Negotiating prices with a photographer

Dekazer

Hi All,

We weren't going to bother with a photographer, but we've made a couple of good savings elsewhere, and had a couple of unexpected gifts, so I'm bowing to pressure and looking around.

I've had some contact with a local woman I found offering a bit of a discount on Gumtree. As we're out of wedding 'season' I don't feel too bad, plus I think she's fairly cheap anyway. Her website's good quality and the photos look good. We've been in touch and she's offered to meet us to show us her books and discuss requirements.

I'd be grateful for any tips - I hadn't given it any thought and now feel underprepared... At present, the offer is £375 for 5 hours, min 175 photos on DVD, or 8 hours, 300 photos on DVD and a photobook for £650.

I intend to offer her food and drink during the day, as appropriate and if she wants it.

Essentially, I'd like to have around 6 hours and a photobook, but not pay much more than the 5 hour deal.. Any ideas, or am I being too greedy?!

And, are there any key questions I need to ask to make sure I'm covered for all eventualities?

Thanks all

[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]

LEJC

I'm no photographer but I think you have to look at it and realise that the package is 5 or 8 hours work that you see...but then countless hours editing the photos after the event....

I'm all for negotiation but I do wonder if you are setting the bar a little too high expecting the higher package of almost twice the amount to be offered at the lower rate ...but then again if she wants the experience then there may be no harm in trying a cheeky offer or asking for a slightly different tailored package...


Also its fairly easy to get lovely photobooks done yourself nowadays as long as you have the permission to use the images so it would probably be just as easy for you to do that yourself after the wedding rather than paying her to do it...

On the subject of food...its lovely that you are considering feeding her but she will probably just bring something quick with her like a sandwich...afterall shes not there to enjoy the wedding with the guests shes there to capture them enjoying it with you....

74jax

LEJC wrote: »

On the subject of food...its lovely that you are considering feeding her but she will probably just bring something quick with her like a sandwich...afterall shes not there to enjoy the wedding with the guests shes there to capture them enjoying it with you....

I would echo this comment, you don't want her sitting having a meal when she could be catching the natural photos that would be happening at this time also.

I would ask for a cost for you to have copyright of the photos and look at doing the photobooks yourself and you could maybe get more photos for a price you would prefer.

LEJC

Just read another comment on a different thread..and its reminded me of questions/preparations that you will need to go through with whoever you choose for the photographer...

Beforehand prepare a list of the key photos you want and give it to the photographer so that they can prepare beforehand the groups of people they need...ie bride/groom/bridesmaids....brides family etc....to use the words used in the other thread...dont expect your photographer to be a "mindreader.".....you will know your friends and family well but your photographer wont know whos who...so if there are any special groups you want let her know beforehand....having a list of photos will also help in making sure that the photos dont take an age to do...

Dekazer

Very useful - it hadn't occurred to me that I'd need copyright. Is it normal that if a photographer provides photos on a CD/DVD then that constitutes permission to make prints/books?

Also, very useful to think about group photos - time to get our thinking hats on.

Also, I expect you're right about the food

As for prices, I'm all about haggling *politely* I'd far rather ask for something else to be 'thrown in' than just a discount. I can imagine that creating a photobook would take time, but what extra work would a photographer normally do to photos other than just bunging them on a DVD? (That's not meant to sound rude - I geniunely don't know)..

Thanks for your help - you lot are always so brilliant!

74jax

Dekazer wrote: »

I can imagine that creating a photobook would take time, but what extra work would a photographer normally do to photos other than just bunging them on a DVD? (That's not meant to sound rude - I geniunely don't know)..

Thanks for your help - you lot are always so brilliant!

I would expect they would edit out things in the background that don't make the photo look great, alter colour balance if you shiny, crop out things, enhance shots, urrmmmm I don't know the technical wording for it all other than edit. Maybe it can be something that you build into your discussion. If you're not interested in much 'edit' then maybe that might reduce the costs, although I'm not sure how a photographer would feel giving you none-edited photos as word of mouth is normally how photographers get recommendations.

bungenstein

Any cheaper than that and its pretty much slave labour, how do you expect good photos from someone who charges that little?

Also, the photographer needs to eat, they are working non stop, how do you expect them to do the evening shots?

74jax

bungenstein wrote: »

Also, the photographer needs to eat, they are working non stop, how do you expect them to do the evening shots?

A couple of the weddings I've been to the photographer has had their own lunch, I've never been to one where the photographer sits down with guests.

LEJC

I agree with jax...I think its called photo editing...and if its done well then yes you could just think its a case of bunging the photos onto a disc....but when you realise its been done badly and the photos have just been bunged onto the disc then you can tell the difference in quality...

A family member got married several years ago and had an informal style of photos....they were very informal...perhaps a little too so...some pics were very beautiful...but the one that stands out in everyones mind is where she is stood next to her fireplace at home next to a photo of her gran who couldnt be there... and in the corner you can see the smarties easter egg,almost pride of place in the photo because someone forgot to move it and the photographer didnt crop it out of the photo...forget the beautiful bride and the lovely dress...everyone in the family still refers to it affectionatley as the easter egg pic and rather unflatteringly to the photographer as the "eggman"

vax2002

http://www.derekpyephotography.com/

themadvix

I think it also depends on what sort of photobook they are offering- the big glossy modern books that most photographers offer these days are expensive to make and often aren't made in house, so they aren't able to offer much of a discount.

With regards to food, as someone who has worked at a wedding venue, I know we often cater for the photographer/dj etc. The couple pay for the food, but at 50% of the standard price and the 'outmess' get pretty much what they're given (but it'll be whatever the guests are having) and eat it either at the back of the room (on a table set like everyone else's (minus the wine!!)) or in a spare function room.

Hth

Vicky