Questions about looking for a wedding photographer

I guess this is both a services needed, and an advice topic. I posted in services needed to see if any POTN members fit the bill of what I am looking for, but I also had some questions about the process.

I am getting married in Philadelphia on June 5th, 2016, and we are currently in the market for photography for the event. I guess I underestimated how much photography would cost (my own fault), but we booked a venue that was towards the top of our budget so I am trying to be as fiscal as possible with our vendors going forward. Our current best option is George Street Photography, who were recommended vendors on our venues website. It is a pretty unique location, so I was going to try to go with a recommended vendor since they would know the location. Their prices start at $1,700, which seems to be at the lowest end of all the recommended vendors on the site.

I tried seeing if they were flexible at all with their packages (maybe slim some time off of the 8 hour package, etc) but their packages were all set times and prices, so I am trying to see if I can find someone who will do a more flexible photography package and still get high quality results. I will not be needing prints or an album etc, and can be flexible with how much time the photographer is on site if it will help save some money. I basically just wanted to throw this topic out there to see what my options were, or if anyone knew of a more affortable way to go about looking for a photographer without spending 3 or 4 thousand dollars!

Thanks in advance!

Best, Rick

First, congratulations on the upcoming wedding Rick - I'm sure it will go well.

I don't shoot in that area but I'm sure you'll be getting some helpful responses soon. It sounds like you're essentially looking for high quality, hi-rez JPGs or TIFFs on a disk or USB Drive, with some editing/post processing. There are folks who will do this for you. Perhaps if you indicated a budget range potential vendors could submit their proposals.

I'm pretty sure George Street is the group I came across the other day while browsing Craigslist. They are a middle man type group that books jobs for photographers. Not sure if that would provide the most bang for your buck.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #17674939
I'm pretty sure George Street is the group I came across the other day while browsing Craigslist. They are a middle man type group that books jobs for photographers. Not sure if that would provide the most bang for your buck.

Agreed, which is why I am looking for other options. That is exactly how they work

Do you live in the area or at least state you are getting married in? If so hit up CL under creative services and see what is listed, I know our area has everything from free to high end people posting. That's just one idea. Try posting on CL in creative services needed, granted you will have to do some research and what not on people that reply but you never know you could find exactly what your looking for.

i sent you a PM rick. I'm in your area, I will shoot weddings and i could be flexible with my rates and times to meet your budget.

Littlejon Dsgn wrote in post #17675196
Do you live in the area or at least state you are getting married in? If so hit up CL under creative services and see what is listed, I know our area has everything from free to high end people posting. That's just one idea. Try posting on CL in creative services needed, granted you will have to do some research and what not on people that reply but you never know you could find exactly what your looking for.

+1

You should be able to get someone decent under $1,000 or close to it for 8hrs on CL. You will have to interview them and check their work. A decent agreement will be a good sign they know what they are doing. Many people do it on the side "under the table" so they don't have to charge as much.You will generally get what you pay for though. You just gotta find the best with your budget. Be wary of the ones who offer all of the raw files for free with full copyrights on a disc. In my experience, those people are just someone with a dslr. I came across one and checked her facebook. Someone asked her what camera she was using in a comment and she said she had no idea. And this girl was charging people on craigslist!

Also make sure to get a written signed contract which spells out the services you will receive as well as what is expected of you, the client. Find out if the photographer has backup equipment. It doesn't have to be fancy, just something to save the day if his main gear fails. This will also give you an idea of that person's professionalism.

Ok first of all, I have never seen the work of the photographer you mentioned

but from experience, a LOT of the venue recommended vendors are garbage, the venue sadly has no interest in getting good photos for you, only benefits for themselves, whether this means recommending whoever pays them the most or who can supply them with decent marketing material.

Not saying this is all of them though, I'm just saying going by the venue's recommendation doesn't necessarily equate to getting a decent vendor. Especially a service as personal and important as photography.

I would pick a good photographer over an experienced photographer any day. If the photographer is good, you shouldn't worry if he's never been to the venue as a good photographer would know how to handle any situation.

Will Chao wrote in post #17688332
...............I would pick a good photographer over an experienced photographer any day. If the photographer is good, you shouldn't worry if he's never been to the venue as a good photographer would know how to handle any situation.

Will, I suspect we are on the same page in our views but don't discount experience. A good photographer is just that - good in his/her craft, understanding exposure, composition and being in command of the equipment. An experienced photographer though is all that and more, somebody who knows his way around a wedding, how to deal with people, keep things under control, and be a helpful facilitator when it is needed. Those traits will show in quality results

sapearl wrote in post #17689334
Will, I suspect we are on the same page in our views but don't discount experience. A good photographer is just that - good in his/her craft, understanding exposure, composition and being in command of the equipment. An experienced photographer though is all that and more, somebody who knows his way around a wedding, how to deal with people, keep things under control, and be a helpful facilitator when it is needed. Those traits will show in quality results

Yes I do believe we are on the same page, I guess my main point is that a good photographer (with proven work) is normally pretty experienced, but an experienced photographer isn't necessarily good

Will Chao wrote in post #17690988
Yes I do believe we are on the same page, I guess my main point is that a good photographer (with proven work) is normally pretty experienced, but an experienced photographer isn't necessarily good

Understood - we are on the same page. A minor difference in semantics but we mean the same thing