Photo/Videography Prices--Fair?

[Haven]

Okay ladies, I need some feedback. Do the following prices seem fair? I live in Chicago, although I''m not sure how much location affects price.

And I just want to say that I''m so proud of myself for actually meeting with a vendor--other than the venue, this is my first vendor!

Photography Package $1500
Includes:
Formally attired certified professional & consultation meeting to discuss event details
10 hours coverage
High resolution digital negatives & full copyright approval (unlimited shooting)
Internet posting & online ordering for 90 days
Engagement session with a free 8 X 10 photo

Photo Albums
Priced from $795 to $1795 for the large albums for the bride & groom

Videography Package $1795
Includes:
10 hours coverage
Unlimited locations
Ceremony & reception coverage
Full professional editing
Special effects
5 DVDs

The only additional costs will be $50 for taxes, and any individual prints we choose (although we can take the digital negatives anywhere to have them printed)

Discounts (before negotiating): $200 off if we book both the photographer and videographer, addition $100 off if commit to buying a photo album prior to the event.

SO, the total for photo and video will be $3095 plus the cost of an album.

Fair?

 

[peridot83]

The prices are great for California at least.

For the videographer, are they going to compose a "highlights" clip for you? (i.e. a 5 minute-7 minute almost music video of the whole day). This usually costs significantly more but is awesome. People actually want to see the 7 minute video, it draws up all these emotions because of the music playing in the background (some vidoegraphers will let you pick the music for the background), and you see all the key moments.

 

[Haven]

Thanks, Peridot! They ARE going to do the highlights video for us, I think it will be longer, though, more like ten minutes--does that sound right? I watched a few when I met with the owner today and they were really great. I''ve never heard of them before, I''m glad you asked, now I feel better about it!

 

[monarch64]

Hi Haven...we got married in Oak Brook in 2003...we hired a photog from Tinley Park (no traveling fee) for $700 for the entire day''s pics (from start to finish about 7 hours). We did not opt for videography, instead my 2nd cousin whose daughters were two of our flower girls, used his digicam to make us a DVD that was just as good as any wedding video I''ve ever seen for free...and we ended up ordering about 20 prints and an entire album which cost us $2k almost 4 months after the wedding. So I guess we spent $2700 total, but had an easier time paying for all of it because we broke it up like this:

$100 deposit= August, 2003
$600 balance= September, 2003 (wedding date)
$2,000= December, 2003 (prints of various sizes, wedding album consisting of 28 leather-bound pgs., spiral-bound book of all 583 proofs)

We were very happy with our photog, he offered videography/DVD as well for an additional price, as well as a free engagement portrait sitting. I''d be happy to give you his info if you''re interested.

 

[Independent Gal]

Well, we''re paying my MOH''s sister, who''s a professional photographer, $500 for 4 hours (and yes, that''s her normal rate - $125 an hour), and she is giving us CD-ROM''s with all the pics, to do with what we will. This way, we can get prints and albums made up by one of the on-line services for far cheaper. But I guess it depends on how fancy you want the album and how important it is to you.

 

[MustangFan]

The prices seem pretty fair for my area (new jersey)

My photographer works by the day and as long as we want roughly 11-12 he will be with us, so he''s an average of $180 an hour... then i guess
He''s $2,000 for the whole day
to add a book was $750

I was looking at a videographer that was $1395 with no editing
her editing package was $1795! so the same

 

[goldenstar]

Those prices are very fair! I need to move to Chicago.

I''m in CA (Bay Area) and one photographer I contacted has packages ranging from $6500 to $12000!

I know I can find someone for less, but no one is the lower ranges is appealing to me right now. I''m still looking around, but I''m so in love with the first photographer''s work.

 

[Emeraldfan]

The prices seem very reasonable to me (especially compared to SF Bay area prices).

GoldenStar - not to hijack the thread but in the SF Bay area you should try Tu Photography. They have mid-range prices and the quality of their work is amazing (they are booked on our wedding day

). We decided to go with Lisa Leigh (who is more expensive) because we were having the same problem as you seem to be having - not many great photographers in mid-range prices. A website of some of the best SF wedding photographers is theshortlistsf. com

 

[sap483]

To me those prices sound great! Our photographer is $5200 and that doesn''t include albums...

 

[peridot83]

10 mins sounds right . On another note, another place to look for wedding photographers is http://wpja.org (Wedding Photojournalistic Association). I haven''t used any of the photographers listed on the site, but at least from their websites the quality seems pretty awesome, they are selective about who they admit as a members, and they have people in all price ranges (i.e. under $2000 to $10,000 +)

 

[goldenstar]

Date: 11/30/2007 1:45:30 PM
Author: Emeraldfan
The prices seem very reasonable to me (especially compared to SF Bay area prices).


GoldenStar - not to hijack the thread but in the SF Bay area you should try Tu Photography. They have mid-range prices and the quality of their work is amazing (they are booked on our wedding day

). We decided to go with Lisa Leigh (who is more expensive) because we were having the same problem as you seem to be having - not many great photographers in mid-range prices. A website of some of the best SF wedding photographers is theshortlistsf. com

Thank you Emeraldfan! I looked up both photographers, and while Tu is lovely, I liked Lisa Leigh more. Therein lies the dilemma. Around here, you really get what you pay for. The short list website is awesome. I recognize most of those names. A friend of mine had Michelle Walker do her wedding and it was incredible!

I''ll start a thread about Bay Area photogs when I get closer to making a final decision.

 

[Emeraldfan]

Goldenstar - last hijack as I''ll wait until you start an SF thread. Funny you should mention Michelle Walker though as I was so torn b/w her and Lisa Leigh. My brother (amateur photographer) insists Lisa is a better photographer because she captures depth of field, lighting, and movement so much better, as well as the more candid shots. Try Lisa Lefkowitz as she is a great mixture of Lisa and Michelle''s style (but she was booked on our date as well).