Comments on: The offbeat advantage negotiating with wedding photographers

By: Megan Altorfer

Megan Altorfer — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:34:47 +0000

I don't agree with the cool looking bride and/or groom comment or about the dress. A good photographer can take whatever you give them and should be able to turn it around. My friend Tori got married… she is gorgeous and she got her dress from a small resale shop for $20 but her photographer got some amazing photos of her.

By: Megan Altorfer

Megan Altorfer — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:32:17 +0000

This article is awesome. I don't think a lot of people understand what all it takes for photographers to be there. Yes I would love to give discounts to offbeat clientle but right now my prices got lowered because of the economy. Everyone is hurting right now and when you think of the overhead that comes with running a photography company it cost A LOT and mine is nearly double because not only do we run a photography but also a video company as well.

When you book us to do your wedding it is more than just us coming out and taking a bunch of pictures and leaving it at that. It is for us 8 hours of shooting is just the start. Then we go in and retouch the images, cleaning up a zip the bride or groom might have on 400-800 pictures can take A LOT of time, then editing and getting them to you. For video it is just as tedious… going in and editing together a movie, rendering, and putting on the pretty stuff take a lot of work. We do this because we love it and we love brides and grooms. The only time I might see someone even more happier is doing a maternity shoot.

I love offbeat brides and hope for 2011 that I get to book more of them personally because they offer such a uniqueness to the table. I know when I get married my dress is going to be used more for the photos that will be taken afterwards than for the actual ceremony/ reception itself.

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:42:36 +0000

I did the same thing, and got a ton of responses! The photographer we went with responded to our ad with such enthusiasm for our offbeat wedding, and she offered us a great deal, apparently almost 1/3 of what she normally charges.

By: dootsiebug

dootsiebug — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:00:25 +0000

Would any photographers be more apt to negotiate discounts if you agree to do a "trash the dress" shoot at the photographer's convenience? I tend to find that "trash the dress" shoots are way more beneficial to a portfolio, and the photographer can then choose the best lighting, etc.
Then again, it's the sort of thing that essentially requires a really cool dress/outfit and a really cool looking bride/groom. So who knows.

By: Dixie

Dixie — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:34:09 +0000

I took the photos for my brother's wedding (supplemented by our uncles and their cameras) since I had recently gotten a very nice digital Nikon as a multiple-holiday gift. It was a small, very informal, wedding so it was pretty easily covered by just me, with a little help. I didn't charge as it was considered my gift to them; not everyone can do it for free, but if you have friends with good cameras who don't mind missing–sort of, since they'll be taking pictures of it rather than listening–the ceremony, it's always a possibility.

I made them a CD, which they were able to copy and hand out as many times as they wished. We're not really the wedding book/hanging family photos in the house kind of people, so lack of formal portraits was not an issue (which is not to say they didn't get nice pictures. They did, but not in the formal, posed, sense).

By: McKay's Photography

McKay's Photography — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:05:24 +0000

I loved this well rounded article!

The reason we photogs charge so much once we get in the business is indeed the overhead involved. And you wouldn't believe the amount of time we put into each wedding. More than the 8 hours you are booking us for, I can assure you. However, that is the biggest difference between a seasoned pro and someone just starting out. This is my FULL TIME JOB… And all that entails. That means that I am at your beck and call for more than 40 hours a week… leading up to your wedding and after. I help my customers with wedding planning and as a seasoned pro, I keep the wedding day flowing with as little stress on the couple as possible. I'm great at troubleshooting. This is what comes with experience, since I've seen it all and I've seen worse things happen than the drama at your wedding. You don't get that from someone starting out. What it comes down to is basic… what do you value? Not every couple wants what I offer, some are more DYI. There is a photographer out there that is a perfect fit for every couple and vice versa. Find the Photographer that you can't live without and then pay them whatever they charge. We all have different financial situations and therefore different overhead.

Here is my .02:
* Most of my couples are unique, so I don't give discounts on uniqueness.
* The only weddings I ever gave a discount on, I regretted immensely. Same for those who promised portfolio gold. If I have a great portfolio wedding… I compensate the couple after the fact in tangible ways. Like sample albums… Which I give to them when I don't use them anymore!
* Find the Photographer that you can't live without and then pay them whatever they charge. We all have different financial situations and therefore different overhead.
* In this day when photo labs are closing by the dozen, I think having the photographer make your prints and album is hugely important. We know how to get archival quality that will last generations. In this one area, cheaper is not better. I worked for a photo lab for 10 years, and this is one point that I cannot repeat enough. And when will you ever get around to designing your own album??

All this being said, I reward my clients heavily. I value their hard earned money and I work twice as hard as I think I should because I am no longer in the lower price bracket. So, all I ask is you don't judge a book by it's cover (price). It could be the best money you ever spent.

By: Bay Area Wedding Photographer, Amanda B.

Bay Area Wedding Photographer, Amanda B. — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:05:00 +0000

Please remember though that wedding photographer can not usually negotiate their Saturday wedding rates. We depend on Saturday shoots to make a reasonable annual income.

By: Marina Miller

Marina Miller — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:31:00 +0000

I just wanted to chime in to say how realistic it is now days to barter.

As a wedding photographer getting to know my clients, I always ask about their background. If one of them have an interesting job that I feel I can benefit from, I will propose a bater as partial wedding services payment. So far, I have gotten hair cuts, eyebrow waxing, tattoos, graphic design, and even a shark tour for my whole family from bartering.

As a bride, I would share all the unique details of my day with my potential photographer. If they feel you are going to be their "dream bride" they may end up offering you a free bridal or a day after session.

It never hurts to ask or offer. Just be fair and reasonable.

By: gwyneth colleen

gwyneth colleen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:45:44 +0000

word. well said, ariel.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:54:46 +0000

The single easiest way to cut expenses for wedding photos is to ditch the wedding book. They can sometimes cost just as much as all the photographer's time at the wedding. Try to get just a DVD of the images and take them to a photo lab for printing yourself. Buying prints from the photog is often ABSURDLY expensive.