Tell me I didn''t make a bad decision

[alli_esq]

Soooo...I wrote a retainer check and am sending out the contract for my photographers today...

I met them and reeeally liked them--and I love every single picture they have on their website, so I'm hoping I made the right choice...but they are SO EXPENSIVE and you really get very little for what you pay for...

I don't know...I just went with the theory of "I'd rather have 40 pages of an album that I love than 90 that I think are only okay"....

http://becreativephotography.blogspot.com/search/label/Weddings

please tell me that is the right attitude!!!

 

[neatfreak]

It''s the right attitude for sure.

 

[lovinsparkles]

Agreed! Having beautiful pictures will bring you happiness and happy memories for years, long after the big day comes and goes.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Gorgeous Photos!!

I think you made the right choice!!!!!

 

[bee*]

It''s definitely the right attitude (at least I hope so as I did the exact same thing!)

 

[October2008bride]

You absolutely made the right choice.

Take it from me who was injured/sick on my wedding day and feel like I barely attended my own reception - I am so grateful that we spent the money on great photographers. Seriously. SO grateful.

 

[Haven]

Take it from me--the money is worth it.

Our photographer was horrible (there''s a thread around here somewhere . . . ) and our pictures turned out awful. We will never have a wedding album. I don''t even have one wedding picture up in our house. It really broke my heart to have no beautiful pictures of the most beautiful day.
You made the right decision. I can''t wait to see your beautiful pictures.

 

[Inanna]

You made a GREAT decision!!!! Fabulous photographs on the page and it seems quite personalized to the couple as well - always a plus. Congratulations!

 

[newbie124]

Wow, you picked a great photographer! Their photos are gorgeous! It may hurt a little now sending off that check, but I don''t think you''ll regret it (as long as you can afford it, of course)!

 

[PearlDahhhling]

Oh wow! Those photos are gorgeous! You definitely made the right choice. FI and I plan on splurging on the photographer because we figure 20 years from now the photos are what we will have, and it''s important to us that they''re fantastic, not just okay. So yay for you! I''m sure your photos will be incredible!

 

[AsscherGirl]

They are awesome! They shot my friend''s wedding and her proofs and album are absolutely gorgeous! I totally stalk their blog all the time and every wedding has beautiful amazing pictures!

I had wanted to use them, but I thought they were too expensive - that was stupid because I ended up adding on to my own photog. package at the end and wound up paying the same amount for a photographer I ended up not being happy with!

I''m jealous!!!!!!

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

You made the right decsion totally!

As an aside: I had to chuckle when you called the deposit a retainer. I assume from your SN that you are an attorney. I work in the legal field and also called my deposit a retainer and the vendor laughed at me.

 

[CNOS128]

I had the same attitude when I chose a photographer (actually, also a husband and wife team) - so I definitely think it''s the right attitude. I also started the wedding planning process with the thought in mind that photos would be my biggest splurge. In other words, I approve, I guess.

And their photos are lovely!

Plus, aren''t you in the NY area? In my experience and that of a friend who''s getting married 2 weeks after I am, it''s hard to find photographers who start at less than $5,000.

 

[alli_esq]

neatfreak: oh, I''m so glad you agree ::phew::

lovinsparkles: that is really my hope...and since I am so super un-photogenic, I rrreeeeally hope it turns out...

Loves Vintage: they really do have amazing shots, I think...I''m happy you are with me!

bee*: and I''m sure your photographs will be gorgeous too!! Judging by your ring and your gown, I know you have great taste

October2008bride: I remember reading your story and seeing your (AMAZING, by the way--you should be a model) pictures...I am so sorry you were in pain for your wedding day, but you really have magnificent photographs from the event!!

Haven: I remember how upset you were when you received your pictures... I don''t mean to belittle your feelings at all--but I just have to say that given the photographs I''ve seen of you, it believe it is impossible to take a bad picture of you! You are gorgeous!!!! I am truly so sorry that you were unhappy with that detail about your wedding, though. What a huge disappointment for you

...and after you''ve been so helpful to so many with our wedding planning--what a terrible shame. Luckily, you and your husband are such good-looking folks, you must have thousands of gorgeous photographs of the two of you from many other events!!!

Inanna: that''s one thing I loved about them--they really focus on the couple and what makes us tick (whatever that might be! haha)...they also focus on being unobtrusive during the day, which I think is hugely important; I''ve been to so many weddings where I haven''t been able to see the bride and groom because they always have a camera in front of them!!

newbie124: I sooo hope you''re right!!

