NPCER - Photog critique? **NYCish peeps come in**

[wawa]

Update: After talking to the bride more (and passing along your critiques, which I agreed with once I got a chance to actually look at the websites), apparently she just liked #1 based entirely on their personalities. But she agreed that she wasn't thrilled with their work. Apparently she just needed a kick in the pants to stop considering them since she's hiring a photographer not a new BFF and they aren't great photographers.

So now...any NYCadjacent people have recommendations for photographers that aren't incredibly expensive? I get the impression they all are. But #2 down there charges $11k. (includes album, extra prints, videographer and engagement session.) Is that just standard for the area? Because that sounds INSANE to me. I paid 1/10th of that with no album or video, just rights to photos in the Balto/DC area. Wedding is on Long Island. Bride is in Manhatten.

Not a momtographer sadly. But you guys like to talk photography, so I thought it was worth a shot.

This is for a friend of mine. I'm one of her bridesmaids. She's trying to pick photographers.

Thoughts on these guys:
www.millimeterphoto.com/main.html

vs. these guys
brettmatthews.com/site/brett-matthews-portfolio.html

In terms of personality (bride has met with them and loved them)cost, and included perks the first one wins hands down, but the MOB likes the 2nd one and now bride is questioning her choice. So strictly from a technical photography quality POV - pros and cons for each?

[pixy0stix]

First one has low light focus issues. If her wedding is primarily indoors, they're a no go.

[PinkSquirrel]

Number 2

[pixy0stix]

Second, one, hands down, wins on the technical photography side. Scrolling through their blog I don't really see much to nitpick. They're more "standard" in their poses, but they seem to capture the moments well.

[EloiseWeenie]

#2. I'm judging solely on the main page of their websites- which should be their best stuff.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 14, 2012 16:22:17 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

#2. I'm judging solely on the main page of their websites- which should be their best stuff.

No, no, no... You always judge by their blogs or the FB (which #1 doesn't really seem to have, so that's sketch). You want to see what they can do through the whole event, rather than just looking at the photos that could be a one off for them.

I've captured some *amazing* images, which if I posted as my portfolio people would be sure to pick me. Then they'd realize that I usually completely suck at photographing people.

[EloiseWeenie]

Pixy you're right. . . I was just saying that I was lazy and only looked at the main page and liked #2 much better. I figured if that was their best work, I was curious why #1 would put several out of focus images on the main slide show.

[pixy0stix]

Jun 14, 2012 16:37:45 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I was curious why #1 would put several out of focus images on the main slide show.

I know, it was weird. Especially since that's the only venue for their pictures. I'm also curious as to why the bride picked a photographer who features OOF pictures.

[noodleoo]

I liked Brett Matthews better.

[ttt]

The second to last shot of number one looks like a mistake. I take those kind of pictures all the time accidentally.

[earlgreyhot]

I think #1 is solid. BM is definitely sharper and likes to shoot wide and is more stylized. But there is a "realness" that I like in #1. If the prices are similar I might pick BM, but if #1 is a good deal I'd feel comfortable hiring them.

It should be noted this is coming from someone who likes photography, but who's wedding pics were taken with a P+S.

[wawa]

see update above...

[pixy0stix]

Can she negotiate price? Does she want a videographer?

She needs to sit down and think about what she really wants captured. Honestly, though, I firmly believe that the photographs are second only to the dress in what is really needed for the big day. Meaning, don't cheap out, budget that as a big ticket item.

[arborgold]

Jun 15, 2012 10:11:30 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Can she negotiate price? Does she want a videographer?

She needs to sit down and think about what she really wants captured. Honestly, though, I firmly believe that the photographs are second only to the dress in what is really needed for the big day. Meaning, don't cheap out, budget that as a big ticket item.

THIS. I think we paid a little over $6k for our wedding photographer, and that was in Cincinnati.

$11k for a good photog in NYC is definitely not unheard of. She can try negotiating price, or looking at different packages, but this might just be one of those things that she has to suck it up and just pay it on.

[basilosaurus]

I actually think photography is more important than the dress. It's a whirlwind day, even in my low key situation. The amount of joy I got looking at the cd when it arrived was worth every penny. I was like, yeah, people had fun, it was happy and pretty and stuff. That wasn't the impression I came away with at the end of the night b/c I was just so tired.

11k seems insane, but I don't know nyc prices. I had no interest in video or engagement sessions, so that's where I'd personally cut costs.

Also, is there a way she can get the rights to the pictures instead of ordering prints? That can be cheaper in the long run.

[wawa]

Jun 15, 2012 10:11:30 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Can she negotiate price? Does she want a videographer?

She needs to sit down and think about what she really wants captured. Honestly, though, I firmly believe that the photographs are second only to the dress in what is really needed for the big day. Meaning, don't cheap out, budget that as a big ticket item.

she does want a videographer. I know that much.

And I agree with you this being a high priority - though I ended up not spending that much on mine because I cut out all the prints and albums from my package. Which I kinda regret in retrospect because 3 years later I STILL haven't made myself an album.

I told her to keep looking if the 11k makes her choke and because you don't know who the actual person showing up on the day of will be ahead of time.

[marie427]

I wasn't thrilled with my photos but I still wouldn't pay $11k. There are great photographers for less than that.

I know a few people who used Duet Photography and were happy with them; they were our runner-up when looking into photographers (kinda wish I had gone with them given how disappointed I was with our photos, though at least our video is great). Back in 2008 I remember their full photography/videography package costing between $5k and $6k; prices may have gone up but your friend might be interested.