Wedding SoCal Photographer recommendations? (budget)

[DMBFiredancer]

we are getting married in july 2009 in redondo beach. i''m looking for any recommendations for good photographers who are reasonably priced in the area (hahaha-i know that''s tough to find)

i''m trying to keep the photography budget around $700- $1000 (a little bit higher only if needed) so obviously i am not looking for any fancy leather bound albums or anything - just someone who can take good pictures.

also, is this budget unrealistic?

thanks in advance

 

[blondebunny]

sorry dont have any advice but i love your kitty in your aviator!

 

[musey]

Hey DMB

This was my big project last fall. The rest of our budget revolved around the photographer, as it was top priority for us. This is all within the LA area, for what it''s worth. I''m sure it''s slightly different by region.

I used projectwedding a lot for vendor reviews and such. It greatly depends on the quality/style that you''re looking for, but for us, we couldn''t find anyone we liked under $2000

All we wanted was a disc of the digital negatives... no proofs or prints, no books, nothing. This was hard to find, and many studios actually refused to give us rights to the negatives!

I think if your budget is very firm at $700-1000, you''ll need to get creative... looking at amateurs/students probably, for the most part. UNLESS you''re not into the photojournalism style that''s so popular lately--that requires more skilled photographers, and therefore higher prices. If you want a more classic style of wedding photos, posed and smiling kinda stuff as opposed to a more candid ''capture'' style, then you''ll be able to find cheaper photogs... but I''m just not sure by how much.


Hope that helps. It''s a pricey area

 

[peridot83]

1. If you cut down the hours you want, (only get 3 or 4 hours..don't have them stay too long into reception, or don't have them take pics of getting ready)
2. only get one photographer (no second shooter, so if the groom & bride getting ready at same time can't capture both, also moments will get lost if the photographer can't focus quickly enough on the action),
3. get no editing, and
4. get a less well known photographer

Make sure when you meet with them, that you see a WHOLE WEDDING, not just a collection of their best pictures. This way you can get an idea of what moments they were able to capture, what they missed etc.


Here's some in Southern CA I found off the wpja (wedding photojournalistic association) website that start under $1000:

http://www.harthenstudios.com/
http://www.natalylemus.com/index2.php
http://www.sbaphotography.com/

Some people I know have had success finding photography students off of craigslist.

If you're going this route I'd make sure to encourage ANY friends who dabble in photography to have their cameras on hand and to take pics just so that you don't miss moments at your wedding if the phtographer ends up a disaster.

 

[DMBFiredancer]

musey - thats exactly what we are looking for....a disc of the digitals. thank you for your help - i will check out project weddings

bunny - thanks! she was an abandoned kitty who found us this past december. she''s the greatest kitty ever!

peridot - thanks so much for the links and the craigslist advice. i never thought of trying craigslist.

as always i appreciate how helpful this forum is!

 

[DMBFiredancer]

thanks to your advice, i found this person on craigslist....

http://fairytaledreamer.com/

what do you guys think of the pictures?

i''m far from a photography expert, but so far after browsing them a bit, i really like them

 

[choro72]

I think it looks good, but then I have no knowledge of what''s good photography anyway.

Good luck! I''m in the exact same boat as you are.

 

[peridot83]

It''s hard to tell from the website, as he only has 10 or so shots posted per event (and these photographers take hundreds of pictures).

The pictures posted are clear, but I''d ask to look through a whole portfolio of ONE wedding and see how many pictures actually came out. (i.e. there''s like 3 candids, and 8 posed..posed pictures tend to come out).

There''s not much artistry to the pictures, so I''d say he''s about as competent as anyone who is obsessed with photography and likes to take pictures. (i.e. there''s not much in the way of lighting, composing, or focusing). Everything is a straightforward shot.

 

[Gwyn]

We are going with http://www.yoshiohara.com/

I believe he has packages for 6 hours that start right around 1,000. His prices may have gone up though.

I recommend checking out craigslist. I always see cheap photographers advertised there. A portfolio will give you an idea of their work.

Good luck!

 

[cellososweet]

SoCal is notoriously expensive. I think we got a good deal at 2400. :-/ Eeek. I would recommend that you rethink your budget. I was a budget bride and I sacrificed on a lot of other stuff so that I could get a good photographer because the pictures are really important. It''s all you have afterwards. I made sure that I cut the rest of everything by at least 25% and I got most things for about 50% less than what I had originally budgeted so that I could focus on a good photographer and lighting. Those were my biggest priorities. I had a great florist, if you need to save money there. She was wonderful. My venue was awesome and reasonable as well. Let me know if you need to help with your budget.

 

[DMBFiredancer]

thank you again everyone...great suggestions to check out!

 

[gnahclehcar]

Hi DMB,

I''m getting married in San Clemente in June 2009, and I''ve done some extensive researches for reasonable priced services

My caterer showed me this photographer, Cantina Light Photography
I was really impressed by their works when I browsed through some samples at my caterer''s office.

You can check their webiste & blog~ I think they do a decent job, but I''m definitely not a profession in that genre~

Below is the package they show on their website:

Complete wedding packages begin at $1000.00.

This includes:

- (1) Photographer
- (1) Camera assistant
- Cantina wedding album
- Web-based slide show
- and a disc with all your images from the wedding (limited time only)

I emailed them and actually if you only need 1 photographer (without the camera assistant), the package is only $850!!
I set an appointment to meet with them this Sunday and hopefully book them for my wedding, and I''ll share more after that.

Hope that helps

Enjoy~

 

[UCLABelle]

I am using "Photography by Jane". She is the greatest lady (super cool!) and while most of her packages are expensive, she does $400 an hour (or $300) options for smaller weddings or lower budgets. You own the film (she uses real film, which rocks), and simply take it to her recommended developer for $12 a roll. Then you do the grunt work.

However, she has done some celebrity weddings, has awsome black and whites, and I think going to be worth every penny!

 

[maestro]

Sorry, couldn''t find a way to private message you. I am a wedding photographer (just started looking on here a few months ago to buy my engagement ring), and I''d be willing to help you out. Send me an email: brandonpadams AT brandonpadams DOT com

Photos at:
http://www.brandonpadams.com/photos/weddings