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Evette
Dedicated October 2018

Wedding with no photographer?

Evette , on September 19, 2018 at 4:57 PM Posted in Planning 0 24
My fiancé feels like Photographers are too expensive (we are paying for our wedding ourselves) I recently got in touch with a photographer and her prices are $575 for beginning of the wedding thru the reception with 4 specialty pictures and charging $12 per picture for the rest. I told him that her price was $575 and he automatically shut it down, saying that’s too expensive. Can it get any cheaper or will we have to settle without a photographer?

24 Comments

Latest activity by Amanduh, on September 21, 2018 at 10:54 AM
  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    Wait, so the $575 rate only includes 4 pictures, and you have to pay $12 per photo to get more than 4?

    Just want to make sure I'm understanding properly... if this is the case, that is a huge ripoff and you'd be better off hiring someone with a higher flat rate.

    For context, we are paying $2000 for 2 photographers for 5 hours, minimum of 500 photos.

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  • queenbee
    VIP October 2018
    queenbee ·
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    That’s one of the cheapest prices for a photographer I’ve ever seen. But it seems like you’re just paying for her time and 4 pictures. That’s not a lot of photos, and $12 seems a little steep to me for each additional photo.
    My photographer charges about $3500 for 8 hours of coverage, 2 photographers, 700 guaranteed edited images (but they usually provide way more, we were told), and an engagement session. If I paid for 700 photos at $12 a piece it would cost over $8000.
    If you guys aren’t even willing to pay less than $600 for photos of your special day, then I think you may want to go without a photographer. It seems like it’s not that important to you. You could always check out local schools or colleges with photography students looking for experience who may charge a lot less than normal photographers. Or try the Thumbtack app for someone in your price range.
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  • Evette
    Dedicated October 2018
    Evette ·
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    Yes you heard correctly, $12 per additional photos. But he doesn’t know that part, he just heard $575. I told him the cheapest I found besides that was $1900 and he feels like that is also too expensive. I feel like he will say anything above $100 is too expensive but i don’t think it goes that cheap lol
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  • Evette
    Dedicated October 2018
    Evette ·
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    A decent photographer is very important to me, him not at all. He doesn’t like weddings in general and he just wants this one to be short and simple. We didn’t even take engagement pictures which really makes me sad. That’s why I want as many pictures of my wedding as I can get.
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  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
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    That's completely crazy! I would definitely not pay that, you're going to end up paying several thousand just for a few photos.

    1900 is pretty good. If it's important to you, he should understand! It is important to most people lol

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  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
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    Photographers are pretty expensive, at least $1,000 I'd say for a decent amount of photos. Have you looked into local colleges or high schools that have photography programs?

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  • LoweryForLife
    Devoted December 2018
    LoweryForLife ·
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    We're paying $1,500 and it was a HUGE splurge. Our entire budget is $5,000 as we are paying for it ourselves, too. We decided this is what we want our money spent on. Its the biggest thing that will be left after the wedding, ya know? You'll never wear the dress again...those center pieces will collect dust. That's how I talked my fiance into it. He said "oh, well yeah I guess that's true". And we found our guy for a discount by booking through a bridal expo. Best of luck! Don't go without!! Even if you find a family friend to take pics!!

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  • Evette
    Dedicated October 2018
    Evette ·
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    I’m in the process of looking. I live in a small town so it’s hard to find someone that doesn’t charge a horrendous traveling charge.
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  • Evette
    Dedicated October 2018
    Evette ·
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    Pictures are so important to me, heck I’ll take up an extra job if I have to! But you are totally right, it’s the only thing that won’t collect dust.
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  • C
    Devoted September 2018
    Chrissyboo0 ·
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    That is a lot of money, We got super lucky with our photographer. She is $100 per hour and that included the engagement photo session. She also has no limit on photos and we will get a file with all of them when they are ready.

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  • Nikki
    Devoted October 2018
    Nikki ·
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    I'm paying $600 for 5 hours and like 300 pictures or there about. It would have been much steeper but she wanted to use our pictures in her portfolio since she thinks the venue is great. A good photographer was really important to me but maybe you could find someone looking to grow their experience in the field.
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  • Brae
    VIP September 2019
    Brae ·
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    I wouldn't go with that vendor, but I would definitely have a photographer. Aside from my fh and someone to marry us, a photographer is the only thing I could definitely not do without. My fh would not win that fight to not have a photographer lol. Photos are how all of my wedding memories and emotions will come back to me in 20 years. I recommend having someone take photos, even an amateur. Good luck!
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  • Rachel
    Super July 2019
    Rachel ·
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    Definitely don’t pay $575 for 4 pictures. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! I think you need to have your fiancé see how important photography is to you so that he can get behind the cost. If you find someone for $2000 or less that’s a really good deal.
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  • Brandi
    Dedicated May 2019
    Brandi ·
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    We too are paying for our wedding ourselves and it can be very stressful. However I am having a photographer. I found someone who is still new to the photographers business and is only charging me $300 for the whole day.

    I put put a lot of thought into it and I know most people tend to spend more money on the food as “the guests expect good food” but this is only one day and a lot of that food goes to waist but pictures provide lasting memories on all those little moments that get easily missed or forgotten. Just my opinion
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  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    I understand the stress of a budget, but photography truly is one of the most important parts of your day. Long after the officiant has pronounced you married, the caterers pack up the leftovers, and the DJ plays the last song, your photos will be the only thing you have left. I would express to your FH that photography is a priority to you. Whether he thinks it's too expensive or not, this is your wedding too.

    Aside from that, I wouldn't go with this photographer. Their base price is great, but $12 per photo is outrageous and seems shady.

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  • Heather
    Expert September 2018
    Heather ·
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    I found a photography student who did not ask for much pay but I gave her $200 for engagement pics and $200 for wedding
    I think we might be her 3rd wedding but I still liked our pics
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  • BabsandBear
    Expert October 2018
    BabsandBear ·
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    As many have stated, you're getting ripped off with that photographer but your FH didnt even know about that part. Its hard to convince someone who is against photos to pay for professional shots. My fiance was the same way. I was lucky enough to win a free engagement shoot that I used to help convince him that photos are important. At first he just wanted his dad to take all the photos....um no.
    Our photographer usually chargers more but I think we caught him in a slow season, but he charged us 1200 for full day coverage and to access of all our photos without a watermark.
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  • Mrs. Mecking
    Expert August 2018
    Mrs. Mecking ·
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    My husband and I paid for our wedding and we paid $1,000 for 4 hours, about 400 photos. Photos are expensive but they are worth it. If it’s important to you your FH should make it important to him.
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  • H
    Expert July 2019
    Hannah ·
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    I couldnt imagine not having a photographer for my wedding. Honestly, besides the officiant (since we need him to be married) this was the biggest thing on my list! These pictures last forever! But I wouldn't do that package, $12 per picture is ridiculous, like everything is digital people.... they are not printing a portrait... I would do a higher flat rate package with more pictures and try to cut something else.
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  • HayMrsO
    Master October 2018
    HayMrsO ·
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    I would not have a wedding without a photographer. It was the second thing I booked (after the venue). Those images are priceless to me!

    I would not go with the $575 person. That $12 per picture will add up real fast.

    Try Thumbtack, word of mouth, local colleges, Facebook groups, anything to get the word out.

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