Old Friend as a Photographer?

[robbie3982]

So, when I was in HS I cheered with this girl, D. I graduated 2 years ahead of her and we got along really well. I loved helping the freshmen out when I was a junior, and when I was a senior I was a varsity captain so I helped the JV out a lot. She''s the nicest sweetest girl ever, but we didn''t really stay in touch after I graduated.

Fast forward 5 years and she''s a senior in college majoring in Photography and Digital Media and we become facebook friends. She has albums of her photography and I''ve been admiring it for the last few months. She had some pics from a wedding so I thought I''d take a chance and see if she does weddings and what her prices are.

She was so excited when I contacted her. She wrote me back immediately and wants to set up an appointment this weekend. She''s going to send me her pricing later tonight.

By the time of my wedding she''ll have graduated and she''s planning on starting her own photography business. I''m hoping that she''ll be quite a bit cheaper than the photographers I''ve been looking at since she''s just starting out too.

So, to sum up, I love her work and I know that we get along really well and I can''t see her having a personality conflict with anyone. Is it a bad idea to work with a friend though?

Has anyone been in a similiar situation? Any positives or negatives?

 

[anchor31]

We got an offer from my FSIL''s long-term boyfriend, who took photography classes in junior college and has photographed weddings before. I''m looking forward to seeing his work and knowing his prices. I don''t expect much trouble... I really hope I''ll like his work, though! I don''t see why it would be trouble to work with someone you know. Then again, I don''t have any experience in this, so I can''t really know!

 

[sparkly_stars]

the only problem i see is if you don''t like her work...
but since you said you''ve seen samples, it should be okay.
especially since you guys know each other, it should be easier to explain the ideas you have, and overall atmosphere you want your pics to give!

 

[sumbride]

The only negative I could see is if you didn''t like the final product, it would put a strain on your relationship, but since you aren''t really that close, I don''t see that being an issue. If you''ve seen enough of her work to know you like her style, feel comfortable with her, and can afford her, that''s really all you need. I bet she''d appreciate the job helping to build her portfolio as well as you appreciate the budget friendly package!

One of my best friends is a wedding photographer... she asked me to hire someone else because she wants to enjoy the wedding. I said ok, made her a bridesmaid, then asked for a referral to somebody she would hire. While I''ll still get some of her pictures, I couldn''t have afforded her if I had wanted to hire her! (she probably wouldn''t have charged me, but still...) She''s way out of my price range!!!

 

[labbielove]

as long as you like her work, i think it is a great thing.
my sweetie has an old friend that does weddings, but she is in atlanta, so by the time we paid for her travel, etc. we''d negate any ''friends and family'' discount she might give.

hope it works out, photography is such a personal thing i think it''s nice to have a friend to do it.

 

[robbie3982]

What do you guys think of this package:

$750 Package includes:
o 2 hours of photography for the rehearsal/dinner
o 6 hours of photography for the wedding/reception
o Travel expenses
o Off location (if desired)

($800 if the full 8hrs is on the day of the wedding and reception)

• Additional travel expenses may apply depending on distance of travel

_____________________________________________________
Photography and Print Options:

• $100/hour exceeding the eight hours

• $150 for a book of proofs

• $100 for cd of proofs and rights to reprint
_______________________________________________________

Or:

A la Carte
3.5x5 - $4 10x20 - $23
4x5 - $5 12x18 - $25
4x6 - $6 16x20 - $35
5x5 - $7 16x24 - $40
5x7 - $8 20x24 - $50
6x9 - $10 20x30 - $55
8x8 - $12
8x10 - $15
8x12 - $16
5x15 - $16
10x10 - $17
10x13 - $18
12x12 - $18
10x15 - $19
11x14 - $20

I think I''d want to have 8 hrs on the day of and then just by the cd w/ the reprint rights. It seems like this includes a lot more than most packages that are more like $1000...

 

[sumbride]

That includes almost as much as my $3k package. The only thing mine has that yours doesn''t is a 2nd shooter (they shoot as a team) and online ordering of photos via his website. I think you found a pretty good deal!

 

[flopkins]

robbie that sounds like a fantastic deal, IMO.

I think the key in this case is to draw up a contract and stick to it, so that later there is no confusion over what was agreed, which would cause problems/make for a sticky situation in the future.

