Photography Questions.

[partyjewels]

I know there was a thread not so long ago asking about how long everyone is having their photographer, but I was wondering... I suppose this seems like a silly question, but I''d rather ask you guys first and look like a fool on here instead of with the photographers

Do they count the down time in between? Or is it just the hours they are actually taking pictures? It seems logical that they are counting down time as well, but I''m just asking because you never know! It would be awesome if they didn''t count down time because then maybe we could get away with having one for only 7 hours... I found a photographer that I like from their website enough to schedule a meeting, and her prices look pretty good for the smaller packers (I.E. Within what my FI is willing to spend...

) But the smallest package is for 5 hours, the next one up is for 7 hours... the one after that is 9 hours which would be good, but it puts us up at a price FI is not willing to spend. Which is kind of ridiculous really since I''m paying for it, but still, I know it would bother him if I spent more on a photographer, so I''m at least willing to try and find someone I like within what he wants to spend. He doesn''t understand that I like a certain style, and the photographers that he has been finding for me to look at just don''t make the cut. Sure, it''s a great price, but the pictures look like they could''ve been taken by one of our relatives, to which he says ok, lets just give everyone cameras and be done with it. *sigh* I''d be find with setting out cameras in ADDITION to a photographer, not instead of!

Anyways... So if it''s not counting down time (I.E. If I get my hair/makeup done somewhere else and then they don''t need to take pictures till I''m getting dressed an hour later...) I think 7 hours MIGHT work, I have to figure it out...

I''m just so ready for this planning to be done. And the photographer thing is freaking me out because we''re just running out of time here.

 

[zoebartlett]

I think if you hire a photographer from 10:00-5:00 for example, that''s 7 hours, and yes, you''d pay for any downtime. It''s time they won''t be able to do anything else because they''ve blocked out that time for your wedding. Chances are, the photogrpaher(s) won''t be just sitting around. They''ll probably be looking for spots that have the best lighting (even if they''ve done this ahead of time), switching cameras, or doing something else.

 

[largirl]

I''ll answer this as a photographer, not as a bride.

Generally, YES, the downtime is counted, because it''s time in which the photographer is hired for you and cannot do work elsewhere. Also, usually during downtime is when formal group portraits are taken, which takes up a good chunk of the downtime. If there is still time until the reception and you''ve finished portraits, oftentimes the photographer will take that opportunity to backup the memory cards he''s already shot, to go start getting some details shots at the reception, etc. You can also request that since you''re paying for the downtime, that you and your new groom have a fun photo shoot together. If it''s a huge amount of downtime, like several hours, then you might be able to ask them to not count it, especially if they live/work close and go home between the ceremony and reception. However, more likely than not it will be counted.

If you found a photographer that you love but they are out of your price range, first see if you can pull a few hundred bucks from somewhere else in the budget (i.e. only 8 roses in each centerpiece instead of 10, or make your own veil instead of spending $200 on it, etc.). If you have already cut in other areas and can''t do that, then talk to the photographer and see if there is anything they can do to help. For example, I include an album in my top two packages, but if a couple really wanted me for 12 hours but could only afford the 6 hour package, I might give them the 12 hours for the 6 hour price, but without the album.

 

[Pandora II]

I would doubt if they would take time off for space in between. If they are working for you, they're not working for anyone else. They won't get an event every day of the week and so its only right that they are paid for all the hours that they are available for, even if you don't have anything for them to photograph at that point.

If budget is an issue, could you do some fake makeup/hair shots before you put your dress on? Or get one of your BMs to take some pics with a decent camera for you?

 

[Gypsy]

We have eight hours, and I''m going to ask them to arrive just before I put my dress on. Do some minor makeup dabbing and blotting for the pics, swing into private photoshoot with John, ceremony, family shots at cocktail hour, then reception... doing cake cutting fairly early as well as toasts so that everything is covered in the eight hours. I would speak to them about how best to maximize up time, and minimize down time... a good photographer will have some suggestions for you... and as someone said, you can bargain with them.

 

[gtn]

I would not count on having much down time and what little you do, you will have to pay for the photographers. But if a meal is included in their contract (We have ours for 8 hour + we feed them, with an option to pay for additional time,) than that would be a good time for them to eat.

 

[Gypsy]

Oh yes. Ours have a ''warm'' meal in the contract as well, so does our DJ. SO... need to check with venue on that. Thanks for the reminder.