Wedding photographer help!

skintdragon

Wanchai, as in Hong Kong?! Small world eh??! :beer:

wanchai_2

skintdragon - I'm not actually from HK, just love the place! Are you?

Thanks all - will check out those sites you recommended.

navyblur

Hey!

Thanks for linking to our site, we really appreciate the fact that you like our work and we understand that it might be more expensive than others. We do have mix and match options within our pricing and we want to make sure our wedding pricing is fair for both our clients and us. Once again though we are very encouraged that you like our style and wish you all the very best with your wedding.

Xander and Christine

Robothell

We used 4ever photos (http://www.4everphotos.net/portfolio/index.asp) in Belfast - could not recommend them enough! They are pricey (but show me a cheap wedding photographer) but you get what you pay for in this area. These guys have picked up quite a few awards along the way and, more than that, are so helpful in terms of giving advice, helping with timings etc. Honestly, one of the photographers helped my father-in-law on with his suit and fixed one of the bridesmaids hair whilst things were gonig a bit mental in the bride's house on the morning of the wedding!

joefizz

Robothell wrote: »

more than that, are so helpful in terms of giving advice, helping with timings etc. Honestly, one of the photographers helped my father-in-law on with his suit and fixed one of the bridesmaids hair whilst things were gonig a bit mental in the bride's house on the morning of the wedding!

And thats the big difference between hiring a photographer and hiring someone with a camera. Most people think its just about paying someone to turn up with a camera and take some 'snaps'. Yes that is one price point but that is why there are a range of prices and styles and so on.

The photographer is professional hired help and is an integral part of the day, you are working to timings and its all about the big day and the people getting married, not the photographer.
Ive put in button holes to stop grooms/ushers getting blood on their white shirts, arranged to get the bride and bridesmaids to the venue because the car didnt turn up, called the AA when the wedding car broke down (no mobiles on them), fed cats because the bride forgot to and was already into her dress, had to stop the bride walking down the aisle because the celebrant was in a side room reading the paper, drove bride and groom to the reception because the cars cleared off, etc etc.
Its more than just taking photos, its about helping to ensure the smooth running of the whole experience.
I make no bones about elbowing other 'photographers' out of the way at multiple booking wedding venues. If someone is playing around with their settings and cant get their one and only flash to work or cant work in bad weather/winter light, that shouldnt hold up my bride and groom. (thats a good hint for anyone looking at wedding photos, ask them to show you what they do in bad weather/winter wedding). Maybe that just shows my red carpet, press pack experience but for me its all about the people in front of the camera, they are paying me for a job (as with any other organisation) so its up to me to do the best job for them.

If you think about it generally the photographer is one of the only people with you throughout the day who has actually been through the process of going through a wedding day multiple times.
Its why I would never have booked anyone without meeting them and meeting them over a coffee and discussing what their needs are and what their expectations are. You have to get on with the photographer as in a lot of cases the photos will be the only thing left.
It is a job and photographers are the hired help so the good ones will act like that and do what you want, rather than what they want or are capable of.

Of course there are many different price points and that has to be taken into consideration as well but always remember that there are different price points for a reason. Not everyone can afford to put a couple of grand into wedding photography but know what you are getting yourself into and see what you are getting for your money.
Make sure your decision is an informed one and see a couple of complete sets of wedding photos, not just a website 'best of'. Ask to see completed albums. I always tell clients that what they see is what other people have asked for and most of the photos are specific to them but that is the way I worked but it should give you some idea.
If you have any doubts walk away, regardless of price point, as the number of complaints I have been ask to provide written judgement on, invariably centre around misunderstandings or not getting on with either side.
You have to feel comfortable with the person, comfortable with what you are getting in return (the package as a whole) and the monetary value.

BOBS

http://tentwentyone.tumblr.com/
These folk have blogs of weddings they photograph - dont know how hard they are to pay - but if you flick through you will see lots of examples of what they do.

skintdragon

wanchai wrote: »

skintdragon - I'm not actually from HK, just love the place! Are you?

Thanks all - will check out those sites you recommended.

Hi Wanchai,

As a matter of fact, yes I am from HK, born and bred! :beer:

You must've danced on the bar at Carnegie's then? I was a lot younger then of course!

Good luck with your hunt xx

jjd

Truscott Photography is pretty good, saw a friends album he had done and it was the nicest one I have ever seen, excellent quality and not too expensive.
http://www.truscottphotography.com/albums

Bribrian_2

http://www.flickr.com/people/argyll_images/ :beer:

wanchai_2

Thanks all for your suggestions! Will look at them all. SIL2B has just had a baby and I am staying with her for 2 weeks to help her as her hubby is having to go into work (boo). Catch you all soon xx