MemberYes, keep looking. Search Instagram for your venue name, and/or hashtags with #yourcityweddingphotographer, #yourstateweddingphotographer, etc. as these are commonly used by photographers that may not have great SEO or web presence. You may find someone who is both within your budget AND has a look you like.
Memberbeakermeep: Ah, I see. I feel that type of direction isn’t as necessary – I mean, if what you desire is something more artistic then that type of stuff may come off as a bit contrived. $500 over budget isn’t terrible for someone whose work you like more but have you searched for anyone else who may be a bit more affordable? If you love his work, I say go for it!
Eliminating a full bar will definitely save you at least $500 depending on your guest count and costs of drinks at your venue. We had just 65 guests and our open bar tab ended up being about 4k (lots of mixed drinks were had), or maybe offer a signature drink, beer, wine. I wouldn’t get rid of a photo booth – that provided a big source of entertainment for guests and we had a huge stack of great photos right after the wedding. I’d be on the look out for any special deals on photo booths (I got a special through the knot to save $250 on a package for 4 hours, all because the photo booth company was new to Seattle and they needed customers).
MemberYou have a very healthy budget, so I say keep looking. Where do you live? I know certain areas are more expensive than others. I’m from NJ, and my photographer is in North Jersey, closer to NYC. Everything is expensive around here haha Even so, though, I’m paying about $4200 after all is said and done, and I’m getting 9 hours of coverage, two photographers, an engagement shoot, download and print rights to all the photos, a 16×20″ canvas of one of our photos, and a 10×10″ lay flat album. And I love my photographer. Her style, her personality, everything. She’s super sweet and super helpful.
Memberbeakermeep: I picked our photographer because I loved how in the background he was – I’ve been a bridesmaid before and I can’t stand bossy photographers or worse – ones that interrupt important moments. Are there some shots I wish came out better? Yes but that’s what happens when you don’t pose and set lighting. There are a solid handful of absolutely amazing shots and, for me, that’s all I really need.
MemberI mean, he’s $500 over your budget. That may seem like a lot now, but you’ll be so mad at yourself if you cheap out and get bad photos…. At the end of the day its $500, I’m sure you could find the budget somewhere. If you’re really strapped, ask him if you can pay the last $500 that you’re overbudget for upon receipt of photos. You’re bound to get some cash as gifts from your guests 🙂 Hope that helps!
MemberThanks all for the comments!
I have reached out to a dozen photographers already, and interviewed half of them. These 2 were the top 2 contenders so far. However with this post, I decided to email 3 more next week after the holiday and maybe set up some times to talk with them if they fit in the budget and see if we find someone we like better.
Also, I know Photographer A isn’t that much over budget, it’s just that the photos have a signature post-processed style that looks a lot like film that makes me hesitate. I love the way he captures the photos and emotions and moments of everyone, but I am not sure I am 100% in love with the film-lilke photos. It’s romatic and vintage, but I don’t want to look at them afterwards 5 years from now thinking, “I wish I chose a photographer who did their processing to look less like film”.
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