PearlDahhhling: that''s how I feel too...cross your fingers for me!

Danielle: I''m so glad you know of them and have heard good things--all I have to go on is what they have on their website and the albums they showed me at their studio...thank you for the tip! I am sorry that you weren''t happy with your photographer, but I hope you had a wonderful day! (and I know--these things really creep up on you, cost-wise...and I know I''ll be spending even more than I am now in the end since they include so little in this package...uuugggh what a drag!)

Keepingthefaith21: haha, I know--it''s funny, right? but they actually do call it a retainer! must be because a lawyer drafted their contract

TheBigT: I know what you mean about the 5k figure...let me put it this way: they''re a lot more than that

a lot of places cost that much, but this team in particular gives you a lot less album and print-wise (actually, NO prints come with the package!

)...that''s my biggest concern. They do give us the high res files though, so I''m hoping that I will be able to make my own albums for my in-laws and parents that will be considerably less than the $1,000+ they cost from the photographers!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 12/5/2008 6:10:00 PM
Author: alli_esq


TheBigT: I know what you mean about the 5k figure...let me put it this way: they''re a lot more than that

a lot of places cost that much, but this team in particular gives you a lot less album and print-wise (actually, NO prints come with the package!

)...that''s my biggest concern. They do give us the high res files though, so I''m hoping that I will be able to make my own albums for my in-laws and parents that will be considerably less than the $1,000+ they cost from the photographers!

Assuming the images are edited I think it''s MUCH better to get the images/rights for yourself rather than having to purchase prints from the photog personally!

 

[CNOS128]

Date: 12/5/2008 6:26:00 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 12/5/2008 6:10:00 PM

Author: alli_esq



TheBigT: I know what you mean about the 5k figure...let me put it this way: they''re a lot more than that

a lot of places cost that much, but this team in particular gives you a lot less album and print-wise (actually, NO prints come with the package!

)...that''s my biggest concern. They do give us the high res files though, so I''m hoping that I will be able to make my own albums for my in-laws and parents that will be considerably less than the $1,000+ they cost from the photographers!

Assuming the images are edited I think it''s MUCH better to get the images/rights for yourself rather than having to purchase prints from the photog personally!

Mine cost a lot more than that also! It makes me feel a little queasy when I think about it, but I''m crossing my fingers and hoping that they turn out well!!

Neatfreak makes a good point - a friend advised me to make sure I, rather than the photographer, would own the copyright to all of our photos, so I could reproduce them as I wished (without infringing 17 USC S106(1) - I''m so sorry, but I''m in the middle of studying for my Copyright Law final). You can always get great prints as long as you have the high res files - it might cost money (although probably less than a photographer would charge you), but at least you''ll start out with super images.

 

[pocahontas]

Alli, you totally made the right choice! Your photogs are awesome and it''s so obvious they love what they do. I''m super excited for you. You''re going to end up with gorgeous photos!

 

[missjaxon]

Wow, what an amazing photographer I can see why you chose them. I also would rather quality photos over quantity. When you look back at this very special day I think you should be excited and amazed by how well the memory was captured and want to look at the picture time and time again rather then just feeling luke warm about an album filled to the brim with mediocre pictures. I also think owning the rights to your own photos are priceless in itself, because it becomes extremely costly when you start ordering prints that photographers have copyrighted.

 

[Neveah]

We were in the same boat. I can''t tell you how thankful I am that we did it. And they were worth every single penny!!!

We just moved into a new home...... there are wedding pics everywhere! It''s almost hard to decide what to put out, they all turned out amazing!

Congrats!

 

[emeraldlover1]

You made a great decision. Be Creative is awesome. They photograph a lot of weddings at the venue we picked and I''ve seen a lot of their albums that look amazing. There is actually a wedding at my venue on their blog right now. I had my heart set on another photographer otherwise I would have considered them. We are spending more on photography then we are spending on the rehersal dinner however we will have those memories forever. You should feel great about choosing photographers that will deliver. The money is certianly worth it in the end.

 

[emeraldlover1]

I forgot to mention that all the photogs that we liked that are in this area (NYC surrounding area) are over 5000. Ours was a lot too and she doesn''t include the album.

 

[lala2332]

love the photographer....great color saturation and clean, crisp shots. If your pictures are like what they''ve already done I think you will be very happy!