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04/07/2007 01:20:58 PM · #1 |
Hi everyone,
I'm still rather new to this site but am enjoying it greatly.
Right now, however, is a bigger challenge- Finding a photographer for our wedding in the Poconos in May of 2008. If there is anyone on this site that is an experienced wedding photographer or knows of some wedding photographers that you could refer to us in the New Jersey- NE Pennsy area, I would be very greatly appreciated.
A lot of the photographers we've looked at already, just weren't very impressive or were just down right EXPENSIVE! Highway robbery some of these people are committing. One of them was going to charge $2000.00 just to take photos- that didn't included getting anything, that was just for him to show up.
That's a story for another day I guess, but right now- I appreciate anyone who can help us out in the hell of wedding planning.
Message edited by author 2007-04-07 13:24:39. |
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04/07/2007 01:24:05 PM · #2 |
| welllll...im 16 now and ill be 17 then and i need to get a good portfolio for college ready and ill also be getting my camera within the month...you may want to hire a professional...but ill do it for free along side of him...youll get twice the photos and ill get a good chance to improve my portfolio...everything will be free except disks and post processing of course give me a date and ill let you know |
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04/07/2007 01:25:10 PM · #3 |
You've got plenty of time to work this one out. ;)
Just keep interviewing photographers. You may even find a few nearby through here. |
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04/07/2007 01:30:13 PM · #4 |
i am a nearby...i live in new tripoi PA, about an hour-hour 1/2 from poconos
dont judge me by my recent entrys they were taken with a P&S ot a Dslr
Message edited by author 2007-04-07 13:30:40. |
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04/08/2007 06:53:47 PM · #5 |
Jib,
I do appreciate your interest and urge to get together a great wedding portfolio. Although it is a hard offer to refuse, due to the great pricing!- The only problem is having the coordination with the videography, the hired photographer and the MC. I have done a few weddings and believe me when I say that someone will always be in front of the other for the better shot. I have had many occaions where we both see the shot, move in to capture it (speaking of the videographer and I) and you are practically throwing the other person out of the way to keep your position. IT's WAR OUT THERE MAN!
Like I said- I really do appreciate the offer, and if anything changes I will definitely be in touch. We do have over a year to see what happens. Perhaps it will turn out to be an offer I can't turn down. Besides, I really wouldn't mind helping out a fellow aspiring photographer. We'll see that happens with the year to come.
Originally posted by Jib:
welllll...im 16 now and ill be 17 then and i need to get a good portfolio for college ready and ill also be getting my camera within the month...you may want to hire a professional...but ill do it for free along side of him...youll get twice the photos and ill get a good chance to improve my portfolio...everything will be free except disks and post processing of course give me a date and ill let you know |
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04/08/2007 07:35:41 PM · #6 |
As a wedding photog you generally get what you pay for. Unless you get an up and comer that has not got the market or confidence to charge the 'going rate'.
I'm on the other end of the state in a county near Pittsburgh- here $2000 is normal. In Pittsburgh it's more like $3500. Move to the middle of the state and $1000-1500 is more common - so the market matters a great deal.
For the $2000...how many hours, one shooter or two, assitants, studio lights for formals if needed, what gear was he going to use? I'd pay more for a 1D and L glass than someone shooting a rebel and kit lens (and I know many photogs that use rebels and charge too much IMO, but still get 40 weddings a year). I know that if they chose a 1D over
I keep upping my price - for many reasons, but as I do I get more respect, prettier weddings, and less hassle. The same work, for more money...duh, i'd be rather stupid if I didn't raise my prices!
The poconos is a vacation/resort area and that may very well be a market thing that keeps the prices higher. Check Scranton or other areas not too far away. If your shopping for Memorial Day weekend expect to pay top dollar as well as the long weekends often book up first and never get discounted.
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04/08/2007 07:35:47 PM · #7 |
You should PM  Prof_Fate. He's in PA, but I dunno exactly where. |
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04/10/2007 07:50:48 PM · #8 |
Thanks Prof_Fate. Lots of words of wisdom to adhere by. I definitely know that you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to experienced photographers, photographers that have an assembly of junior photographers who photograph under their name or the individual who shoots (which is usually the most expensive). To get a good name, yes you are going to pay the price.
I am looking for someone near the Easton,PA/Phillipsburg,NJ area. The prices should be somewhat moderate with little travel time for them.
I have lots of family members who photograph and I know that sometimes it's better to get from them than from the professional. So I'm counting on some good photos there too.
Keep an ear out for me, someone with a 1D would be great but come on- I'll settle for a D80 with some nice equipment! Not looking for the studio- everything on site at Cerempny and Reception and some with the Bride prior to. If there are two photographers, than one with the bride and one with the groom.
Thank you for you words of wisdom and like I said, please keep an ear out on the North-East side of PA.
