Photographer changed prices?!

Do you have a contract already?

ETA: Why did you just hide your wedding date? When I posted this it said July of this year. Is that right? Because if it is you better be looking for someone asap and pray you find one.

Have you signed a contract yet? If not, I would keep looking for other photographers.

I have a contract with the venue, and the photographer was assigned to me.

Well, considering my venue is listed on here as well as the photographer and my name, I'm not trying to stir the pot.

Wait, he was "assigned" to you, and you are subject to whatever price he decided to charge? That makes zero sense. Is photography included in your venue contract or not?

Having a photographer assigned to you is a bad plan.

Are you allowed to choose a different photographer? Go back into your contract with the venue and see if there's anything about that in there.

I'm having an intimate ceremony with 25 people. They have preferred vendors, but the photographer, wedding planner and officiant are assigned to you based off of availability. The venue price includes 1 hour of photography, but if you want more you have to pay the extra prices. Its a very nice resort. Most of the resorts I looked at have preferred vendors and won't let you pay to bring in anyone else.

So what does that mean... "he was assigned to me" ? ... you don't get to choose your own photographer? You have to choose from their "approved List"? I'm confused

But, I would for sure like to choose my own photographer... especially if you didn't sign anything yet with this one.

Have to talked to the venue? what did they say?

Tell your venue he is not acceptable as he is changing rates and they will need to assign someone new to you. Your contract should have a predicted rate in it and a clause that they are to provide a photographer at that rate. Therefore they can assign someone else or they can pay the difference.

Is this like a DW at a resort? That's the only time I've seen something like this as far as assigning a photographer

Just read your last reply... so does that mean he's the only one available from their list? maybe he knew this and therefore knew you wouldn't have a choice to pay his now higher prices...

I would talk to the venue and let them know what he's doing ... they may be accommodating or may allow you to bring in someone else...

you'd be surprised what you can make happen when you are nice and put on a smile.

Hope it works out!

Is your wedding a destination wedding? You used the word "resort" which makes me think of that. Some venues have preferred/required vendors (I'm not a fan of that), but most let you pick important ones like the officiant. That's what's making me think it's a destination wedding at a resort that does pretty much only weddings and requires certain vendors.

What does your contract say? I know you said you have a contract with the venue (as opposed to with the photographer), so what does it say about the photographer they assign you? If it doesn't address pricing at all and the photographer said his pricing went up, there's not much you can do about it if you don't have anything in writing. It's weird to me that they require certain vendors yet don't account for cost of those required vendors in the contract. These are big red flags to me and I would not be happy using this venue with required (let alone *assigned* vendors).

It is a destination wedding. I am not allowed to bring in any outside vendors. They let me pick my own entertainment, florist, event designer, cake designer, and rentals from their lists. There is nothing in their contract that states anything about prices other than I am guaranteed 1 hour of photography services which was $500. They have the right to charge any price they want. When I originally spoke to him he said be glad you were assigned me because the other photographers are much more expensive. Then I tell him what I want and I get I'm sorry, I sent you the wrong price list. Very unprofessional. I have left the venue a message. Hopefully they will be helpful or I'm canceling the venue and losing my deposit.

This is a tough one! Vendors do change their prices, and if they are doing well can increase their prices annually - so this is not unheard of! At least the photographer noticed their mistake and sent you updated pricing information before you paid them anything!!

If you are required to use this photographer and there's nothing in your contract with your venue about the costs of the required vendors, then I don't think there's anything you can do

Can you opt for another photographer? Do you like his work and feel he is worth the extra money?

How much is the price increase for that required photographer? $500 to lose for the deposit is worth it to me to get to pick the most important vendors for my wedding. See what the venue says, but be prepared to lose the deposit if you'd like to have more of a say over your wedding and vendors. Good luck!

Review the contract you have with venue because if is dated and you already had agreement for the photographer then the price should be honored. I know our photographer changed prices for new bookings so it's not unheard of but definitely speak with venue. More than double seems extreme.