About how much will it cost?

[*alissa*]

I am definately going to spring for a pro phtographer and videographer for our renewal.
At our wedding, my sis did the pics. She did a decent job....but....I felt a pro could have done ALOT better.
My uncle video taped it and it was terrible. I cried watching the video the fisrt time because it was just soooo horrible.

My problem....I am not at all sure about how much these services run. I know they will be differant according to area/package bought/etc. But I am just looking for a ballpark here to help set up my budget (which will actually give us an idea of when we can do it)

Also, the photographers around here won't tell you package options or prices unless you meet with them...which I don't want to do right now for alot of various reasons. (my health makes it hard to predict right now when I will be able/up to do(ing) things.....for one)

[Hughto]

My photographer was in the middle of the price range we researched. We are getting two photographers for about $1700. They were the best for the within our price range we were looking at. We will get a min. of 800 photos, but most likely 1200. We get no copy-written DVD of all of our images.

Our videographer is 2 camera ceremony and 1 camera reception. Full coverage during those events. Full editing. We have a message board to have our say on how we want things done with the video. I think that was about $1200.

[belle67]

I got a heck of a deal from my photographer.
They had a package that was perfect for us and we paid only $450. It came with no print photos, just the proofs and the full rights to all of our full quality photos. We didn't want a lot of photos and we were able to choose exactly what we wanted and we were able to take our time choosing. I was able to print out exactly what our parents wanted and I made a photobook online from our full quality photos as our wedding album. Everyone loved it. :)
As for video, a friend of our did it on our camcorder for free.

[Renny]

I'm doing like Belle did. A package with nothing but a CD so I can do what I want with the pics.

I advertised on craigslist.com and had professionals willing to come down on their prices that normally run $800-$1200 to come down to $300 and less. I totally recommend this method of finding a photographer in your budget.

I'm not hiring a videographer but around here I think they normally run about $700 and up. Try the craigslist.com for them too.

[*alissa*]

oOo great tip!
I thought I saw somewhere in town while we were planning last year that there was somehwere that was way cheaper in the "off" season..but now I can't find it, and don't remember what the "off" season" was according to him. :dunno: I beleive one package was around $600 for an off season package.
I may decide not to go with a videographer...and just have a someone tape it with our camcorder...but this time I will make sure they know how to use it with out getting boob, butt, cieling and floor shots. I mean.....geez, it isn't rocket sceince, it has in picture stability, so if you pay attention....it takes good video.
Anyway...thanks for the ballparks. It helps.

[Angela]

We spent on the higher end for our photographer---when all was said and done, it was almost $3,000---but he was well worth it. We spent only about $900 on our video, which I'm disappointed with. The demo we had seen and the few people I spoke to who had used them were thrilled, but me, not so much.

[sweetiez]

it depends.how much are you wanting to spend? at the max? i think that all depends too because you can get one as little as 800 and as high as 5000 and then some.Im not sure how much you are wanting to spend.. but i went looking for you and found some here are some links
also. Maybe you did not look so hard before but the ones athat want to set up a time before they tell you prices either they are A. extremly expensive ot B. a joke. There are sites that list them . but you may not have came acrossed them i suppose so i thought i'd help out.
its says under 1000 (http://www.theknot.com/kl_vendordetail.html?id=117938&vendorsearch=Y&market=198&category=PHO&keyword=INDIANA)
Heres another and there is a package for 1,500 (http://www.photocurt.com/weddingPricing.shtm)
They start at 1000 (http://www.woodhullphotography.com/weddings.html)
another listed under 1000 (http://www.ciportrait.com/)
but anyways theres some.. enjoy.

[sweetiez]

oOo great tip!
I thought I saw somewhere in town while we were planning last year that there was somehwere that was way cheaper in the "off" season..but now I can't find it, and don't remember what the "off" season" was according to him. :dunno: I believe one package was around $600 for an off season package.
I may decide not to go with a videographer...and just have a someone tape it with our camcorder...but this time I will make sure they know how to use it with out getting boob, butt, cieling and floor shots. I mean.....geez, it isn't rocket sceince, it has in picture stability, so if you pay attention....it takes good video.
Anyway...thanks for the ballparks. It helps.

"Off seasons" are normally October - march (Of course depending on them some only do it from october- janurary also)

[Mandy]

I got married in November and it seemed to have a pretty big differance in price from when we had originally planned the wedding in July.

While we didn't have a videographer, about a gazillion people showed up with camcorders, so we have 3 differant wedding videos! :)

My suggestion? Try looking at local colleges. Our photographer was a 19 yr old family friend. She's majoring in photogrpahy and is opening her own studio this fall. She did a better job than most pros I know out there! She only asked for $350 (but that was for gas. She drove 9 hours from MI to be at our wedding!). They're so eager to do well that you can usually get a very good price, and all the negatives. I couldn't be happier with our pics!

Good luck Alissa!

[*alissa*]

AMber..thanks so much. When I did my search...I was looking locally....so it was only about a 50 mile radius. I figured if the photographer had to travel, it would be more. :dunno: I seen on one of those links it was..the other didn't say.

