(Closed) In need of outside opinions (sorry, long post!)

posted 8 years ago in Photos/Videos
Post # 1
Member
264 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: August 2011

Although our wedding isn’t for another 15 months, we have already been searching and trying to book the BIG things for our wedding (like the venue, caterer, photographer) because of where we live. We live in a small city where a lot of people get married in the summer, but there aren’t a lot of resources for it. Anyway, lately I’ve been searching for a photographer and I’ve found plenty but I’m confused and would like some help figuring things out.

My fiance won’t spend more than $1300 on a photographer and so it really limits who we can have since it’s almost like a photographer-monopoly in this area. He doesn’t understand the need for an online gallery for family/friends

Recently, I’ve found four options:

*Jack Butler Photography : he charges $975 for an entire day, photojournalistic style, photo-editing on 5-10 photos, full rights.

*Jeff Scott Shaw Photography : his smallest package is $850 for 4 hrs, photojournalistic style, a disc of all edited photos. I have a meeting with him tomorrow to talk more about his packages.

*Samuel Dobbins Photography : $1200 for 8 hrs, 600 edited images on a disc, full rights, online gallery, photojournalistic style, based outside of area and charges $0.25/mile (200 miles to travel)

*Curtis Campbell Photographer : $750 for entire day (no time limit), photojournalistic-sorta, all edited photos onto a disc with full print rights. POSS ISSUE: He does photography as a side job (does have a business license) and only keeps contracts on file for six months, so no references unless I want to wait until after he does some weddings this summer (which I DONT want to do)

I know that this is A LOT to ask of you bees, but my fiance and family isn’t really helping make a decision. Fiance doesn’t care unless it’s cheap and someone I like. My family thinks it’s my decision since I’m the one doing the interviewing, emailing, etc. Could I please get some outside help on what’s good?

 

THANKS!

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Post # 3
Member
209 posts
Helper bee

Well which one of these potentials’ work really moves you?  Have you met with any of them yet?  Are they personable that you two are comfortable with them? 

I wouldn’t waste time to try to meet them all,  but the ones that you feel that you would be extremely thrilled to be your photographer and whose work is something that you can hang on your walls proudly.

 

Post # 4
Member
1580 posts
Bumble bee

One thing I can tell you is that I don’t think 4 hours is enough for most people.

I think how many pictures they take and how many you get is key, but you only have that info for one of the photographers. Print prices might also be something you want to consider. The personality of the photographer also matters, but you’d have to meet with them to determine if you like them or not.

Post # 5
Member
2201 posts
Buzzing bee
  • Wedding: August 2010

Sam Dobbins’ sounds like the best deal (I haven’t taken a look at his photos yet) and the mileage only comes to $50, so you’re still technically under budget. I think the editing is a key factor – 5-10 just isn’t enough (Jack Butler). I’m assuming that you’ll want to order more than 5-10 pictures that are pretti-fied by your photog.

Post # 6
Member
2201 posts
Buzzing bee
  • Wedding: August 2010

I also like Sam’s photos – and you get the free engagement session.

Post # 7
Member
348 posts
Helper bee

I like Jeff Scott Shaw’s work, but I would want to see more examples of his wedding photography – his page shows more sports, etc.  Personally, I don’t like Curtis Campbell’s work that much, though you may have different taste.  The other two are in the middle, for my preferences.

Probably work meeting with all of them to see who you like best as a person, if you like all of their work.

Post # 8
Member
1510 posts
Bumble bee
  • Wedding: June 2010

If there is one thing to splurge on, its photography.  This is the ONLY THING that lasts after your wedding day.  If you go on cost alone, you may find someone cheap and you may end up with terrible wedding pictures for the rest of your lives.  Just make sure that you REALLY LIKE their work.  Also, unless your entire wedding is only 4 hours long, keep the photographer there for the entire duration.

Post # 9
Member
44 posts
Newbee
  • Wedding: July 2012

Artistically, the best for me is Samuel Dobbins.

I don’t really like Jack Buttler style and there’s not enough weddings on Jeff and Curtis websites.

I’m agree with Mrs Louboutin the first thing to look is if you like or not their work because your memories are at stake. Then the cost.

Post # 10
Member
264 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: August 2011

Thanks fellow Bees! I really appreciate the advice! We have a lot of thinking to do. I’ve giving up on Jack Butler because I haven’t heard from him in almost a month. Samuel Dobbins doesn’t really give me enough details on what he offers in his emails (driving 200 miles just to meet him isn’t something I have time for right now) and that seems a little shady. I’m meeting with Jeff Scott Shaw tonight and already have plans to meet with Curtis Campbell the first week of June. 

Thanks again!

Post # 11
Member
3 posts
Wannabee
  • Wedding: November 2011

I was wondering who you chose in the end. I have looked at a couple of the names you had mentioned and just would like to know what you thought of them once you met with any of them.

I’ve also looked at Brook Whitney and seem to like her work.

Post # 12
Member
264 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: August 2011

@janet_hopkins59: I ended up choosing Curtis Campbell. I know that a few bee’s didn’t like his work but after meeting with him, Curtis seemed to have everything together. Jack and Sam just dropped off the planet and wouldn’t return any emails. Jeff was too everywhere during our meeting, not organized and moved to Seattle last summer but “was willing to travel to our venue in Yakima” without charging as long as it didn’t overlap with any wedding/church/photography stuff he was doing in Seattle.

Curtis had everything. He works in the educational field (as will I this June!), he’s really concerned with keeping his clients privacy and personal information mum (that’s why he doesn’t have very much on his website but he brings a whole lot more to a meeting!), and he’s SUPER sweet, family man who just seems to understand. I booked him right there at our meeting…15 months in advance!

Post # 13
Member
3 posts
Wannabee
  • Wedding: November 2011

@Purquez2011:Thank you for the infromation! I really appreciate the opinions. I’ve been looking at so many and after awhile it is just to difficult to decide. And some of the sites have so few pictures. With Jeff, did he show more additional pictures when you met with him? I can’t get a feeling off of his website. I like some of his work, but then not all of it. I noticed he said he’ll travel to certan locations but it concerns me now after you said if it didn’t interfer with other aspects of his work.

Post # 14
Member
47 posts
Newbee

@Purquez2011: Personally I like Jeff Scott Shaw he is the photographer out of the four you listed that doesn’t seem to have technical issues in his photography. For the first photographer 5-10 photos is a ridiculously low amount of edited photos for that price. Samual Dobbins and Curtis Campbell I see some weird editing techniques that are awkward. Also they aren’t as keen on the lighting aspects of their photography as Jeff Shaw. But that’s just my .02

Post # 15
Member
264 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: August 2011

@janet_hopkins59: Jeff did show me more photos at our meeting and they were great photos. I just did not like his demeanor…he was all over the place, constantly putting his hand in his long hair (which was really distracting), and he just didn’t seem like he wanted to be at the meeting. 

@aixnok: Like I said to janet, I loved his photos but his attitude was so put off that I knew that I wouldn’t be able to deal with it. 

Post # 16
Member
3 posts
Wannabee
  • Wedding: November 2011

@Purquez2011:Thanks for that information about how your meeting went! That would put me off too and I’m glad to know that. I personally don’t want a photographer who is all over the place, they may be great but just would drive me insane then.

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