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Photographer- What do you think?

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Dannielle

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Hi Ladies,

I am in the process of finding the photographer for our big day. I have found a photographer who offers packages and the one I am interested in includes 5 hours and she provides all High Res images on a disc for $800.

I think this is a fantastic deal but by Dad thinks that her photos aren't very professional- I am not sure if my judgement is clouded by how fantastic her price is.

What do you think? Should we book an appointment with her or do you think that her photos aren't great quality and we should keep looking.

Priscila Zanata



ETA: My Dad just emailed me with this photographer, they offer 5 hours for $795 and includes Photographer, travel & parking fully edited and airbrushed colour photos burned to a disc in high resolution jpegs.

Global Sanctuary Photography
 
I did think that the second photographer seems more professional than the first, and I liked his images better in general... however, he seems *very* heavy-handed with that airbrush tool... you want your pictures to look the best they can, but you still want to look like YOU!

Personally, I''d keep looking. If you''re willing to jump up to $1000 I bet you''ll find that the caliber of photographer goes WAY up for not a whole lot more money.

If you read the thread on what people considered awesome, and also a failure at their wedding, almost always the disappointment was the photographer. Make sure you do tons of research and don''t just try to get the best deal, if it''s an option for you to spend a little more.

I spent way more than I thought I would on my photographer, but I know for a fact that I''ll be happy with my images after the fact, and I''m completely psyched about it.
 
I thought that the second photographers looked more ''finished'' than the first.
I guess it depends on what style and look you are going for.

It''s really hard isn''t it? I am finding photographers to be one of the most confusing parts so far.

Good luck with the decision!!
 
At the end of the day the photo''s and memories are all you have left of the day...

Depends really what style of photo''s your after a friend of mine had a photographer who charged her a small amount and she was devo with her photo''s and regrets them they missed out on so many important momments on the day - maybe do a trial run with the photographer see how their style works for you possibly
 
Date: 8/17/2009 7:15:30 AM
Author: hawaiianorangetree
I thought that the second photographers looked more ''finished'' than the first.
I guess it depends on what style and look you are going for.

It''s really hard isn''t it? I am finding photographers to be one of the most confusing parts so far.

Good luck with the decision!!
I know! This and the entertainment is making me pull my hair out!
 
Date: 8/17/2009 7:28:46 AM
Author: Deelight
At the end of the day the photo''s and memories are all you have left of the day...

Depends really what style of photo''s your after a friend of mine had a photographer who charged her a small amount and she was devo with her photo''s and regrets them they missed out on so many important momments on the day - maybe do a trial run with the photographer see how their style works for you possibly
Thats a great idea
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The website says that they photographed a couple who submited their pictures to cosmopolitan bride, so I might buy it tomorrow and see what their photos look like compared to other people in the magazine. If I like them I will book an appointment and maybe get some engagement shots taken
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Date: 8/17/2009 7:38:17 AM
Author: Dannielle
Date: 8/17/2009 7:28:46 AM

Author: Deelight

At the end of the day the photo''s and memories are all you have left of the day...


Depends really what style of photo''s your after a friend of mine had a photographer who charged her a small amount and she was devo with her photo''s and regrets them they missed out on so many important momments on the day - maybe do a trial run with the photographer see how their style works for you possibly

Thats a great idea
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The website says that they photographed a couple who submited their pictures to cosmopolitan bride, so I might buy it tomorrow and see what their photos look like compared to other people in the magazine. If I like them I will book an appointment and maybe get some engagement shots taken
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Sounds like a plan, maybe also look at a few of thier complete albums to make sure they capture all the special momments as well

GL :)
 
I agree with what everyone else said. It depends on what look you''re going for with your pictures.

I would ask each of the photogs for contact information from previous couples (if they do that in Australia), and ask the couples what they liked/disliked about the photogs.
 
Definitly like the second guy better!
 
I do not think the first photographer is very good. She doesn''t have an eye for composition, nor does she take flattering photos. Also, the people do not always look completely comfortable being photographed (that, too, is the photographer''s fault IMO).

The second one is better IMO, and his prices really are very good. I still think you can do better, but if it''s going to be one of the two, I''d definitely go with that one.
 
I second the idea of looking at complete albums. It''s great to see how good they are at telling the story of the day...rather than looking at just shots from here or there. it''d be easier to compare them that way.
 
My concern about the second link, like a PP said, is that its so "done up" - many of the photos look fake. You want to look like the best version of YOU - a few touchups is great, but this isn''t hollywood!

I have heard that regarding photogs, you get what you pay for. Many brides dedicate a lot of their budget to their photog because you only get ONE shot at this - your wedding cannot be recreated. A close friend of mine went with a local guy who gave them a deal at $1,000 - to this day, she and her parents have said, "that was the biggest mistake we made at the wedding." His lens had dust on it, his photos weren''t angled right, etc.

As another poster said, get references and ask to see more than just the good photos on the website - they will always display the best of the best. Photographer is NOT the area to save money on, in my opinion! I am not wow''ed by either link but I would choose the first before the second.
 