I am hoping we don't have to spend anymore than $1500 for BOTH. Which, if I can find someone who is willing to work with our needs...I should be able to do I think. Because we are just having a very small affair and won't be including alot of the traditions at the reception..so wouldn't need full recpetion coverage. PLus, no need for engagement pics (which I see alot of wedding packages include).

Thanks everyone for your help....it is greatly appriciated!

[Renny]

I got married in November and it seemed to have a pretty big differance in price from when we had originally planned the wedding in July.

While we didn't have a videographer, about a gazillion people showed up with camcorders, so we have 3 different wedding videos! :)

My suggestion? Try looking at local colleges. Our photographer was a 19 yr old family friend. She's majoring in photogrpahy and is opening her own studio this fall. She did a better job than most pros I know out there! She only asked for $350 (but that was for gas. She drove 9 hours from MI to be at our wedding!). They're so eager to do well that you can usually get a very good price, and all the negatives. I couldn't be happier with our pics!

Good luck Alissa!

Mandy- your pics were awesome, never in a million years would I have thought they were by someone just starting out. She's wonderful :D

[sweetiez]

AMber..thanks so much. When I did my search...I was looking locally....so it was only about a 50 mile radius. I figured if the photographer had to travel, it would be more. :dunno: I seen on one of those links it was..the other didn't say.

I am hoping we don't have to spend anymore than $1500 for BOTH. Which, if I can find someone who is willing to work with our needs...I should be able to do I think. Because we are just having a very small affair and won't be including a lot of the traditions at the reception..so wouldn't need full recpetion coverage. PLus, no need for engagement pics (which I see a lot of wedding packages include).

Thanks everyone for your help....it is greatly appriciated!

To be honest 1500 can be hard *depending* On exactly what you want.
if you want a photographer there the entire day then yes you may have to pay more Unless you can find a student photographer. But i believe you wanted a Pro .So also I had to search really hard in my area. for a decent priced Videographer. I found one to do it for 500. Lucky. But again all depends. on what you are exactly wanting too. If you want an all day Pro photographer. I'd say the lease would be 1000 and want a decent Video grapher My guess is normally *at the lease* 700. But you never know. Or you could look for a student Video grapher? If you want! or else pay a lil more. I know its alot though trust me! LOL!

[*alissa*]

I wouldn't need an all day photog or videographer though. Two hours tops I'd think. The ceremony would be very short...maybe 20 min. tops....so that leaves plenty of time for the reception.

[Renny]

I recommend craigslist.com. I found my photographer for $50, and she's a pro but just starting her business here in the area. I get her for all day, I get a CD of all pics with rights. I am not getting any prints from her because I can do that on my own.
Shop around is my biggest recommendation.

[sweetiez]

I wouldn't need an all day photog or videographer though. Two hours tops I'd think. The ceremony would be very short...maybe 20 min. tops....so that leaves plenty of time for the reception.

i think u could do 1500 then or prolly less!!

[sweetiez]

also would u only want a photographer for like 2 hours then also?

[sweetiez]

I recommend craigslist.com. I found my photographer for $50, and she's a pro but just starting her business here in the area. I get her for all day, I get a CD of all pics with rights. I am not getting any prints from her because I can do that on my own.
Shop around is my biggest recommendation.

I agreee but just remember. there have be scams on craigs list from what i heard. just be a lil open about it. :)

[Renny]

that why you do lots and lots of research... I'm not paying until the day of ;)

[sweetiez]

that why you do lots and lots of research... I'm not paying until the day of ;)

rock on!!! Ur on top of it all :lol::jump4joy:

[*alissa*]

also would u only want a photographer for like 2 hours then also?

Yeah...even if the reception goes on longer because I figure we will have already cut the cake by then and given any toasts...we aren't doing any bouquet or garter tosses, and as far a "send off" scince we will be outside, I figuresd we would have the guests line the walkway and toss stuff or blow bubbles as walk back down the aisle. SO that should cover everything.

[Noelle]

I would say around $1000 is what you could expect for a full day of services....depending on your area and expectaitons! :)

[sweetiez]

Well if you only wants like 2 hours for a photographer yeah way under 1500.!!!!

[sweetiez]

Oh yes also If they dont list prices on their site. Call then. But if they even try to just set up an interview without telling you prices. Tell them sorry no! because i have had MANY interviews and phone conversations with photographer and they *cant* do that. They have to tell your their prices! You never should be oblajation(sp) to go for an interview just to hear prices!
I call that a HUGE scam! Around here even our 4000 dollar photographer even list their prices on the website!!!

also these people do it hourly and most photographers will . Just ask them and tell them how many hours you want like..
http://www.photocurt.com/weddingPricing.shtm
then they charge 150.00 an hour! Which is pretty normal! Thats a good price. and if you only wanted then for 2 hours that would only be 300. Not bad! They also say a 300 deposit. which inyour case you may have to pay the 300 but goes towards ur purchase price. As they say. Im not possitive what type of photographer you want. Because there are many kids. for weddings. but i thought i'd help ya a lil haha

[genophotography]

I agree completely about listing the prices. You should go with someone who is upfront about their prices. I have known several of my competitors who were not and added in hidden fees. I think this is absolutely ridiculous. I list all of my prices on my website and people are more than welcome to ask about custom packages or any other questions for that matter. Brides should be allowed to make an informed decision, not a shot in the dark about who they want to photograph their wedding.