We have most everything booked now for the wedding, the main big spends we have left are paying the rest of the money to the decorator&Caterer and buying the rings.
We just have one big issue; the photos and well we are running out of funds, but have to get some decent pictures as my H2B Grandma can not make it because she is 95 and we promised her a photo album
So are opinions are:
1) As my 25 year old cousin who did graphic design in university and does photography for a bike blog group thing called Deaf Pigeon, whatever that is, well his pictures are good but they are mostly of people on bikes, hum, I could probably get him to do it for like £50-£100 (I know he needs funds so I would not expect him to do it for nothing)
2) I found a photographer in Preston that can do 2 hours for £199
What would you do?
CommentAuthorJennyHeather
Hmm, we're using one of our dear friends who does a lot of photography he's never done weddings but he is really good at what he does. So we trust him to do it, he did say he will get a bit of practice in ready for the wedding, we're paying him about the same as what you would for your cousin.
Do you trust him as in doing the photography and doing the wedding photos really well, maybe suggest to him that he does some practice shots of typical wedding style photos and see what they're like.
At the end of the day it's what and who you feel most comfortable going with.
CommentAuthorLinzi-jo
Would the budget stretch to both? You could have the professional do all of the 'important' shots and then your cousin could take over for the rest? xxx
Got together 14.02.2008
Got engaged 31.12.2010
Will become a Mrs on 30.08.2014 xxxxxx
CommentAuthorLinzi-jo
And if cost is a big issue then maybe you cousin could do it instead of getting you a gift? Or you could arrange to pay him after the wedding day instead when you have some more funds? xxx
Got together 14.02.2008
Got engaged 31.12.2010
Will become a Mrs on 30.08.2014 xxxxxx
CommentAuthorCat
Can not afford both, my mum thinks I should ask my cousin to do some shots and so I can decide
Yeah why don't you ask him to do some shots now and then you can decide x x
CommentAuthorMrs Ashman2b
Perfect you can ask him/her to do the engagement shoot perhaps whilst you n h2b are at your venue then you can see what your cousin can do without making it into a big pass or fail test?
CommentAuthorCat
Hum good idea, that was my worry that once I suggested it and he said yes was that if he was rubbish I would end up insulting him. It really does not help that I love photography and hate having pictures taken of myself, so tend to be a bit fussy :)
CommentAuthorTori
I would ask your cousin to do some shots and go from there x
CommentAuthorElliekitty
Personally i think its a skill which you pick up from experience being able to take photographs of weddings, as its all do with arrangement of people too. I know many photographers who are excellent at landscapes and vehicles but can't do weddings.
I would ask him to do a pre-shoot as other's have said then you will put your mind at rest! I hope he is good tho, it will be fab way for him to make some pennies if he is a budding wedding photographer xx
---Winter 2013 Bride ---
CommentAuthorNicoleee_x
personally I don't think u should skimp on the cost of photographer. These pictures are going to be what you look back on to remember your day in 10/20/30 years etc and you wan't them to be decent x
CommentAuthorKarenP75
Can you not get your cousin to take some wedding type shots of you both before the wedding and see what they are like? I would do that, if it's only the fact that he normally takes pics of people on bikes I would get him to take some and decide from there.
Good luck with your choice, x
CommentAuthorStephanieM71
I set aside a big portion of money for photographer as my parents skimped on theirs and ended up with bad photos - its something that's forever and can't be redone, plus its what everyone wants to see. If your cousin is good then its lovely to save some money, but I wouldn't risk it myself until you have seen what he can do x
CommentAuthorShazk
Personally im with Nicoleee I think photography is one thing you should take cut backs on
My friends that got married had a friend who did some photography and althought the photos are ok they are not happy with them and have siad they wish they had paid the extra £100 to have a pro do it xx This is one area i wont be skimping on even if it means i ahve to cut back on something else x
I think its worth giving ur cousin a shot like otehr said get him to do engagement shoot then you can judge it better but personally id go pro xx
Away with the flutterbys xxx
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
I know a lady on the forum had major problems when she let a friend (who I believe was a wedding photographer or had had some experience doing weddings) take pics for her big day - they came out pretty poor and resulted in a reshoot taking place after the wedding. Wedding photography is quite specialised and a totally different skill from sports or wildlife photography, I personally wouldn't like to risk it for the sake of £100 to £150 saved... Xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorMrs C to be!
i think the pro is the way to go. ive had offers of friends to do ours, but having had a friend of a friend do their wedding, and ending up with no photographs as there were faults on the day that were not recognised. I know a few photographers and many either do not do weddings as they find them too stressful, dealing with all the guests. and it is a specialist area.
if you don't have good photographs you may always resent this fact, and possibly the person that took them. i would say at the price you have stated you ave a good deal!!
i would rather cut back on something else than cut back on your only memories of your day.