When I looked through the first photogs gallery I thought they looked nice. But after going through the second photogs galleries, I emphatically agree with the others. Go with the second photographer. Not only is it similar in price, but the photographs look soo much better and more interesting.
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What I really don't like about photographer #2 is that they aren't showing an entire wedding in any of their galleries. They are actually picking and choosing their best shot from different weddings and that is a big red flag for me with a photographer. So, when interviewing them, you want to ask to see FULL weddings and ask for a few of them. You don't want to see one great shot from several different weddings, you know? What this tells me is that you might get one good shot and the rest of your shots might be OK to very disappointing.

The first photographer is showing a FEW images from each wedding, which shows a little bit more consistency. That makes me feel a little more warm and fuzzy.

As far as processing goes, this is a personal taste. If you like the look of the images, then go for it. I do agree with some of the posters that Number two is over processing a bit. The black and white images, with the red lips and things like that, aren't something I would prefer. But as I said, processing is a matter of taste. You could always request that they lighten up on the processing too, but that may be risky, because you definitely want them to touch up the photos a bit.

Photographer one seems to capture emotion better. I tend to like that over the posed shots. It really depends on what you want to see in your album. If you want to see a lot of posed shots, number two might be for you. If you want to see the emotion of the day, number one seems like they might be the one.

They both have their qualities, it just depends on what you are really looking for...

The prices are great! If I had to choose just by website, I would go with number one.
 
Ok, I also agree that you should ask for references. Remember that their portfolio is showing the best of the best of what they do. I like the second photographer, but it seems a bit showy. You need to go with who you feel comfortable with, because that is what will show through in the photos.

I am prepared to be flogged for what I am about to say. Everyone tends to spend a ton of money on a photographer, but weigh it against how often you plan to pull out the pictures. As a society we have begun demanding photoshoots for our wedding day, and spend a ton of money to do so. You can plan a day after the wedding to actually get some great shots with your hubby for a fraction of the cost. I''m hoping we get a few great shots to post around the house, and not spending a ton of money on the pictures. That''s just me, stepping off the soap box.
 
Ick, I thought #1 had some really unflattering shots of people, such as awkward poses and mouths hanging open, or weird expressions in the third gallery. To me, #1 is like anyone with a camera taking pictures. There''s not a whole lot of creativity going on, and if that happens to be their better work, I''m not impressed.

#2 is at times, overdone, but that is something you can control. #2 will use more artistry and photo techniques if you want more creative shots and looks. You are paying for someone''s eye to take great photos and capture memories.

You should make appointments to view their albums and speak to them in person. You''ll get a better sense if you like their style and see how well their pictures present.
 
Date: 8/17/2009 2:03:14 PM
Author: charbie
Ok, I also agree that you should ask for references. Remember that their portfolio is showing the best of the best of what they do. I like the second photographer, but it seems a bit showy. You need to go with who you feel comfortable with, because that is what will show through in the photos.

I am prepared to be flogged for what I am about to say. Everyone tends to spend a ton of money on a photographer, but weigh it against how often you plan to pull out the pictures. As a society we have begun demanding photoshoots for our wedding day, and spend a ton of money to do so. You can plan a day after the wedding to actually get some great shots with your hubby for a fraction of the cost. I''m hoping we get a few great shots to post around the house, and not spending a ton of money on the pictures. That''s just me, stepping off the soap box.
Exactly!

I am going to book an appointment with number 2 but we are still looking for other options, so far the closest price to the ones above is $2,600.. quite a jump!
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Date: 8/17/2009 2:03:14 PM
Author: charbie
Ok, I also agree that you should ask for references. Remember that their portfolio is showing the best of the best of what they do. I like the second photographer, but it seems a bit showy. You need to go with who you feel comfortable with, because that is what will show through in the photos.

I am prepared to be flogged for what I am about to say. Everyone tends to spend a ton of money on a photographer, but weigh it against how often you plan to pull out the pictures. As a society we have begun demanding photoshoots for our wedding day, and spend a ton of money to do so. You can plan a day after the wedding to actually get some great shots with your hubby for a fraction of the cost. I''m hoping we get a few great shots to post around the house, and not spending a ton of money on the pictures. That''s just me, stepping off the soap box.
I completely agree with you Charbie.. and it is exactly what we are doing.. I don''t want to spend my wedding day posing for photos, i want to spend it with my guests and have fun! Nor do i want to spend a lot of money on them. I am hiring a 4th year uni student (who i believe has a bit of a talent for photography) to take photos journalistic style for us at our wedding..and he is charging me $40 an hour. We want the day captured but we don''t want to be dictated by the photos we ''should'' get. I read an article last night on the photos you ''must'' get, there were 79 different poses to be done with a suggested time of 4 minutes each.... that''s over 5 hours of posing!!! lol.
After we get back from our honeymoon we are getting dressed up again and going to have some photos done in some pretty spots with a pro.. at only a fraction of the cost of having them done on our wedding day, and i think i will enjoy it alot more... becasue i know that there wont be a party going on without me.
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Date: 8/18/2009 1:46:01 AM
Author: hawaiianorangetree

Date: 8/17/2009 2:03:14 PM
Author: charbie
Ok, I also agree that you should ask for references. Remember that their portfolio is showing the best of the best of what they do. I like the second photographer, but it seems a bit showy. You need to go with who you feel comfortable with, because that is what will show through in the photos.

