Wedding Photog needed for 7/29/10

[RKEinSD]

I am in need of a wedding photographer for my wedding July, 29th (Thursday) 2010. My fiance and I will be getting married at the Cuvier Bowl, and then heading to a restaurant for a reception dinner. I am thinking that we will just be needing a photographer for an hour or so... just for the ceremony as I will have a friend taking pics before the ceremony, and I think she'll be shooting pics at the dinner. It is going to be a small, informal ceremony - but I still want lots of beautiful pics!

Naturally, we have a budget - but I am unsure of how much to spend on an hour of photography? I will also be open to newer photographers... reduced rates if they are looking to add/create photos to start a wedding portfolio... (I don't know how else to word asking someone to provide gratis work in return for experience... :oops:)

Pls let me know if you have any further questions...
Thank you

[-MJ-]

It's good to start planning early. I live in SD and I am pretty new to photography I shot my first wedding last month to be exact (unhired). I created a thread here on potn: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=752699

They also hired local photogs 5byseven and they did a phenomenal job, the wedding was @ Admiral Kidd in Point Loma and you can check out their work here. http://5byseven.com/ I really love their engagement photos. If anything hire them for those.

I wouldn't mind shooting for you next year, but the thing is I have no clue of my schedule because I had just graduated nursing school and i just took the nclex exam, (still waiting on results). I wont know how things will work out and I dont want to make promises I cant keep.

Another thing to keep in mind is, if you want any editing done to the one hour's worth of photos, which will most likely be more than one hour of work.

[RKEinSD]

Hi MJ... thanks so much for the reply, and for the info! I've been lurking in the wedding section of POTN for the past several months, and I remember coming across your photos... actually showed them to my fiance as I recognized the San Diego skyline. Your photos were great! And, Congrats on doing your first wedding!

Good point regarding the fact that post processing will add more work hrs to the photos.

Congrats of graduating nursing school and taking your NCLEX... I'll cross my fingers for your results (shouldn't take too long? I remember I got my results in 24-48hrs?) I've been a RN for four years now, and I LOVE my career - its such a wonderful, and rewarding job.

[evolved]

http://www.hassasphotography.blogspot.com/ if I lived in the area, he'd be shooting my wedding. Don't skimp the the photographer... your flowers die, cake gets eaten, but your photo's will last forever.

[RKEinSD]

Thank you for your advice evolved... you brought up the exact point that I've been grappling with. I agree that I just need to go ahead and book a GREAT photographer. But I am at least hoping to find one that won't be more than the other combined facets of the wedding... The blog that you shared is amazing. I just don't think I can spend $3000+

[Nyobie]

Ditto the comments made by evolved - go simple on things like flowers that are tremendously over priced due to the seasonal nature of some and the mark-up needed for the care and handling required to keep them looking nice throughout the transportation process. Photos last forever and those are something you will never regret having spent a small fortune on.

Also to the comment about an hours worth of work - the ability of the photographer to post process is worth much more than you might realize. See if you can find a photographer that shoots strictly in RAW image format. Shooting strictly in jpgs doesn't allow the flexibility you have with RAW format. I'd never consider shooting anything but RAW for a wedding. Memory cards are cheap for the flexibility you can gain with post-processing. AND, don't let anyone fool you. Someone willing to spend several hours post processing a couple hundred images of your day isn't going to be cheap and if it is cheap, buyer beware. You often get what you pay for. Don't let your special day be ruined by high expectations of a newbee. Not that a newbee isn't capable of shooting phenomenal photos, it's just that the likelihood that you'll be 100% satisfied might diminish with the experience level of whom you hire.

Ask for sample work and interview several people if you're really tight on budget. See if you can find someone who also has a backup camera. Equipment failures on your special day wouldn't be a good thing either.

Congrats on your engagement! With this much of a head start with your plans, you're bound to find someone you're comfortable with!

[korrektor]

just throwing my name out there. ;)

[RKEinSD]

Thank you very much Nyobie for your very insightful post... all information that I needed to hear, and taken well to heart. As we are having a very small wedding... without many of the shenanigans (not judging, just stating) that traditional weddings have... I have a feeling that the photographer/photos will be a VERY important part of the day. Thank you for reminding me of that.

And Korrektor - lets chat, or perhaps PM soon! I have admired your photos in the People section of POTN, and I always get a kick out of your responses to posts (yep - I've been lurking for a few months...) I consider your work to be top-notch and very inspiring. I've checked out your website/blog - everything looks great.

[nuffi]

Another thing you should be very careful of: When you're looking at ppl's folios, try to get a feeling for how they will interact with your particular crowd, and also get a feel for how good they will be at posing people; both in terms of their rapport with the group and their skill at making interesting group shots, portraits etc.

I've seen quite a few ppl who've done several weddings as a second tog, but when they got out on their own they learned that there was a whole new side of things that they had no experience with. Many didn't float fast enough. :(

[cpforyou]

Throwing my name out there. I've send you a private message.

[JVS]

Nooooooo, hire me! I only charge 1 dollar/hour! xD

[Ziffle]

ditto on the 'asked' about back up equipment....

Even if you are saying about an hour of shooting - i would bet more to 2-3 hours of shooting.

Not really sure it is good to have 1 photog for pre/after or engagement shots and another for actual ceremony.

If it was me - i would want to be there for it all. This keeps continuity in photos and i would also get a better connection between my clients and i.

also ... don't skimp out on engagement shots.... this is an opportunity for the photog and clients to get to know each other.

Congrats and later.....

Mark

[RKEinSD]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond to my post, and either offering your services or advice. I have a prospect that I am very excited about, so I am going to put this thread to rest now.