lost a wedding a while back

[Ray Marrero]

My wife's cousin was got married last weekend. She and another cousin had contacted me several months ago, about me photographing her wedding. It snowed hard the day I was to see her about pricing and show her my work, so I called to reschedule. They both insisted that they still wanted to meetm and before I knew it, they came over to my house. I was caught off guard a little and tried to ask questions about her wedding and such as I like to do, but her cousin just wanted the bottome line, "How much?" she kept interrupting. I would smile at her and continued the interview to see what I need to do. How many people are in your party? from what time to what time? Do you want me to cover the rehearsal dinner? .... and so on...

The cousin kept asking, "Yeah, but How much?" She seemed very bothered that I was trying to interview her cousin. Finally I gave in and gave her an awesome deal. Since she is my wife's cousin. I quoted x pictures, ans books, and coverage time for $1500.00.

Normally I would want in the neighborhood of $2100.00 - $2300.00 for what I was offering her.

No lie.... as soon as I said $1500.00 the cousin, who drove the bride-to-be over to my house jumps to her feet and says, "Okay, we gotta go."

They both said they would "let me know."

As soon as they left I was kicking myself for quoting such a low price. I know the work I have to do after the wedding.

Luckily.... They never called me back. I didn't follow up because I didn't really want to do it at such a low price.

Since I never heard from her, I assumed she found someone else. Today I saw the Cousin, and just asked her about the wedding, it was last weekend. She said it was good. I asked about the photographer. She said they found a photographer that did the wedding and a video with a bunch of pictures and albums for just $600.00.

I said, "That's crazy! I hope she saw his work. I would never do it for that price. Good luck to her."

I then told her I want to see the pictures when they are ready. she said she would let her know, but I doubt they want me to see them.

At first I was feeling bummed out, but actually, the other photographer did me a favor. They were price shopping, and would not make the best clients.

Thanks for listening.

[Wazza]

Sadly many are gripped by the dollar price, and not the quality of the prints and the professionalism of the photogapher themselves. I'd be thankful for not doing it.

[sugarzebra]

Be very thankfull as once you had accepted any money they would have been even worse:D

[coreypolis]

this is an all too uncommon problem these days. Anybody with a rebel or d70 thinks they are the hottest thing out there and agree to do it with no knowledge of what it takes to get the expected results.

the medium budget wedding photogs are at the most risk. the upper end will always have a certain clientele, but the mid and lower photogs are being uder cut by the new generation. Part of this is their own fault for their in ability to sell there services against their competition, and some of it is the bride and family who are overwhelmed with high bids on everything else and see a way to save some money

[liza]

This has happened to me twice in the past month, and I'm finding it very disheartening. People seem to want something for nothing.

[tim]

Some people really can't afford a good photographer, so they're not rejecting you, they simply can't afford it. Or perhaps they don't put much value on photography, I know some people don't. People get what they pay for, and we should be thankful when potentially troublesome customers go elsewhere.

[Airedale1]

Some people really can't afford a good photographer, so they're not rejecting you, they simply can't afford it. Or perhaps they don't put much value on photography, I know some people don't. People get what they pay for, and we should be thankful when potentially troublesome customers go elsewhere.

Amen.

[Rachellebee27]

:lol: My entire wedding budget was $4,000 5 years ago. I spent $300 (give or take $100) on my photographer who only gave me proofs and a few prints, and only photographed right after my ceremony (maybe an hour with no or next to no PP 'cause he shot in film). At that point in my life that was all that mattered, and I'm happy with what I got. You live you learn and you move on. I had a family member shoot the rest of the day, and I was happy with what he so kindly gave me as a wedding gift. Sure if I could go back I probably would have budgeted WAY more for photography, but then there wouldn't have been much to photograph. Maybe someday we'll do a recommitment ceremony, but then I'll probably follow around my photographer telling him what to do and how to shoot it.:rolleyes: Glad that you didn't wind up with that job, you probably would have been frustrated, and they probably wouldn't even really recognize what they could have had.

[tim]

Maybe someday we'll do a recommitment ceremony, but then I'll probably follow around my photographer telling him what to do and how to shoot it.

When I get married i'll choose my photographer because of their skills, and won't try to direct them in any way. Of course we'll go where we want to and do what we want to, but I'd hire someone for their skill and vision and then not get in the way of it.

[Rachellebee27]

When I get married i'll choose my photographer because of their skills, and won't try to direct them in any way. Of course we'll go where we want to and do what we want to, but I'd hire someone for their skill and vision and then not get in the way of it.
Of course, I probably would too, I'm just saying I'm that much of a control freak and tend to get in the way about this kind of thing, that's all.

But since we're on this subject, my wedding photographer (the guy who shot my wedding 5 years ago and the only pro photographer I've ever hired) called me last minute and asked me to think of what I wanted him to do and tell him on my day, I replied that we'd already been over that (apparently not clear enough) and I just wanted the typical whole guest list, all family, his side, her side, and some B&G shots. I got married in a LDS ceremony in a temple, so there was obviously no photography of our ceremony, but the style of wedding pictures directly after, on temple grounds tend to be very typical (think hundreds of thousands of photo's taken in the same busy 2 acre area a year, can't get very original in those conditions, LOL!). I was floored that he'd be trying to figure this out last minute because I thought we where already pretty clear, he also had some great portfolio shots that I still remember. I guess that's what you get for $3-400, but he got some really nice shots that I'll cherish forever, not because they are magnificent pieces of art, but because they are my hubby and I in those precious first moments of our marriage.