I am prepared to be flogged for what I am about to say. Everyone tends to spend a ton of money on a photographer, but weigh it against how often you plan to pull out the pictures. As a society we have begun demanding photoshoots for our wedding day, and spend a ton of money to do so. You can plan a day after the wedding to actually get some great shots with your hubby for a fraction of the cost. I''m hoping we get a few great shots to post around the house, and not spending a ton of money on the pictures. That''s just me, stepping off the soap box.
I completely agree with you Charbie.. and it is exactly what we are doing.. I don''t want to spend my wedding day posing for photos, i want to spend it with my guests and have fun! Nor do i want to spend a lot of money on them. I am hiring a 4th year uni student (who i believe has a bit of a talent for photography) to take photos journalistic style for us at our wedding..and he is charging me $40 an hour. We want the day captured but we don''t want to be dictated by the photos we ''should'' get. I read an article last night on the photos you ''must'' get, there were 79 different poses to be done with a suggested time of 4 minutes each.... that''s over 5 hours of posing!!! lol.
After we get back from our honeymoon we are getting dressed up again and going to have some photos done in some pretty spots with a pro.. at only a fraction of the cost of having them done on our wedding day, and i think i will enjoy it alot more... becasue i know that there wont be a party going on without me.
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Hawaiianorangetree... do you think your student photographer can do my wedding too??

I swear i''m not stealing your ideas!!! We have the same colour theme... garden wedding, might as well have the same photographer!

hahaha No just kidding! I am trying to save money is all
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I would give #1 a miss. Heads cut off, shots not in frame, wierd angles. Some people just have a talent for photography and some don't. I would keep looking personally.

ETA - I just read the info on her packages. You get the high res images, but they are not retouched. If you want to do your own album, she will pick the 'Best Shots' (no info on how many either!) and simply adjust their colours etc for $200! You can do that yourself on Photoshop or similar products. She isn't even editing or touching up each pic.
 
Date: 8/18/2009 1:53:38 AM
Author: cindygenit

Date: 8/18/2009 1:46:01 AM
Author: hawaiianorangetree


Date: 8/17/2009 2:03:14 PM
Author: charbie
Ok, I also agree that you should ask for references. Remember that their portfolio is showing the best of the best of what they do. I like the second photographer, but it seems a bit showy. You need to go with who you feel comfortable with, because that is what will show through in the photos.

I am prepared to be flogged for what I am about to say. Everyone tends to spend a ton of money on a photographer, but weigh it against how often you plan to pull out the pictures. As a society we have begun demanding photoshoots for our wedding day, and spend a ton of money to do so. You can plan a day after the wedding to actually get some great shots with your hubby for a fraction of the cost. I''m hoping we get a few great shots to post around the house, and not spending a ton of money on the pictures. That''s just me, stepping off the soap box.
I completely agree with you Charbie.. and it is exactly what we are doing.. I don''t want to spend my wedding day posing for photos, i want to spend it with my guests and have fun! Nor do i want to spend a lot of money on them. I am hiring a 4th year uni student (who i believe has a bit of a talent for photography) to take photos journalistic style for us at our wedding..and he is charging me $40 an hour. We want the day captured but we don''t want to be dictated by the photos we ''should'' get. I read an article last night on the photos you ''must'' get, there were 79 different poses to be done with a suggested time of 4 minutes each.... that''s over 5 hours of posing!!! lol.
After we get back from our honeymoon we are getting dressed up again and going to have some photos done in some pretty spots with a pro.. at only a fraction of the cost of having them done on our wedding day, and i think i will enjoy it alot more... becasue i know that there wont be a party going on without me.
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Hawaiianorangetree... do you think your student photographer can do my wedding too??

I swear i''m not stealing your ideas!!! We have the same colour theme... garden wedding, might as well have the same photographer!

hahaha No just kidding! I am trying to save money is all
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Haha this is him... www.shardology.net now he a 4th year in commerce/arts (communication) at UWA, so i am not too sure where the photography comes in, might just be an interest he has. He photographed his sisters wedding and there are photos of that on there. You should place an add in gumtree, i have photographers emailing me all the time trying to sell me their photography skills.
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To be honest, it looks like neither has a full understanding of light. With the first one, there are numerous shots where she should have used fill flash such as the group shot of the party (would bring out the detail of the suits instead of black blobs) and the photos with the flowergirls throwing petals in the air (would prevent what is called "raccoon eyes"). The color balance is off on a number of photos, some are appearing too yellow or too blue.

The second photographer post processes his images way too much. The likely reason is to help save a bad image. In a number of his images it appears that he is over exposing the white, either in the dress or the sky. By over processing the images, it makes most people think it''s intentional. Some of his images are pretty "flat" looking also and lack contrast.

My suggestion would be to pick a photographer who you can pay for his or her time and then add additional options after the wedding such as prints, albums, etc. when you can afford them.
 
Thanks hawaiianorangetree!!! You''re the best
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