Has anyone used craigslist for photographers and other vendors?

I have and found a great one eho is doing black and white photos and a combinations of both in one picture he is very reputable and had great reviews and some awesome pictures.

I am doing it, I found My photographer for $275. She has a website, and I am meeting with her several times, I am going to meet with her next week to see her latest work (Prom and Grad Pics and a few weddings)

I also found A DJ on Craigslist that we were gonna go with BUT we are just gonna do the music our self, to save even more money

Good Luck!

What do you mean scary?

I found my MUA before she got signed by a large cosmetology school, and now she has jacked up expensive prices and i found our photog on craigslist too, love his work!

craigslist can be good, but you have to use common sense. i know some people on here wouldn't consider hiring someone from craigslist for their wedding, but to each their own.

I would suggest if you do go that route really research them, my photogrpaher that I found is actually on wedding wire and craigslist was another way for him to advertise be sure to ask for references as well. There are some shady people on there but if you check them out first and make sure they are reputable and legitimate photographers you should be fine!!

I got both my photog and my DJ. But I checked references and did a lot of research first!

I agree Raptor Bride K. I saw that most of the posts include pictures of their work which is pretty good! I think if they can do it for half the price why would anyone get a proffessional photography business to do it?

You can use Craigslist, but be careful. You still have to alot of research on the vendors before you book them.

I actually found my caterer through Craigslist, but I still checked out others.

Another issue with Craigslist- many (not all) of the vendors who are on there are not seasoned professionals. Many are just starting out, which is often why they are considerbly cheaper. Anyone can post an ad there- heck, I could post an ad for photography and I have no training at all. You can look- and probably should as part of your process of setting up a budget. But make sure and check them out, including their reviews on other sites, before you book.

Brian and Matt are photographers that come on the boards a lot and give great advise. I am not going to cut and paste their whole post, but please click on here and read what they had to say when this was brought up in the past.

oh, and thanks for changing your picture. It really will help us remember you more, and if you plan to come on here a lot you will be remembered and might even get more help because you will be rememberable.

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/hiring-from-craigslist/09c95da041e7f88e.html

@Meghan B. I agree the photographer I found on cragslist he has been in business for 10 years and he had no problem with showing me pictures or giving me refereences and he was a ateal only because he doesnt do the prints or the books he puts all the edited pictures on cd and gives us a copyright release to print them ourselves. He gives us all of the pictures and he takes like over 800 photographs and we have him for the whole day. I wouldnt trust a $250 photographer at all thats way to cheap especially if hes offering an 8 hour of service.

We found our photographer on Craigslist. We also checked out his website, interviewed him in person, and saw an album he had done. And we loved his photos of our wedding!

One thing to be aware of is that photographers put their best work on the site. Even a relatively inexperienced photographer can get some great pictures. The question is how experienced they are in handling a variety of situations. For example, photos in an indoor setting require a better camera than those outdoors in natural light. Also, wedding photography often requires split-second timing. How disappointed would you be if the photographer got some great photos, but missed something like the kiss?

I definitely sympathize on not wanting to spend thousands on photography. And I'm very happy with the photographer we used. However, just realize that you are taking a risk if you go with a less experienced photographer.

HI there - we here at Glitz Studio post ads on Craigslits and many other free and pay sites as we like to post everywhere because we like to be available to everyone everywhere

Always be careful when booking any type of vendor, but you will be able to see the true professionals and those that aren't - many times you really do get what you pay for - so just remember that it is your day - and get it how you want it - Check us out - we have a few dates available for this season - Good Luck and Congratulations

www.glitzstudio.ca

Jillian

I came across the most unlikeliest Photographer, and discovered a GOLDMINE ...

