Comparing Wedding Photography Prices & Packages
There are many wedding photographers and wedding photography packages to choose from. Some are excellent and highly priced and and are really poor and highly priced. We believe we are excellent and fairly priced. This page is meant to explain how to compare and understand what you get and the total cost of wedding photography.
First, let's establish the objectives of hiring a photographer:
1. You want wonderful pictures taken
2. You want the pictures in print as individual pictures
3. You probably want a wedding album to showcase your pictures
Wonderful Pictures
When you look at a photographer's pictures ask for full wedding collections. Many a photographer will show you the best 1-2 pictures from each wedding they've done. However, what you want is that all (most) pictures to be good and many to be quite remarcable. Looking at the best 20-30 pictures someone has to offer will not give you any information. The easiest way to see a collection is by looking at their albums: are all pictures clear; do they capture expressions, do they tell a story, do they convey the feeling of the day and the people's moods. When looking at pictures look at expressions, compositions, colors... not at what people wear or whether they people were good looking... but rather were those people captured in the best possible manner - complimenting them? Once you have 2-3 photographers whose pictures you like it's time to understand the total cost of the service.
Pictures in Print
When you get a price for a photography package it will most likely not include prints. The service usually refers to someone showing up with a camera, organizing people, and taking pictures over a period of time. At the end of the time they go home and they have the pictures (whether digital or film negatives). That, however, does not do you any good yet. You need prints. Some packages include the negatives and many do not. Typically, people who do not include the negatives have quite high print prices. You can expect to pay $10-20-30 for a tiny 5X7 photo. So, if you want say 100-200 pictures, you can expect to pay a few thousand dollars for the prints, after you already paid for the photo shoot during your event. On the other hand, if the package included the negatives and the copyright (permission to print at will) you could have printed your own prints for $50-$60. So, unless money is no object, you would be well advised to find a photography package that includes the negatives.
The following table shows the cost of a typical set of prints for a 3 hour engagement (100 of 5X7s, 12 of 8X10s and 3 of 16X20s):
Cindyrella Studio is the Fab Wedding's Photo Studio name. While we have very reasonable prices, even we cannot compete with Wallmart. Still, we are a great deal in comparison with most photographers we know of. Now you are probably thinking that you want your prints to be of high quality... well, everybody uses the same commercial printing equipment (peek over the counter at Walgreens or Office Max and you'll see those huge printers). So, even if you associate Walmart with "cheap" and a fancy photographer with "quality", odds are that your prints will come out from comparable equipment.
The following table is a comparison of your total cost for photography. The first option shows a 3 hour package with Fab Weddings ($750 includes photoshoot and negatives) and then the typical cost of prints from the table above.
The second option is what most of our competitors want to sell you: photo shoot and later prints while they keep the negatives so you have no other option than buying expensive prints.
The third option shows a typical photography package that does not include negatives up front but then you decide to buy them later... and then get your own prints at a retailer.
Of course, I am a subjective being and show us as the best deal around... but now you know how to compare the whole enchilada... so do your own math :)
Large Prints
There is, however, a role for photographer to print prints. If you want portraits larger than 8X10, you are probably better off getting them from your photographer, as they will adjust color to match the printer, offer various paper choices, etc. However, most people buy no more than 2-3 such large portraits for a whole wedding.
Wedding Albums
While prints are cute, and can be used in scrap books to create artful collections, a professional wedding album is quite a show off tool. If your photographer has vision and is a talented album maker, the page compositions will be unique and breathtaking.
Fab Wedding Pricing
We believe we are the best value and quality in the Twin Cities for photography. In order to help you compare apples to apples when shopping for a wedding photographer, we have our recent collections and albums online for your viewing, we welcome you to our studio in Rosemount to see some albums for yourself, and even enjoy a free engagement photo session. Further, we offer our photo packages in both formats: photo shoot only or photo shoot and digital negatives.
The best value is the package deal (right column in green) where you decide up front to pay for the negatives on a CD. However, you could choose only the photo shoot (column A) and later think about whether you want to buy prints or get the CD and print yourself.
With all packages you can choose any one of the albums deal listed on the Wedding Albums page.
Wedding Photography Article
Finding The Perfect Wedding Photographer
Wedding Photography Article
Finding The Perfect Wedding Photographer
From: www.articlerich.com
You only have one shot at perfect pictures. If you choose the wrong photographer, your once-in-a-lifetime wedding pictures can be lost forever. Here are some tips for finding a great wedding photographer:
1. How experienced is this photographer? Does he specialize in wedding photography? While everyone needs to start somewhere, do you really want one to begin with your wedding, no matter how good the price? Choose a photographer who not only has experience with wedding photography, but who also can show you examples of his or her work at previous weddings.
2. What is the style of the photographer? Do his sample shots look the way you want your wedding photos to look? Look for a great mix of styles, from formal and posed to more casual and relaxed styles. Look for how the photographer uses light in the pictures. And look for a photographer who takes shots that you like.
3. Ask the photographer if he's the one who will be handing your wedding personally or if he plans to send a staff photographer. You have the right to know who you're going to be paying for. Asking in advance eliminates nasty surprises.
4. Do you like the photographer? If he's nasty or bossy or has a trait you don't care for, his presence - and direction for posed shots - can ruin your otherwise perfect day. There are plenty of photographers; pick one you can live with.
5. How does he dress? Is he well-groomed? And what does he intend to wear to the wedding? Especially if you have a dress code at the wedding venue, you need to be certain your photographer presents a certain appearance.
6. How expensive is this photographer? You don't have to choose the cheapest photographer, and probably should not, but you want someone in your price range. Get an idea of all his prices, including any reordered packages. And find out how long he keeps negatives. You may want to order more in five years.
7. How prompt is this photographer? How quickly will they get the proofs, pictures and albums back? Does he supply electronic media as well, or just printed photos?
8. Look carefully at the offered packages and a la carte deals. Are they the wedding photos you really want, or do you think you can do better with a different plan? Try to arrange a deal if you don't like any packages. If you're making a large order, your photographer should work with you.
9. How much time will he take photographing you and the wedding party at the event? You don't want someone who will take too few shots, but you also don't want to spend your entire wedding day in front of a camera. Ask how many different shots he takes on average as well.
10. Does the contract make sense to you? It should be clear, with everything addressed you've discussed with the photographer. You should feel that it's fair. Make sure deposits and cancellations are spelled out, as well as the photographer's not showing up. If you don't understand it, talk to a lawyer. This can be a very big investment, and you don't want to find yourself in a legal bind over it.
11. Use our Wedding Photo Worksheet to help you choose all the perfect photos for your wedding, quickly and easily. Go through the shots you want with the photographer, and make sure he's going to work with you.
12. Make sure you get references from previous clients, from the Better Business Bureau, from the Chamber of Commerce. Ask around at reception halls and churches the wedding photographer has worked at to see what they think. Is he a member of the Professional Photographers of America or another professional organization?
And one last thing: besides the wedding photographer, you really should have disposable cameras on the tables. You never know what's going to happen: the photographer not showing up, or being busy photographing the wedding party while Uncle Milt is doing that weird thing with his nose. Sometimes the photos taken by guests become the most treasured keepsakes from your wedding.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com
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