Registered User
No it's not just you. It's what worries me most about choosing a wedding photographer. Considering they charge up to and beyond $2000 for a package.... and that's mid-range... im planning a wedding away from where we are getting married so have to hope the photographers internet gallery is honest to the true nature of their work.
Registered User
and thats why I don't pay anyone to take our pics anymore.
I did get pro ones taken of my sons.. Ds1 was 4 and Ds2 was 10 months. We paid just over $300 for them and I love them
I don't think I would do it again as I have a hard enough time getting pics of the 4 kids together so I can't see how a stranger would have better luck
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
I'm still upset about our wedding photographer. I need to contact him re: getting album made, but just too upset about shots he missed that I expressly asked for. I only have 1 shot of me and Mum on my wedding day - makes me cry every time I think about it
Should have gone with an AIPP one.
Registered User
What I have learnt is you get what you pay for in that business. We paid nearly $3k all up for our wedding pics nearly 10yrs ago and they are gorgeous pics and worth every penny, but two different friends of ours and DH's brother went with the cheaper option of getting a 'semi' professional - someone who did photography on the side and they got ripped off. One group of friends don't even have their photo album, only about 1 dozen shots and they got married 8 months after we did! The other friends photographer only took 2 rolls of film and BIL and SIL can't even bare to look at their photos they are that bad! Now I know there are a lot of wonderful photographers out there who don't charge a lot, but when choosing someone you should always aske to have a look at their previous work and ask what their refund policy is if you aren't happy with the photos - plus these days we have the benefit of the internet so if you want to double check, google their name and look for independent testimonials about the photographer as they aren't going to put bad ones on their website kwim?
Registered User
We just paid 2500 for photographers for our wedding. They do a FANTASTIC job, (friends of ours used them for their wedding) but I think this baby is going to be Earth Side before we get our photos back. They're so damn slow! They are a hubby & wife team with 6 kids... but I'm impatient ^^;
Registered User
My brother is a professional photographer and he gets frustrated at people who want cheap photos but expect the earth and the opinion that some people have that anyone with a camera can be a photographer!
I agree that you need to look at their previous work and expect to pay a fair bit of money if you want really great photos.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds.
It's also up to you to check out the quality of their previous work. Good photographers have folios and albums to show you when you book, and there is no harm asking if they have actual qualifications.
My SIL did this - bought herself a noice camera, took a few decent shots of her kids and decided she must therefore be a professional. Advertised her services and everything. She asked me if I wanted some shots of DD when she was tiny (for her 'folio' too of course) - they were bloody appalling, and it was then I realised she had no idea what she was doing apart from aiming her lens in the general direction of the subject and pressing the button.
Light? Depth of field? No idea - she hadn't even done a basic course at the local tafe ffs....
Registered User
I hope you were honest with her, Lulu
Registered User
I'm a hobby photographer who would some day like to be able to get the equipment and training and make a full-time job of it.
I've done a wedding for free for some friends who were on a tight budget. I made it clear that I've never done it before (and I do this for anyone I take photos for). I don't pretend to be a professional at all.
I let people see my work which I have on the computer - I'm about to put together a hard copy portfolio.
I've just been asked by some other friends to do their wedding in 12 months time and they want to pay me for it - again, I'll make it clear that I've only done one wedding and I'm not a professional. They have seen some of my work on the internet and are happy with what they've seen and have told me they don't necessarily want really "professional" looking shots - they only want a few formal photos but the rest of the time they want lots of candid shots that capture the emotion of the day (that's the sort of photography I love more than posed photos).
It's so nerve racking though...especially because this will be my first paid job. I don't want to charge too much because I don't want them to feel "ripped off" if they aren't exactly how they wanted them, but I don't want to undercut myself either because I know that I'll spend probably 100+ hours editing, plus probably 20 hours planning before the wedding.
But I certainly don't go around pretending I'm a professional.
If people are doing a photoshoot for you and you've got specific outcomes in mind I think it's important to make it clear what you expect of them before hand and the photographer should have a contract which both they and you sign to cover themselves and also so that you as the client are clear about what you're getting - especially when it comes to wedding photos.
It's things like "fake professional photographers" that make it harder people like me who would one day like to call themselves "professional" to break into the industry - but I think it's best to be honest and upfront about your ability as a photographer.
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