Back in Oct. we received and gift certificate for free setting and free wall photo and collage 8-10 for our local Sears... we used it for our engagement photos, Hey it's free! But we discovered when we were finishing up that Sears portrait studio, offers

Wedding Photographer for wedding day, ceremony. we took the info and after i found the cost of usual photographers, I was Shocked!!! I contacted the studio manager at Sears, and they quoted me different packages... but even the biggest, most expensive was 1/3 of all the others out there. because we had very tight budget, I shared this with the gal at Sears and the worked out package for us to fit our budget. We get professional photographer for 2 hours, to cover all the ceremony and the important groom/bride, wedding party, and family group pics after the ceremony and package of photos all for $150. Total... maybe something could look into

I wouldn't do it. There was a big scam here last year where someone posed as a cake baker, and had a portfolio, website and everything. He met couples at a local Starbucks and told them his shop was being renovated. He took checks for their weddings, then disappeared. When reports surfaced, the police estimated he took over $18,000 from local couples.

Stephanie- that could be the best deal, or the worst one ever. You have to of the quality photographers that work at Sears. They are not professionally trained. They point and click and do all posed shots. You never know what you're going to get.

Wedding photography is different. You have to anticipate events before they happen. You only get one chance to capture the groom's face the first time he sees his bride. You only get one chance to snap that first kiss, or that tear running down a bride's cheek.

Even some of the most experienced photographers in the world won't do weddings. It's a specialty! It takes a different skill set. Many people can take pretty pictures in a studio, with perfected lighting and perfectly posed subjects. A wedding is a very different scenario.

I'd make sure the person who comes on site to shoot your wedding has actually photographed 10+ weddings in the past. Make sure their equipment is right for the lighting, etc. I wouldn't risk it!

We found our DJ and caterer on craigslist. We sent lots of emails back and forth to get our questions answered. Then met them both in person, they were great! They had contracts and were both professional and gave a lot of great advice and opinions. We are really looking forward to working with them

I found my Wedding Coordinator and Photographer on Craigslist. I don't believe that just because a person advertises on Craigslist means that they are less qualified. I went to a Bridal Show when I was first looking for wedding coordinators and the prices they were quoting were 3 times as much as I actually paid to my WC. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty, she is very professional and her business has grown tremendously since I booked her last year. I am so glad I checked Craigslist because I never would have found her. I can say the same for my photographer. She was a great find as well. So don't shy away from Craigslist...yes there are scammers out there, but if you do your research and use common sense, you can find some great deals out there, for 1/3 the cost. And there are some "experienced" professionals who can be messy as well as the less experienced.

FutureMrs- you said a couple words that mean everything. "Great find" "Can find"

Craiglist is a great advertising source, and it's free to vendors. However, because it is free- too many nonreputable vendors or starts up who have no experience use it to build a business. There are sometimes established vendors on there, but more than not, they lack experience. The more experienced vendors have business coming to them and have the income to advertise elsewhere where they can reach a target audience. That is not Craigslist. You can find a diamond, but you may not. You have to do your research, just like you would any other vendor you found elsewhere.

I'd say look- but don't let it be your only source of potential vendors. And if a vendor is 1/3 the price of the rest of their field- there is usually a reason.

Definately do your research. Found our DJ from there, I think he is going to be great. We like country, like old and some new, but my family likes that salsa stuff, and chad's family likes pop. He covers all styles he likes country and his wifes family likes spanish music so he's got the background lol, but mainly he plays our old country we like, and he sings amazing and has a fiddler too! Does ceremony and reception for great price and has sent me tons of references of whom I will call Monday, not too mention we are headed to the bar next friday to watch him sing and play. Just be careful of the people who don't want to give you references, photos, videos, or let you see them doing there work. But craigslist can be a great thing!

I have been advertising on CL as a wedding planner until my paid advertising starts, and I will stay on CL after it as well. It helps a lot, I get a few calls, and I give fair prices b/c the economy is so bad, I don't want to gouge anyone. I am planning on using the same pricing when I am picked from the local bridal mag I paid to place an ad in. I was told my prices were too cheap, but even with experience I will not charge more to be a burden to a bride.

I just got an email from a driver who I will be meeting with next week to see his car. I refuse to pay $600 for 6 hours for a guy to drive me 20 min each way and sit around all day! The man I am meeting with has a newer model sedan and is willing to work with my budget, in fact he asked for less than I was planning on giving him! Once I see the car, I will give him a deposit. I will also ask for his DL# as I have a friend who is a police detective who can run his license and see if he has any driving violations.