Post # 1
Member
3277 posts
Sugar bee
I just found a photographer that I like for a pretty cheap price ($1k for 8 hours, e session and print release) but it’s only for one photographer without the option of adding a second. We’re having about 350 guests and doing a first look, I can’t decide if we neeeed a second photographer or not. How did you decide?
Did you meet with your photographer in person before booking them? And what questions should I be asking?
What time would you suggest starting photography for a 4pm ceremony with first look and all wedding party and family pictures before ceremony. I’m thinking 12:30 or 1?
We’re having a sparkler exit at 10:30 but we were going to end photography at 8:30ish, should we add the extra 2 hours (+$250) to get the sparkler exit?
Thanks!
Post # 3
Member
91 posts
Worker bee
@MrsN14: With the number of guests you expect and doing the first look and sparkler exit, it’s a lot for just 1 photographer to capture by himself. While I think the $1k package is very good in price, I would look into maybe researching a couple more photographers that maybe have an option to add another photographer. (One of the photographers I was considering had an option to add another photographer for about $250 more.) Or at least ask him if he has an assistant to follow him around with equipment, lighting, something to help him.
Another option would be to have your guests involved the the picture taking. Invite you guests to take pictures with their phones or cameras and post them to a central site or tag them on instagram, etc.
Absolutely meet your photographer before booking him. This is a must must must. You want to make sure that you mesh well together and are on the same page with the vision of your wedding: what shots are important to you, what you want (first look, sparkler exit, preparation pictures, family portraits, candids, etc).
Just a couple of suggestions… good luck!
Post # 4
Member
3277 posts
Sugar bee
@honeyhalo: thank you for the advice!
Post # 5
Member
2481 posts
Buzzing bee
First of all, $1,000 sounds almost worryingly reasonable (for UK readers it’s about £650!) especially for an 8 hour day with 350 guests. The work in covering all your shots let alone getting a decent number of guest pictures is going to be very difficult for one photographer. Anyone prepared to work as cheaply may have even more difficulty!
As for the sparkler exit, this sort of lowlight scene is notoriously difficult for guests to capture but equally, only you know whether it’s worth $250 – which makes it a rather expensive exit! However, the photographer could probably use that extra 2 hours given the size of your guestlist.
Personally I’d be very careful about employing someone so cheaply unless you are certain of the quality of his work. I’d advise rather more research.
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