[AjP]

LOL, I had similar situation few times when couple refer to other photographer who can do it for 600-700, lol.. I usually tell them it is their wedding and up to them what quality pics they want... and there are no way to find any good even decent photographer who will do wedding for 600 with pics and albums..

and honestly, when coule go below 1000 and trying to get pics, albums etc...I nicely find a way not to do that wedding

"You get what you pay for....."

[emmy]

:lol: My entire wedding budget was $4,000 5 years ago. I spent $300 (give or take $100)...Sure if I could go back I probably would have budgeted WAY more for photography, but then there wouldn't have been much to photograph.

Yeah, this is going to be me someday. I think I'm going to spend $3,500 on the photographer and get married in my neighbor's garden shed. We'll say it's a rustic theme.

[staciecd]

It's tough and I feel for the bride. Things are very expensive and even being on the forum, it's hard to put the price into perspective. Be glad that you didn't take it not only for the low price, but the extremely rude cousin.

Stacie

[TooManyHobbies]

Besides the fact that there are people out there who can't afford the price, there are new wedding photographers, like me, who need to build their portfollio and so are willing to do it very cheap with advertising rights. You have to break in somehow.

On the other hand, I think it was stupid for them to take the attitude they did and not completely understand the differences in equipment quality, experience, portfolio quality, services, and options provided. To top it off you are a professional and a relative so they should have had some respect.

[coreypolis]

For our own wedding last december, we were originally going to fly some of mypeers from Brooks Institute of up to shoot it, but with the cost of travel, hotel etc it didn't seem worth it. So we had our friends who were pro wedding photographers do it. Since its off season and we were friends, we negotiated it down from $4200+ as their base package to $1000. For that we received all the files from 3 photographers shooting all day, (1500 shots from one couple and another 500 from another), but no prints or post processing etc. That was fine for us, we could do the edits and the printing ourselves, but almost 6 months later we still haven't.

This is all we've done with them so far:
http://polisphotography.com/Ourwedding/

[Actionphotog]

WEll Pricing a weeding package has alot to do with the area you live in.
In my area $600 is like way out of most peoples budget.
I have "a la carte" packages for $175 with select photos taken and printed.
Then i have the $350 packages for each event 'Ceremony', 'Formals' and so on.
With these packages they each get a proof album.
I live in a very Rural area. I've even received calls from the DC area to do weddings with 'a la Carte' packages ....... A job is a job and money is money

[dmp-potn]

Hello,

Since we started our portrait photography business, I've realized that we provide a level of service to others that we rarely, if ever, provide to our own family. The work that goes into a portrait session (and especially a big event like a wedding), especially including the post production, printing, framing, binding into albums, etc. is significant. I know that to get photos of our family together, we really should higher a photographer, but that's tough to do when photography is what we do for a living. :-)

[Ray Marrero]

Yes, a job is a job and money is money. But, when I am used to getting a certain price for a job it's hard to go lower, even for family. Yet I still do it, but it's never enough, they seem to want it for free.

I find it funny how some people can give total strangers the price they ask for to do a job, be it photography or fixing your car, yet when family can do the same job, they want a discount. It should be the reverse. Since you are my family, I want to take care of you and pay you what the job deserves. Just make sure you do a good job.

Oh well.

[tdaugharty]

Concur (Kinda) - This happens to me a lot when performing photography services for the school or scouts for my children. I'm asked to bring in the pricy equipment thus to produce the best possible image so why the price pinching?

As of late I'm working freelance to support gear desire while the day job keeps the house standing. This works well and I shoot when time permits. Mainly shoot with a network of professionals doing wedding work and stock image sells (North GA is a beautiful place).

So the general rule for me has become; cash in advance for wedding work (Time) and any addtional prints I split the profit (Honor System).

Family? Of course! In the end that's what counts for me. My time is free and I'll pay for studio time once a year. They can buy the prints at cost online. (Maybe not a cousin but certainly an immediate member)

I hope I never loose a wedding when and if I ever leave the day job to make mortage with my camera but hey it can happen to anyone.

Yes, a job is a job and money is money. But, when I am used to getting a certain price for a job it's hard to go lower, even for family. Yet I still do it, but it's never enough, they seem to want it for free.

I find it funny how some people can give total strangers the price they ask for to do a job, be it photography or fixing your car, yet when family can do the same job, they want a discount. It should be the reverse. Since you are my family, I want to take care of you and pay you what the job deserves. Just make sure you do a good job.

Oh well.

[Stan43]

I agree with Tim as far as some people wanting to fit a budget. If you are confident in your abilities and deliver quality befitting your price range that's the best you can do. People should know you get what you pay for. If expectations match the results at any level both parties should be OK.