Holy crud, wedding photography is insane!

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
My girl dropped the ball on me that a photographer would cost 1500-2000 bucks for a cheap one. A "better" one would be 3-4 grand. She then mentioned that her family should be covering the cost.

Still, thats insane. Thats like the cost of the ring. I'd rather spend 1500 on a digital camera + accessories and take my own pictures.
 

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
15,943
475
126
Yep, my fiancee found the same thing when she started looking a few weeks ago. She and her mom settled on someone, but I don't know the exact cost.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
You're paying for the photographer's talent (if you get a good one)
 

virtuamike

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2000
7,845
13
81
Originally posted by: TallBill
My girl dropped the ball on me that a photographer would cost 1500-2000 bucks for a cheap one. A "better" one would be 3-4 grand. She then mentioned that her family should be covering the cost.

Still, thats insane. Thats like the cost of the ring. I'd rather spend 1500 on a digital camera + accessories and take my own pictures.

It's not just the camera. Indoor photography is extremely difficult even with $1500 in equipment. Majority of wedding photographers are running around with $5000 in just lenses and bodies (tack on flashes, power packs, brackets, tripods etc and it goes up and up and up). And on top of that, you need to know how to use all the stuff and what key moments to look for. Besides, this is your wedding. It's a once in a lifetime event (for most people). Do you really want to half-ass it?
 

Wanescotting

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2004
3,219
0
76
A wedding is a ceremony. ceremonies are created for 2 reasons: control, or to make someone money.
I am not saying that weddings are a bad thing, they just fall into the "make someone money catagory".

I am all about getting married at the local JP on my next go round.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: virtuamike
Originally posted by: TallBill
My girl dropped the ball on me that a photographer would cost 1500-2000 bucks for a cheap one. A "better" one would be 3-4 grand. She then mentioned that her family should be covering the cost.

Still, thats insane. Thats like the cost of the ring. I'd rather spend 1500 on a digital camera + accessories and take my own pictures.

It's not just the camera. Indoor photography is extremely difficult even with $1500 in equipment. Majority of wedding photographers are running around with $5000 in just lenses and bodies (tack on flashes, power packs, brackets, tripods etc and it goes up and up and up). And on top of that, you need to know how to use all the stuff and what key moments to look for. Besides, this is your wedding. It's a once in a lifetime event (for most people). Do you really want to half-ass it?

I'd rather like 10% ass it. The whole big wedding thing is silly, and I'm steering away from that. I'd be fine having a bbq in my back yard with music playing off of my computer. Of course, that will never happen, but still. I just dont really care about my wedding day.
 

FleshLight

Diamond Member
Mar 18, 2004
6,883
0
71
Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: virtuamike
Originally posted by: TallBill
My girl dropped the ball on me that a photographer would cost 1500-2000 bucks for a cheap one. A "better" one would be 3-4 grand. She then mentioned that her family should be covering the cost.

Still, thats insane. Thats like the cost of the ring. I'd rather spend 1500 on a digital camera + accessories and take my own pictures.

It's not just the camera. Indoor photography is extremely difficult even with $1500 in equipment. Majority of wedding photographers are running around with $5000 in just lenses and bodies (tack on flashes, power packs, brackets, tripods etc and it goes up and up and up). And on top of that, you need to know how to use all the stuff and what key moments to look for. Besides, this is your wedding. It's a once in a lifetime event (for most people). Do you really want to half-ass it?

I'd rather like 10% ass it. The whole big wedding thing is silly, and I'm steering away from that. I'd be fine having a bbq in my back yard with music playing off of my computer. Of course, that will never happen, but still. I just dont really care about my wedding day.

But your wife does. Don't forget about the $1000 worth of tux rentals for your bridesmaids, $2000 worth of floral arangements, $500 cake, etc.
 

mexkn

Member
Dec 10, 2004
129
0
0
Oh, I love the American tradition. It is the Mexican tradition that man pays all. Luckily I'm marying an American girl. -deep_sigh_of_relief-
 

oboeguy

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 1999
3,907
0
76
I'm surprised by your surprise, TB.

I had a pal shoot some pics with my digicam so we could see something right away, but also had a pro. Sure, it wasn't a super digicam, but the difference in pictures is ridiculous. Go with a pro -- you won't regret it -- but don't overspend! IIRC, our guy was about $2000. I liked his work quite a bit (the other half thought it was pretty good too), and this is the NYC area, where everything is expensive. We had looked at pros who cost twice as much, too.

Anyway, good luck!
 

SSP

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
17,727
0
0
Originally posted by: TallBill
I'd rather spend 1500 on a digital camera + accessories and take my own pictures.

I'd like to see that.

Priest : I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride
*couple almost kisses*
Tallbill: hold up! let me get a picture of this.... *run to the tripod*

:p

 

oog

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2002
1,721
0
0
our wedding photographer was about $2000. we ended up with about 300 proofs to choose from. all of them were in focus, well composed, had something worth seeing. i know that when i take photos, i'm lucky if i like about half of them. you do pay for having people know what they're doing.
 

EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
1
0
I know a guy that does wedding videography - $5000 gets you 3 fixed cameras and 1 close-up, a DVD that you'll never watch, and a $30 APEX DVD player.
 

amol

Lifer
Jul 8, 2001
11,679
1
0
what a close friend of mine did was get a photography student from chapman university in orange, give him $300 (college kids need $$), and let him take the pix

only ONE pic was not good and it was because someone moved at the last second . . . but he took 2 pix of that moment, so no harm, no foul
 

Meractik

Golden Member
Jul 8, 2003
1,752
0
0
pictures are still images to be remembered, but why not just find someone or borrow a nice video camera that you can mount on a tripod for a solid image and have a friend video tape the wedding ceremonies for you, im sure it would be a hell of alot cheaper and better. plus you could make dvd's and stuff if you had the proper software and devices on your computer from the camera if it supports it.
 

intogamer

Lifer
Dec 5, 2004
19,219
1
76
Originally posted by: Amol
what a close friend of mine did was get a photography student from chapman university in orange, give him $300 (college kids need $$), and let him take the pix

only ONE pic was not good and it was because someone moved at the last second . . . but he took 2 pix of that moment, so no harm, no foul

never thought of that. how much would a c student cost?
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: Meractik
pictures are still images to be remembered, but why not just find someone or borrow a nice video camera that you can mount on a tripod for a solid image and have a friend video tape the wedding ceremonies for you, im sure it would be a hell of alot cheaper and better. plus you could make dvd's and stuff if you had the proper software and devices on your computer from the camera if it supports it.

Why the hell would I want to watch my wedding? Btw, our wedding is still gonna be uber cheap since my mom owns a restaurant. We're doing the reception there, and going cheap on pretty much every aspect since she has industry hookups. And already got free flowers. My sister's wedding cost 3,000 total. Mine should be about the same. Thats still an insane amount of money but better then 20-50k that some people blow.
 
Aug 26, 2004
14,685
1
76
Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: virtuamike
Originally posted by: TallBill
My girl dropped the ball on me that a photographer would cost 1500-2000 bucks for a cheap one. A "better" one would be 3-4 grand. She then mentioned that her family should be covering the cost.

Still, thats insane. Thats like the cost of the ring. I'd rather spend 1500 on a digital camera + accessories and take my own pictures.

It's not just the camera. Indoor photography is extremely difficult even with $1500 in equipment. Majority of wedding photographers are running around with $5000 in just lenses and bodies (tack on flashes, power packs, brackets, tripods etc and it goes up and up and up). And on top of that, you need to know how to use all the stuff and what key moments to look for. Besides, this is your wedding. It's a once in a lifetime event (for most people). Do you really want to half-ass it?

I'd rather like 10% ass it. The whole big wedding thing is silly, and I'm steering away from that. I'd be fine having a bbq in my back yard with music playing off of my computer. Of course, that will never happen, but still. I just dont really care about my wedding day.

:Q don't tell your wife that...no action for a couple weeks i bet...
 

Originally posted by: FleshLight
Don't forget about the $1000 worth of tux rentals for your bridesmaids
Hmmmm...this should prove to be an interesting wedding. :confused:
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
15,965
1
0
hire the professional, but also put a cheap disposable camera on every table. those will be the pics you remember...
 

stevent76

Senior member
May 10, 2001
957
0
0
I got lucky with our wedding photographer. We found a guy in Atlanta who did it part time because it is something he enjoys. (He actually works for Gwinnett SWAT). We got about 70+ pictures in an album and 126 on a disk for $550. If anyone is getting married in Atlanta, PM me and I will give you his info. He was by far the best contractor at the wedding. He used an 8mp digital camera for color shots and a 35mm for B&Ws. He will use a 35 for everything if you request it but after seeing his collection I couldnt pick the digital out of the bunch.

Good Luck on your search.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: quakefiend420
Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: virtuamike
Originally posted by: TallBill
My girl dropped the ball on me that a photographer would cost 1500-2000 bucks for a cheap one. A "better" one would be 3-4 grand. She then mentioned that her family should be covering the cost.

Still, thats insane. Thats like the cost of the ring. I'd rather spend 1500 on a digital camera + accessories and take my own pictures.

It's not just the camera. Indoor photography is extremely difficult even with $1500 in equipment. Majority of wedding photographers are running around with $5000 in just lenses and bodies (tack on flashes, power packs, brackets, tripods etc and it goes up and up and up). And on top of that, you need to know how to use all the stuff and what key moments to look for. Besides, this is your wedding. It's a once in a lifetime event (for most people). Do you really want to half-ass it?

I'd rather like 10% ass it. The whole big wedding thing is silly, and I'm steering away from that. I'd be fine having a bbq in my back yard with music playing off of my computer. Of course, that will never happen, but still. I just dont really care about my wedding day.

:Q don't tell your wife that...no action for a couple weeks i bet...

Uh, I already told her.. and she knows... why wouldn't i be Brutally honest with her? I keep nothing secret, including my blunt opinions.
 

Skiguy411

Platinum Member
Dec 4, 2002
2,093
0
0
My sister just got married last night and she not only had a photographer, but also a videoagrapher (sp?). There were 3 photographers with three Canon digital cameras and 2 guys with video cameras. Every momment of that wedding was captured digitally somehow. Im interested to see just how many pictures were taken.....
 

rootaxs

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 2000
2,487
0
71
Here's a scenario for you (Based on experience).

I had a relative who i thought was good at photography take pictures during our event. We also had a professional photographer in the same event. My relative using a Rebel and the pro using what he's got.

After all was said and done what i thought was amazing photo's by a relative was nothing compared to the pro shots.

Now at a wedding, just how much you value the event and the captured memories - make that the judge of which route you wish to take.