Post # 17
Member
1381 posts
Bumble bee
@sugarcube: Our base is $4800 for 2 shooters, 8 hrs. I was also surprised at the exorbitant prices for good photogs in this region (ours are from NYC), but when you fully think about how much hard work goes into sitting down for hours editing thousands of photos, you’d understand why they charge so much 😉 They also need to maintain their equipment and supplies, all of which I understand are pretty pricey.
The wedding industry is killer. They know most couples are doing this for the first time and would pay up the wazoo, whatever it takes to capture these special moments. I’m appalled by hair/makeup and florist costs too, but it is what it is. I shall choose one of these as my Plan B if things don’t work out with my current career ha!
Post # 18
Member
9098 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
A lot of photographers want to retain the rights to their edited photos for obvious reasons — they are the photos they edited and do not want them freely redistributed except through them.
I wouldn’t call it “normal” but I would say it was “common” and this one something that I was very adament about. I did not want a photographer who would retain any rights to their photos.
My photographer surrenders all rights to photos and edited with the exception that she gets to choose and pick the photos she wishes to use for advertising/her portfolio/website(s)/whatever.
I needed to have the rights to all of my photos so I could duplicate them however I wanted and it was a dealbreaker for me. No rights to the bride, not doing business with you.
Post # 19
Member
344 posts
Helper bee
@Hyperventilate: your photographer didn’t surrender her rights. She gave you reproduction rights. Her right to her work is her copyright. Its two different things.
Post # 20
Member
972 posts
Busy bee
Sorry, I might have misspoke because I wasn’t informed. I want print rights, the rights to make photobooks and murals for my friends and family, not copyright to profit off the images.
In any case, my top 2 photographer choices don’t seem to offer this – and I really want the print rights to the edited photos. I’ve emailed a few more photographers that I like in CT to see if their policies differ. Shucks… really liked those two 🙁
Post # 21
Member
344 posts
Helper bee
@sugarcube: is there are option to get them for an additional charge?:)
Post # 22
Member
972 posts
Busy bee
@Lashmont: I understand that one of them gives us the rights after 1 year. I’ll have to ask about the other!
Although my top 2 choices are in the 4000k price range, which is already the tip top of our photog budget.. not sure if we could afford it if they offered!
Post # 23
Member
398 posts
Helper bee
@sugarcube: I would NEVER pay that much with no rights (although I wouldnt pay that much anyways, but this could be a difference due to where we live) But you want rights so you can have the option to print on your own now or in the future. They upcharge their prints like crazy!
Post # 24
Member
438 posts
Helper bee
I am getting married in CT and am using Fabuluxe Photos in Stratford. We are paying $3200 for 10 hrs, 2 shooters, 800-1000 images on disc WITH printing rights, a photodrop at the wedding, wedding slide show during reception, engagement session w/disc of images and printing rights & a 12 x 12 album! You should check Claudia out. She was very flexible and sweet!! Hope you figure this out =)
Post # 25
Member
9098 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
@Lashmont: Absolutely. I would never ask a photographer to not retain the copyright. As a sometimes photographer (not professional) I did not expect her to surrender the copyrights.
I expected her to allow me to do whatever I wanted with my photos, whenever I wanted, without her permission. That is exactly what she is doing.
Post # 26
Member
34 posts
Newbee
We live in Ohio and our photog’s wedding package costs $1500. Our contract gives the fiance and I limited rights, meaning we can distribute and reproduce to our liking, but we need written permission from the photographer if we ever want to sell the images for profit. It’s her work, so I understand this. Our contract also gives our photographer the right to include the images she takes of us in any advertising, photography books, etc. for the promotion of her business. The contract also includes editing on any images where we might want someone removed from the background, de-aging (haha), opening of the eyes – lol I don’t know why we’d need all this, but it’s what’s typed up in the contract in case we do!
Whatever you do, make sure you don’t pay the whole amount upfront – get it in writing that you’ll pay a remainder of the balance upon delivery and satisfaction of your images (digital, print, whatever you want). My friend made the mistake of paying for everything right away, and she fought with the guy for 3 years to get her photos.
Post # 27
Member
814 posts
Busy bee
As another photog has said, your photographer will not give you raw files . That would be pointless and possibly damaging to their business. Besides, why would you want them? They’ll look awful. Trust me, that’s not what they’re offering.
The only thing you really ‘need’ is unlimited printing rights to edited photos. You won’t want every single photo, you wont want anything unedited. All the other stuff that’s offered is just that… stuff. As long as you have printing rights to edited photos, you’ll be alright.
It looks like you can afford a pro, so I’d say get the best one you can afford.
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