Post # 1
Member
1004 posts
Bumble bee
I am in a dilemma about my wedding photography.
I am a photographer myself, and I have very high standards, and very specific taste when it comes to wedding photography. The problem: I am an on an extreme budget. I am a grad student, future public school teacher, and Fiance is currently paying the bills with his salary from a job in which he is severely underpaid. My parents are not helping, his are basically paying for the venue.
This is just one area where it is going to kill me to compromise quality.
I have found a couple options that I can afford, but honestly I think that I would be disappointed with the quality of the photography, picking apart every detail, especially how they were edited. BUT I am not about to tell another photographer how they should edit their work! Add to this that I am already a little self-conscious in front of a camera rather than behind it, AND the extreme height difference between myself and Fiance… well I just know I will have to settle and I won’t like it.
Last issue: I have a couple friends who are starting to photograph wedddings professionally on their own after graduating from college. I hope they will not be disappointed that I am not asking them, but I would much rather have them enjoy my wedding celebration with me rather than working the whole time… Aaaand I might be a little too critical of their work, and have to keep it to myself, but they know me so well they would be able to tell if I didn’t like it.
Post # 3
Member
1403 posts
Bumble bee
@MsBlackberry: How well are you networked in the professional community? Perhaps someone will photograph your wedding at your budget level, and maybe you second shoot a wedding or two for them for free,etc.
Post # 4
Member
2239 posts
Buzzing bee
Could you hire a photographer you really like for a few hours instead of a photographer you don’t like for longer?
Post # 5
Member
7475 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I would cut whatever needed to be cut to afford the photographer you want. I tell all my brides, coverage i the most important part. Albums, disk, prints – those are all things you can get later. Time is something you can never get back. Find the photographer you want, and chat with them about getting a time only package. That way you can have a little time after the wedding to save up to purchase the other things you want.
I can definitely relate. I’m a wedding photographer, and choosing one was very difficult for myself. I’ve got a pretty high photography budget and am spending more than the average bride on it, and even several of the photographers I liked were $1K or more over budget. You can find someone, you just might have to make cuts somewhere else.
Post # 6
Member
221 posts
Helper bee
@starfish0116: I agree!! Fiance and I chose our photographer based on their quality of work. And the fact that they’re super friendly and the price includes all day coverage with two photographer is amazing. We will however be waiting to purchase prints and albums because I thought it was more important to at least get all the photos I wanted with the quality I wanted.
Post # 7
Member
1314 posts
Bumble bee
Not having spent money on a good photographer was the ONLY regret I had from my own wedding, and usually the only regret other people have from their own weddings. I hear it over and over again. Don’t take the chance!