Message edited by author 2007-04-10 23:23:25. |
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04/12/2007 09:18:24 AM · #9 |
| Be careful relying on family members. Most photog don't allow others to be shooting. I did my first wedding last Sat, the first thing I did when I got home was change my contract for future weddings to include a no other photog clause. Its not becuase Im a jerk or don't think others can get nice shots. My reason was when I got home and looked at my photos, my would be favorite of the flower girls walking down the aisle was completely ruined. I had great light and was shooting from behind them. I got what I wanted except there is some family member directly in front of the girls taking a photo. Not quite the background that makes for great photos. I never want to have to jocky for position at a gig that Im hired for. |
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04/12/2007 09:29:57 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by Jmnuggy:
Be careful relying on family members. Most photog don't allow others to be shooting. I did my first wedding last Sat, the first thing I did when I got home was change my contract for future weddings to include a no other photog clause. Its not becuase Im a jerk or don't think others can get nice shots. My reason was when I got home and looked at my photos, my would be favorite of the flower girls walking down the aisle was completely ruined. I had great light and was shooting from behind them. I got what I wanted except there is some family member directly in front of the girls taking a photo. Not quite the background that makes for great photos. I never want to have to jocky for position at a gig that Im hired for. |
My sister does weddings and she gets the MC to announce that she will take her photos first and then will allow guests to take their happy snaps while she is setting up for the next group photo. Works well for her. |
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04/12/2007 09:39:25 AM · #11 |
| this was during the ceremony. No one got in my way for the group shots. |
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04/15/2007 09:24:34 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Jmnuggy:
Be careful relying on family members. Most photog don't allow others to be shooting. I did my first wedding last Sat, the first thing I did when I got home was change my contract for future weddings to include a no other photog clause. Its not becuase Im a jerk or don't think others can get nice shots. My reason was when I got home and looked at my photos, my would be favorite of the flower girls walking down the aisle was completely ruined. I had great light and was shooting from behind them. I got what I wanted except there is some family member directly in front of the girls taking a photo. Not quite the background that makes for great photos. I never want to have to jocky for position at a gig that Im hired for. |
Good advice that I will have to abide by. Thanks |
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04/15/2007 09:32:12 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Jmnuggy:
Be careful relying on family members. Most photog don't allow others to be shooting. I did my first wedding last Sat, the first thing I did when I got home was change my contract for future weddings to include a no other photog clause. Its not becuase Im a jerk or don't think others can get nice shots. My reason was when I got home and looked at my photos, my would be favorite of the flower girls walking down the aisle was completely ruined. I had great light and was shooting from behind them. I got what I wanted except there is some family member directly in front of the girls taking a photo. Not quite the background that makes for great photos. I never want to have to jocky for position at a gig that Im hired for. |
My friends and family pretty much expect that I'm going to be taking photos in addition to the hired photographer. I usually make a point of introducing myself and letting them know it's perfectly fine to ask me to step aside if I'm in the way, and we talk a little shop, compare cameras, and everyone is cool. The last thing I want to do is hijack the gig, and I'm probably taking very different pictures anyway. I know my work was nothing like that of the hired gun at the last wedding I was in. Mostly it's stuff like this. But then, I'm also not an aisle-jumper like what you describe.
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04/15/2007 09:59:32 PM · #14 |
Rebecca-
You do very nice work. You take photos that make the viewer want to examine a bit more and see what details you have in hidden in there. Seem like very technical photos. Good eye.
That's kinda what I'm looking for in a wedding photographer here on the east coast. Someone that isn't afraid to experiment a bit but has the ability to capture the traditional photos as well. Can I find that for under $2000.00? |
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04/15/2007 10:08:10 PM · #15 |
I should add - I didn't seek that photo out. My friends were drunk and punchy. They'd picked apart one of the bridesmaid's bouquets and stuck them in their hair and begged me to take a picture of it. And they were the ones who suggested the desaturation, too. The sepia toning and vignetting were my additions, but well... I guess the point is that there are photos that the hired guns just can't get because they're usually outsiders. My friends would have never begged this photo off the pro, and I think that's probably true for most crowds. At the end of the day, we're all just having fun at the party.
The next wedding I'm supposedly invited to is in November, and I plan to shoot that one entirely with a high ISO b/w film and a Holga. Again, I am no match for the hired pro.
Message edited by author 2007-04-15 22:09:03.
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04/15/2007 10:22:52 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by Rebecca:
I should add - I didn't seek that photo out. My friends were drunk and punchy. They'd picked apart one of the bridesmaid's bouquets and stuck them in their hair and begged me to take a picture of it. And they were the ones who suggested the desaturation, too. The sepia toning and vignetting were my additions, but well... I guess the point is that there are photos that the hired guns just can't get because they're usually outsiders. My friends would have never begged this photo off the pro, and I think that's probably true for most crowds. At the end of the day, we're all just having fun at the party.
The next wedding I'm supposedly invited to is in November, and I plan to shoot that one entirely with a high ISO b/w film and a Holga. Again, I am no match for the hired pro. |
Where is this wedding at? I would be honored if you'd post a few for me to see. I think you'll do great and have some unique opportunities again. It's true, that freinds will always have the inside scoop when it comes to good spontanious photos like that. & it doesn't hurt have some skills either! |
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04/15/2007 10:30:11 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by LaMas:
Originally posted by Rebecca:
I should add - I didn't seek that photo out. My friends were drunk and punchy. They'd picked apart one of the bridesmaid's bouquets and stuck them in their hair and begged me to take a picture of it. And they were the ones who suggested the desaturation, too. The sepia toning and vignetting were my additions, but well... I guess the point is that there are photos that the hired guns just can't get because they're usually outsiders. My friends would have never begged this photo off the pro, and I think that's probably true for most crowds. At the end of the day, we're all just having fun at the party.
The next wedding I'm supposedly invited to is in November, and I plan to shoot that one entirely with a high ISO b/w film and a Holga. Again, I am no match for the hired pro. |
Where is this wedding at? I would be honored if you'd post a few for me to see. I think you'll do great and have some unique opportunities again. It's true, that freinds will always have the inside scoop when it comes to good spontanious photos like that. & it doesn't hurt have some skills either! |
The wedding will be in Chicago. I have to fly from Denver to attend. But the bride is one of my best friends from when I lived in Illinois a few years ago, and I don't get to hang out with that crowd so much anymore.
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04/15/2007 10:32:09 PM · #18 |
| Well I hope you have a great time and capture some truely unique moments. |
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