jamiejo's Pink wedding

yikes....I'm paying $250 for my photographer. She is a journalist for a newspaper and also takes her own photos. She has done several weddings before and the photos are great. I guess it all depends on what you want. My sister paid for a "professional" photographer and honestly she paid over $1000 and the photos I took on her wedding day with my digital camera were nicer than the ones she got from him. So I guess it's all up to you.

I strongly believe that photography is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing out of everything. Beside the memories in your head of that special day, they will be the only other thing you have to hang on to. We got ours for $1500.00. Make sure they will give you the proofs or CD and a copyright release in your total cost, so you can reprint them later, cheaper!

I feel it tis the most important item.  Our photographer for (10) hours is $3,500.00 the Videographer has not gien us the price yet but I will post when I get the price.

That's a lot!! My uncle is a professional photographer so we lucked out on that.

I've been told to splurge on the photographer. The amount you spend varies greatly depending on location. My future sister in law is getting married in Miami and it was cheaper for her to fly someone in from Dallas than to use anyone there. Dallas is high too but we're planing on 1600 or less.

The most important vendor for me. I agree that the price will vary by state and also by the style of photographer. The journalistic ones tend to be more expensive. I also agree that no matter who you go with make sure you OWN the copyright to all your negatives. Photography alone (with no album) shouldn't cost more than $3000. For 3K you can get a nice photog, own rights and have 1 or 2 albums included.

Photos are a big splurge for us. We are looking at 2 photogs, all day, own all rights and want all proofs printed and on a DVD. I don't care if the album is included, I can get that professionally done at a later time without commiting to 10 or 20 pages at this moment.

for some people yes, for others no.  we're paying $3,000 for ours but he's the only guy in corpus who seems to actually know how to use a camera.  not only that but his pics are really different.  for me professional pics were important because i'm never ever photogenic and i actually wanted to feel great when looking at the photos.  in the long run it's your decision and as long as you're happy then that's what matters!

I think photography is one of the most important part of a wedding, but I personally wouldn't spend $3,000. I think $1000 - $1500 is a reasonable deal. There are a lot of good photographers out there, so do your research. You may find one for less that you like a lot better. I did that and I actually hired them for just an hour for $250. And I really do think they are by far better than the leading Seattle photographers! I am going to get pictures I love for a great price. Good luck!

We talked about what was important for us and we decided on three things we would be willing to spend the majority of our money on, pretty much the ones that would last forever: photography, rings and venue. Our photographer is our second biggest vendor next to our venue (catering included) and I'm spending about $5,000 CDN on it, including getting coffee table books, engagement photos, and all the prints in black and white and color. It all depends on what you and your FH think is important - and that you budget for it, of course! Good luck.

Yes.. I am not yet at that stage of the planning yet...but it is one of the most important choices- after all is said and done, thats the surest way of keeping the memories!!

actually I wouldnt spend that much on a photographer, my uncle's best friend is a photographer and eventhough he hasnt given me a price yet I'm sure it will be somewhat reasonable.  We plan on spending majority of our funds on the honeymoon. So good luck in finding someone!!!!

I think the pictures are important, but I am on a tight budget too and found a local place that had a "budget package"  It's $650. And it's 6 hours, unlimited locations (obviously within a reasonable distance), unlimited pictures. You have 6 straight hours. Basically he doesn't do the printing for you. He gives you a signed copyright release, all the negatives, and all the pictures on a dvd. I'm just going to have my few favorites blown up and printed in the high quality like a canvas or such.And the rest i'll just have printed on normal kodak paper and put in a really nice photo album. I was thrilled when I found him. The company doesn't advertise this package. Their normal ones start at about $1200 I believe. But when I called and told them that was too but sorry but I was on a tight budget, then they offered me the "budget" one.

I totally think a professional photographer is worth it. We are getting a 14 hour package for 2250..which I feel is completely worth it for that much time. Before anything else ask the potential photographer to show you a wedding they have done from start to finish. That way you can see what they are capable of doing in the time they are given. We opted to take pics before the wedding while we got ready, and see each other before the actual ceremony as we are having a night wedding. When it's all said and done, the pictures you take will last more than your life time....good luck with it all.