 

[labbielove]

robbie,
we are looking at photographers right now and it''s so confusing,
there''s a huge range of prices out there, plus with everyone''s tastes being different it is not always a case of the more expensive ones being better, i''m actually in process of putting together a spreadsheet just to keep track of which ones offer what- soooo confusing!

bottom line- if you like her work, you are getting a fantastic deal- especially with the rights to reprint on your own.

i''m jealous!!

 

[JCJD]

robbie - That price is almost exactly what we paid our photogs (also just starting their photog business) for our summer 2005 wedding. Ours just increased their prices up to $2300 for the same thing we paid $800 for (minus 10% Friday night discount) just over a year ago! This is an awesome deal for you - you already know and get along with the photog, you practically can''t beat the price, you love her photographic style, so jump on this girl! Sounds like a winner to me! Congratulations!

 

[Kim N]

Quick question from someone new to any of this: What is a book of proofs? What do you get exactly?

 

[anchor31]

That sounds like a great deal!

 

[robbie3982]

Date: 10/3/2006 2:57:20 AM
Author: Kim N
Quick question from someone new to any of this: What is a book of proofs? What do you get exactly?

Kim, a book of proofs is when they put your proofs in some type of a book. The proofs are usually about 3.5 x 5. Too small for you to enlarge it will w/o the negatives (which you can''t do w/o the rights anyway), but big enough that you should be able to tell if you want to order the picture.

 

[Kim N]

Thanks for the explanation, Robbie. Sorry for the deviation from the topic.

 

[wifey2b]

Hi robbie...speaking as one who has done 2 weddings...I never took photography, it is just a hobbie for me. I did enjoy it a great deal, and my friends loved their pictures, but just make sure if you do go with your friend doing them, that you make a list of photos that YOU WANT!! I find even with professional photographers - they do what they want, and not always the way the person wants. *Blush* I have been known to take pictures at weddings for myself, but end up telling the photographer to wait and fix the brides dress and then tell him to go ahead - giggle...With the eyes rolling - he will ask - who is taking these pictures...I said - you - but if you dont meet my approval I will tell you - giggle Needlesstosay, I became the assistant that day - lol and some of my pictures became the bride and grooms favorites over the photographers,,,but my point is - make sure you make a list of what you want. I find with friends being involved, it is the best way to keep it that way too :}

 

[robbie3982]

FI and I met with her today and we love

what we saw. She also changed her package a bit to include more (and lowered it $50!) and it turns out that she has an assistant! Now we can have her all day, she''ll take an unlimited number of pictures, do an unlimited number of retouchings/stylings, and she''ll go to whatever offsite locations we want. We''ll have the rights to the pictures for an additional $100 and then we''ll make our own prints and use mypublisher.com to make our albums!

I told my mom that we want to book her (I don''t see the point in going anywhere else), so we''re just waiting for her ok since she''s paying!

She showed us some pictures she''s taken of kids and they were really good. This is huge for us since we''ll have 3 flower girls (3,4,4) and 3 ring bearers (6,6,7). We sat through family pictures with them at the beach and it was a nightmare. The photographer really didn''t do a good job capturing them. I have confidence that this one will.

I can''t wait for my mom to respond (I sent her an email because she goes to sleep early)!

 

[labbielove]

robbie,
that is fantastic! of all the vendors, it will be so wonderful to have a friend as the photographer- not to mention what a wonderful price you are getting- Yay!

 

[labbielove]

Not to hijack this thread, but I am finding myself in a similar situation with a local photographer we''re meeting tonight.

I know it all depends on how we like his work in person, but he almost seems "too good to be true", which is scaring me....

Although he is fairly young, 30, been doing this for a couple of years, his photos look amazing online, and he used to own a computer business so i know his tech skills are good (we are looking at an all digital package)

but he is offering 2 pro shooters, an engagement session, rehearsal dinner coverage, and unlimited wedding day coverage, proof book and high res files for reprinting for literally 1/2 the price more established photogs in this area are charging.....

plus he is so friendly and enthusiastic on the phone. i will definitely ask for references, and i do want to see his work in person,
but if that all checks out i guess i would chalk his lower price to the fact that he is relatively new?

this is nerve wracking!! but i''m encouraged after reading this thread.........

 

[robbie3982]

Good luck with your meeting! I just sent an email to my friend to book her for the wedding! She''s actually only done a few weddings, but I plan to have a detailed list of what I want taken and I have a lot of faith in her skills. She really has an ability to capture emotions.