From: neilw@informix.com (Neil Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: My wedding photographer experience
Date: 7 Oct 92 00:21:03 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

Since I've got some time, I thought I'd relate my experiences with
wedding photos for my recent wedding (3 wks ago).

We started the search for a photographer back in February for a
September wedding.  We visited a couple photographers recommended
by friends in the $1,000 range.  Bzzzt.  Competent photographers,
but basically shots anybody could take.

Next we checked a photographer my wife met at a wedding fair.
Great photos, but he was booked on our date.  He worked in a
studio with 3 others who were available, but when we looked
at their individual portfolios I was quite disappointed.  Bzzzt.

Now in April I decided to get serious.  I called up our commercial
photographer we use at work.  He listened carefully to my
requirements: "architectural" type photography - shots that 
are unique and stand out on their own and utilize the surroundings
to set the scene.  He recommended 5 photographers in the 2k-3k
price range.

Of the 5, 3 were booked but in turn gave recommendations to others.
 
Finally, the decision came down to 4 photographers.  One had
stunning engagement portraits, but mediocre candids and wedding
day shots, so he was disqualified.  Another seemed very nice
and had a nice portfolio, but only gave me a slide show and
didn't show me albums of single weddings.  That, combined with
his very nice but very poorly lit apartment/studio, was enough
to rule him out.  

Of the two final serious candidates, one was in the process of
redecorating her studio.  However, she had some great b&w portraits,
and specialized in hand-coloring.  Her albums looked wonderful.
The artsy bent won her the contract.

Oh, one other photographer had woooonderful pictures, but her
package only included the proofs mounted in an album!  The cost
of enlargements was prohibitive, so bzzzt!

Anyway, our photographer turned out to be wonderful.  For $2700
we had an engagement session out at the beach for a couple hours.
We got an 11x14 out of it, plus 100 business-size cards with one
of the shots printed on it.  We also ended purchasing a folio
of a dozen of the proofs mounted in a leather binder for $100.
The main benefit, however, was the opportunity to work with the
photographer and get to know her.  Looking over the proofs with
her allowed us to show her the style of photography we preferred
for the wedding.  The wedding album will include 80 photos,
40-60 of which will be 10x10's  -  we had to pin the photographer
down to a definite number of 10x10's, since she just said initially
that she would give us a mix of 5x5, 5x7, 8x8, and 10x10 - we mainly
wanted 10x10.

We got the wedding proofs back last week and they're wonderful!
Working with our photographer at the wedding was a treat, also.
She worked well with all the guests and distractions, and was not
demanding of our time and attention.

Hope you found this interesting.  Write me if you want a list of the
specific questions I used when interviewing photographers.

--Neil
-- 
Neil Williams: neilw@informix.com

Seen on my last trip on United: "If you are seated in an exit row 
and can not (sic) read this card... please notify a crew member."