Can I get your opinion on photographers? I''m going crazy.

[mamie]

I''m barely over a week engaged and I already want to forget the wedding and elope. We''re meeting with my first pick venue tomorrow (a pretty place that is affordable compared to the other few nice venues in the area), so thankfully that''s not stressing me that much. BUT......

It''s the photography that''s making me ca-RAZY.

I''m very picky about photos. I really love photography, and it''s really important to me that I look back on our photos and think, "I''m so glad we invested in this." FI, on the other hand, doesn''t see why photographers are thousands of dollars and if he had his way would probably scrap my photography budget altogether! We are paying for the wedding orselves on a pretty modest budget (8-10K in a lower cost of living area).

Here are the options:

Photographer A: http://www.kmphotographyweddings.com/ - Love love the style, colors, contrast and artistry. Problem here is the lowest package includes 6 hours of coverage plus an enagement session, but the CD rights are an additional $1000, making the minimum $2500 plus some travel expenses for e-pics. At the top (will end up OVER) of my photo budget.

Photographer B: http://www.michaelminnig.com/ -- More affordable by far, all day coverage with album, two photographers, e-session and CD rights for under 2K. However it''s not as artistic and crisp and modern as Photographer A.

Photographer C: http://www.kathymartinweddings.com/ - Very artistic. Hits around 2K for 6 hours with CD rights. E-session would be extra. Very artistic...too artistic? Lacking contrast compared to A.

Photographer D: http://www.studio-d-photo.com/ -- Just discovered through a MySpace search. Sent request for pricing.

if you could give me your thoughts, I''ll bake you call cupcakes or something else really sugary. : )
It''s too early in the process to be freaking out this much. I just feel that budget go higher and higher and higher.....

Thanks!!

 

[Gypsy]

Oh I''m no help I only like the first one a LOT. But the second was good too. I didn''t like the third. Will wait to give opinon on fourth.

Did you cross check the photographers with your knot local board for reviews? I find they are really helpful that way.

 

[mamie]

Thanks for taking the time to look at all those picturse, Gypsy! You rock.

I got a few recommendations on my local at The Knot for B, and the rest I found through other means. I just posted a request for photographer recs over the weekend, so I should probably wait a bit to inundate them with more photo help. : )

FI doesn''t understand the difference between Optio A and the guy down the street who does senior portraits. I don''t know how to get him to understand that I would rather work 5 part-time jobs in addition to my full-time job to afford the photographer I really want. But I, too, have my own money freak-outs. A week into the planning and the budget has probably gone up another $1000 from my pre-enagement projected figures.

 

[ringster]

i had the same situation - FI has no interest whatsoever in pictures while i on the other hand, very very interested. plus, i am very picky about pictures and there are only a handful that i like of myself so i was willing to go to the high end in order to make sure that i have pictures that i like of the wedding. for me, i am really happy with the choice i made because we just had our engagement photos and i am very happy with the pics.

i think what helps the most is for you to decide first what are your priorities for the wedding - what are your three most important things you want for your wedding? then sit down and think about where photographer fits in this list.

then you''ll be better able to think about what you need/want from the photographer and how much you want to spend. once you have the list of what you need/want you will have a baseline with which to compare the different packages. most are willing to negotiate and change their packages to meet your requirements.

then, i would pick a few photogs from low, medium and high (high end - only if you want to open that door), meet with them and look at their photos. it is hard to get a really good sense of their work just by the websites.

i also posted about this - the thread may help you and your FI in your decision making. hang in there! and try and remember to have fun

Married PSers - do you regret how much you spent on your wedding photog?

 

[Gypsy]

The budget jumps are scary. We just had a couple: one initited and paid for by mom mother and one initiated and paid for by his mom. The only reason they were tollerable is because we weren't paying for them. But the ones I've been responsible for inititing and paying for have caused me heartburn. Literally. I doubled our floral budget pretty much unilaterally. So I do understand it.

I don't know what to say about your FI's POV. Can you explain to him that you are spending ALL THIS MONEY for two things: a) a marriage and b) memories. And that your pictures are the archives for the memories, so you want them to be as nice as possible?

 

[mamie]

i''m glad to hear I''m not alone! From the time I started looking at wedding **** (pre-engagement), I knew that photography was something I didn''t want to spare on. I''m a picture freak. I''m the one who carries a camera in her purse at all times for those "just in case" moments. I''ve heard (and I read briefly some of the thread you linked before) women who regret not spending more money there. So I told FI from the beginning this was very important to me....but we just had another "disagreement" on his way out the door about how stressed I am over picking a photographer and the state the rapidly increasing budget.

I''ve told him and myself that I would cut so many corners in other areas that weren''t as important (gown, flowers, cake) and was planning on doing an iTunes wedding. Now several friends have urged me to hire a DJ as the entertainment portion of the party is not something I want going wrong. I''m having a small guest lsit (100) and plan on DIY my (non-floral) centerpieces and paper goods....but what happens when all the other incidentals come up? What if I try on a gown that''s double my budget? I haven''t even estimated a budget for a ceremony since I''m not sure if it will be outside or in a church.

So sorry for the rambling tangent. I''ve been spending at least 8 hours a day thinking/researching/dreaming/planning a wedding that''s over a year away and I''m already feeling the burn out.

Thank you both for giving me great advice and lending an ear (....or eye).

 

[justwondering]

To play devil''s advocate to Gypsy:

I love Photog C. I think the images are fresh, unique takes on the ordinary bridal shots. Depending on how traditional you are, this could be a great way to capture the sensory elements of the day, rather than simply the posed moments that many photogs focus on.

Additionally, photog C''s prints could almost double as artworks, so could be hung around your house with more than a sentimental purpose...

then again, I''m an art historian, so take my opinion with a grain of salt

 

[karasue91]

I actually loved C too, her photos were the only ones that I looked through almost every pic!!! I was captivated, I think she really captured the days and the emotions of the day. But, obviously photographers only post the best of their portfolio on their website.

about those cupcakes...do ship to Canada??? hahaha mmmm thanks for the cupcake craving mamie

 

[mamie]

Update: Option A is now off the table - she''s booked on my date. I''m a little sad about it, but mostly relieved. FI and I got into a fight last night when he came home - part of it was about the photography budget. I told him the things you all said here and from the post linked upthread. I just don''t think we''re going to fully agree on the difference between the guy who shoots Sears style versus a true artistic professional.

He tried to get out of meeting with our first-pick venue today. I flipped out. After all the hours of research, agony, planning, communication with all different vendors for 10+ hours a day, he wanted me to go by myself, get the information, and then relay it to him.

After all was said and done, he know understands the importance of going to vendor meetings and helping me in making all these big decisions. We had our meeting with our reception venue, and things went really well. We will probably plunk down our deposit within the week. (sidenote: ahh scary!)

Thanks for the opinions, everyone. I''m sure I''ll be back with another round shortly.

Mmmmm I just made myself hungry for cupcakes. ; )