of excellent reviews. I would have been a mess on my wedding day if I had been second guessing the skills or professionalism of our photog!
call a photog you like, even if they're way over budget, and ask if they have recommendations or a helper that can do your wedding for less money.
@LBPhotography:I totally agree with you.
Like some pp, I would check craigslist or contact a photographer over your budget to try and get some recs.
We actually hired one from Craigslist who had done a few weddings, had a portfolio, and was really anxious to do a wedding at our venue.
My daughter and her FI met with at least 5 others first to get an idea of what they were offering. They ended up cancelling their wedding 6 months before,so never booked one of the ones they interviewed. It was rescheduled last year with only 3 months notice, so they began their search to find someone available ona Saturday in June, with little success.
We started checking Craigslist on a whim, and found this photographer. They exchanged a few emails, met in person and looked over his style (and liked it) but his price was more than they wanted to spend. My daughter wrote and told him that, and he responded with an offer to beat her lowest estimate by half. He got the job.
I was initially a little disappointed in his online proofs, but the ones they received were really fabulous.
My second daughter did pretty much the same, but booked one who had 20 years experience, got great reviews, and they loved his style...he also cost 4 times as much.
Sorry to say, the cheaper one did much better work and his pictures were far more creative.
I don't think I'd get a student, but I'm sure there are many photographers out there that will meet your criteria and budget if you spend some time looking for them.
Definitely contact a photographer that you like and see what their packages start at. If it's way out of your price range, asking for recommendations on photographers they've worked with is a great start to try to see if you can get someone with just as great of quality, but is just starting out.
Also, I think the type of photos you like are photo journalists. They tend to tell a story with their photos in candid shots rather than the typical formals. That's why we hired our photographer, and he did a fantastic job.
I was in the same boat.. I booked a photographer who has SOME photojournalist shots in his portfolios for different weddings, so I know he can get those kind of shots. So I plan to just have a lot of meetings to show him shots of his I like as well as others I've seen online that I like, so he can get a feel for what I want overall. Sometimes that's all you can do.
I wouldn't get a student though unless for some reason they have done weddings. They just won't know where to look at the right moment because they haven't had enough experience.
You could also ask your close relatives who would normally give you large gifts if they would be willing to contribute toward your memories, your photography, instead. I'm sure at least some of them will and that will help the budget on your end a lot.
It seems these days everyone and their dog is calling themselves wedding photographers.
I've seen so many so called "professional photographers" with pictures that look like they took it with a point and shoot and then just plaster a ton of badly done photoshop on top of it.
Don't skimp out on photography. If you hire some of these $1000 photographers to me that is $1000 wasted.
I rather just put up another $1000 and have $2000 spent on good photography than wasting $1000 for bad ones.
I think that you can probably find a photog in your price range. It may mean cutting corners though - like having them for less hours instead. I do not think hiring a student is the way to do it - if you have high expectations, you are going to be disappointed with them most likely.
I think I have the same expensive photog taste as you. All the ones that I looooooved while looking were way way way out of price range. I ended up finding a great one and will skimp on something else down the road.
BUT, in the process I emailed one of my high priced dream photogs and she sent me her pricing, as well as the pricing for her "associate photographers" and they were like less than half her starting price! and they shoot in the same style as her! I am sure if you emailed one of your favorite photographers and told them that you loved their work but they were way out of your means and asked if they had any recommended photographers in their style, or one that is typically their second shooters, they would help you!!
@wanderer:On e has to be careful on how the advertise themselves. I am NOT a professional photographer(I am self taught and always learning). I do not take photos that would qualify for a magazine spread and I work mostly with natural light. However, i allow my clients to know this upfront and I know that my style is not for everyone. It all depends on what kind of photography you want. If you desire amazing magazine quality, fashion photos then yes you will be paying upwards of $2000(and you should be). My advice as a consumer and a photographer is really find someone you connect with, one who will be honest with you about your vision for the day. I think Wanderer put it best...BE CAREFUL! (I have been looking for 6 months for a photographer that i connect with).
Try looking at the WPJA web site (Wedding Photojournalist Association). You have to have a portfolio (can't just join by paying a fee) with certain types of wedding pictures. Not every good photographer is in the WPJA, but it is a good way to start. I clicked on everyone listed in my area and looked at their sites. Most said they had a ‘photojournalistic’ style, but it was rare to find one that really, really was a photojournalist. Most were either more artistic or a regular wedding photographer that just happened to capture a few spontaneous moments.
We found someone who was member of WPJA (and thus wedding experience), but also a student and less than the local rate. Love her style, she was wonderful to work with at the wedding—only downside is that it’s been 2 weeks and I still haven’t seen proofs. She’s taking classes and has an internship. So don’t dismiss a student just because they are a student. Just make sure they have lots of wedding experience.
I used wpja to ID potential photographers. Most of the photographers that are members are expensive. The stated prices are for base packages. In order to be accepted into wpja many photographers apply over and over again, so the selection there is very good. My photographer is commonly featured on wedding blogs and magazines, and she told me it took her 6 tires to get accepted into wpja.
Update-- It took us almost 2 months to get our photos, but we love them!! It was painful waiting, but we saved $1000-$1500 using a student.
Another thing you can do is call the photogs that you like and explain your situasion money wise. Ask if they with a second shooter. If they do, ask if they have a similar style and if they are availble to work. I know our photographer does weddings herself, but also works as a 2nd shooter for well known photographer in the area.
I have a friend who takes photos in Boston shes just starting out so her prices are pretty reasonable. She just lauched her website... maybe she can help! :D http://lynetteboylephotography.com
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| hisgoosiegirl | 24 |
| Gemstone | 23 |
| Beckster329 | 23 |
| MissBoPeep | 20 |
| Rivendeler | 19 |
| Mrs.KMM | 16 |
| Rojocameo | 16 |
| couawilou | 15 |
| beargoose | 15 |
| BetterSherm | 15 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| kinglr | 3 |
| Cariad | 2 |
| USER876 | 1 |
| Mrs.KMM | 1 |
| couawilou | 1 |
| ladybugs | 1 |
| onyx81 | 1 |
| sarahbabs | 1 |
| MilksMom | 1 |
| elysion | 1 |
So I am currently looking at pictures and getting ideas about what I like and what I don't like with photography for the big day. My question to the lovely bees is this...
My taste in photography is apparently expensive and hard to come by. I LOVE LOVE LOVE candid and artistic shots, as opposed to the typical "everyone say wedding" shots.
How do I begin looking on FB for a photo student that has the traits I want at a discount price?