A blog for brides about saving money on wedding photography -- thoughts??

[AlexMoPhotography]

http://ineedweddinghelp.com/wedding-photography.html

[Red Tie Photography]

Interesting, but I dont think he is giving any new/very good advice. On his first point, hire someone "without the fancy title" is, in my opinion, not close to smart. He also mentions that he has heard horror stories related to wedding photography, and from the majority that I have heard, its because people dont hire a pro. I mean, who really needs insurance, backup gear, knowledge of how a wedding goes, pp skills? Those are all just in the title, as long as a mom wants to make some more money with her DSLR on the weekends, she is more than qualified to do that. BAD ADVICE.

In regards to his second post, about getting a CD. I think for wedding photography this has turned into the norm now? I havent met very many photographers that still have the old "buy prints after the wedding" plan in place. For portrait sale, yes. For weddings, I think its outdated.

I wonder if he is trying to give this advice just to stir publicity for himself. He is by no means a revolutionary saying anything new or intelligent.

[Red Tie Photography]

Edit, it looks like this may be a woman writing it (at least I guess by the name Sarah Evans)

[PeaceFire]

I love the guy who comments that he will beat any quote. Haha, I am so tempted to post:

"Contact me and I'll quote you $100 for a full day of shooting plus a disc of high resolution images with a full print release. Then you can email John and get him to beat this quote."

[JWright]

Only one comment on the blog since 2009? I wonder if the negative comments are being deleted?

EDIT: OK, I made a comment. We'll see if it gets posted.

[Red Tie Photography]

The more I look through this site, the more I am disappointed. I dont think this has been a big blog, or at least I hope not. Really poor organization, more ads than content, and a bad layout. I think this thread is going to erupt into a volcano of bickering over someone who never really held any traction.

[DingAnSich]

this is an awful post.. agree with bryan.."fancy title" are you kidding me. you are not really a photographer right? this is a joke blog created by some super troll or something right? if you, OP, are an actual professional with any self-awareness, you should be distancing yourself from anything like this not promoting it. if not for you do it for your reputation.

[AlexMoPhotography]

this is an awful post.. agree with bryan.."fancy title" are you kidding me. you are not really a photographer right? this is a joke blog created by some super troll or something right? if you, OP, are an actual professional with any self-awareness, you should be distancing yourself from anything like this not promoting it. if not for you do it for your reputation.
By posting it here, if a bride sees it, they'll read all the comments made by GOOD photographers and realize the article is a mockery on the wedding industry.

Anyway, I forget where I found it, but I was utterly disgusted by it. The article is completely ridiculous, but people sometimes just believe whatever they read without thinking.

Perhaps we can take a stronger stand on educating today's bride about the true pros and cons between hiring a professional vs a guy that just bought a Rebel. I'm making a concerted effort to post educational material on my blog at least once a month, and I think we should all do the same, or something similar.

[PeaceFire]

Well, what she doesn't mention is that by hiring a pro you risk your pictures being absolutely crap. Everyone has to start somewhere and I don't think there's anything wrong in hiring a new photographer if you truly do not have the budget, but don't expect your photos to be any good. If you think photography is important- pay the price and get a pro. There's no need to be cheap about it and skimp on that part if you don't absolutely have to!

[snakeman55]

As a few people said in a recent, related thread. People that get some friend to do it know what they're doing most of the time. It's not like they're debating between Jasmine Star and their neighbor.

The people that are willing to sacrifice pro quality photos are going to no matter what we tell them.

Conversely, people that are dead set on hiring the 'best' are the same way. One of my upcoming weddings' bride's told me her friend just got engaged and she was telling her about me, but the girl was dead set on hiring someone close to 10k in price. My client actually tried to talk her out of it, but she was adamant, and 10k is apparently a big chunk of her budget.

Bottom line, people are going to do what they're going to do.

[PeaceFire]

Who even charges 10K!? I feel like that really limits your options.

[snakeman55]

Who even charges 10K!? I feel like that really limits your options.

I guess the whole package is close to 10K, but I agree. At that level, you're paying for someone who's fabulous, not just great images.

Around here, up to 5k, quality is commensurate with price, but after that you're buying into gimmicks.

[FlyingPhotog]

Has anyone ever asked or determined how much the Lithuanian gentleman (who's name escapes me .. Alexandras?) charges for his outstanding level of quality?

[PixelMagic]

Well, what she doesn't mention is that by hiring a pro you risk your pictures being absolutely crap.

Heh.... :D

[tim]

I'd pay $10K for an outstanding photographer, if I needed to, but my favorite local photographers are more reasonable than that. Photos are important to me. You could probably spend US$10K with a local photographer in NZ, but it'd take some effort.

[Kapture1]

Bad bad advise. My wife and I went with her younger sister, none of the photos look professionally done. All of them are out of focus, and there wasnt any imagination in the sets, no intimate secession, and no album. Knowing what I know now about photography, I would have shelled out the extra money and had a professional shoot it.