CommentAuthorNEDebz
I have to say its one area where I will make sure I get a professional, I originally wanted one for all day but now funds won't stretch that far so I'm getting one for 2 hours to cover the ceremony etc, I personally think its a mst to have professional photos as that is was you're going to spend hours looking back at. I will rely on photos from friends and family for the rest of the day but definitely a professional for the important ceremony photos. Just remember you'll never get the opportunity to have them taken again
4th April 2014 - I get married to my soul mate
CommentAuthorNicoleee_x
Yup. Photographer and Wedding Dress are the 2 things that i refuse to compromise/cut back on. I've found my perfect photographer and i'm having a mini panic attack cos my venue aren't getting back to me with dates and i'm so worried i'm not gona be able to book her !! Good luck with ur decision hun xx
CommentAuthorCat
I am going for a real photographer for definite now, have one semi-booked for 3 hrs but I am not sure if I have booked enough time, I was just hoping for wedding pics & park pics after up to the cake cutting
Our wedding is at 3:30 and we have the venue booked from 5:30 this was to give time for travel and pictures on the park, but may need to see if we can get the venue from 5:00 as our wedding location has been moved to a much closer place
Though I have been to many weddings before I seem to have completely missed the timings of them as I usually get put in charge of the children or fixing hair or carrying someone out (or trying the brides uncle's alcohol collection that he happens to have brought a large selection over from France in a case - which was one the better wedding I have been to as all of the brides family made me feel like a giant at just 5'6) so miss all the key points and have only the faintest recollection of the order of things, which is probably not a good thing, lol
CommentAuthorTori
Can you not mix? Three hours professional and then the rest your cousin x
CommentAuthorBrideInTraining
id definitely suggest a professional as these photos are all that will remain of your big day :) x
CommentAuthorNandiF
edited
All I can say is read this post hun: LINK REMOVED AS NO LINKS ALLOWED ON THE FORUM - PLEASE READ THE RULES!!!!!
It's a scary thing picking the right photographer and dishing out the cash - but it's well and truly worth it! It's one of the only things you'll have left to immortalize your day x
CommentAuthorsarah
I think you made the right choice. You should be able to fill in the album with other photos taken throughout the day by guests. At the last wedding I went to there were quite a few good photos of the reception/evening do that were taken by guests.
CommentAuthorJodyx
edited
Yes I have to agree with some of the ladies on here, I would get your cousin to do some shoots with yourself to look at the work and then deiced from there. :) x
Cant Wait to Marry My Soul Mate on 6th July 2013
CommentAuthorVelcro
Im not compromising on the photographer, Im getting a professional and I'm making sure it's a good one as well
I'm not willing to cut costs and I'd hate to be put in a postion of not liking the pics and having to bring up with the cousin
Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey
*Kelbel* is my wedding twinny!
CommentAuthorBlue
Personally the photos and rings are the only things you have left after the day is done, so i'd go professional who's experienced at wedding photography. And if your cousin is taking pics he wont be able to enjoy your wedding day as a guest!! :)
Lauren & Andrew
26 . 07 . 2014
CommentAuthor*KelBel*
I think u should get the pro, I wouldn't want you to be disappointed and it affect the family relationship because you're not gonna get that day bk, especially just for the sake of £99 x
Velcro...my wedding day twinny! The Two Kel's!
Got engaged 14/10/12 in Central Park NYC!
Became Mrs Macdonald 13th September 2014
Mummy to 4 girlies and baby blue boy Due 10/05/2016
CommentAuthorKistHall
I personally think go Pro. I've got 2 wedding photographers in the family, but I'm afraid I'd freak out and have a bridezilla moment if something went wrong, and I'd feel less bad if it wasn't a close family member (I know a friend who was doing photography at a wedding and thought he had accidentally lost all the photos, I'm not sure what happened in that if he recovered them or not, but I know that if even for a split second I thought that happened I'd be crazy, and I wouldn't take that risk with family)
CommentAuthorCat
All sorted now, in the middle of sorting a photographer. The contract is for 3 hours so this will cover most of the important parts. I will just be asking my cousin or a friend to use my camera (semi pro) to take pictures from when the photographer leaves.
CommentAuthorsarah
Yay! I'm glad you've found a solution :)
CommentAuthorJennyHeather
Yea glad it's sorted.
CommentAuthorBobsi
Glad you got it sorted.
:)
X
Got together June 11th 2006
Getting married June 11th 2014
8 years to the day and I'll be Mrs T.
