Wedding Photographers for $800 or less? (Millvale, Ohiopyle: receptions, lawyer, house)

[Tinare]

Maybe you could try to find a college photography student? They would likely be inexperienced as far as wedding photography goes, but they would at least know how to compose a decent picture, probably have decent equipment and may be willing to work mostly for the experience.

Materials, time and expertise do not come cheap.

[Burghgirl17]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

You have a pretty tall task. You want a cheap wedding photographer who is willing to drive to Ohiopyle? Probably not going to happen.

This.

[greg42]

If you really care about pro pics you're going to have to pay for the expertise and time spent. If you just want some pics, then you need to recruit a friend, relative, whatever, with a good camera and above average abilities using it. A student, perhaps, could do it. But you're going to have to lower your expectations with either of these options. A good wedding photographer's experience helps them in composing shots and catching the perfect moments. If you want that, you need to pay. If all you care about are candid shots of the goings on, then you perhaps don't really need a pro.

[algia]

I hate to tell you, but "Copyrights" are never transferred to clients. You may get a CD with "ALL" the photos, and printing rights, but photography is a visual art form and the creator always retains copyrights.

For one, second, it may seem like "just pictures" to you, but there is an awful amount of work involved in wedding photographs, hours and hours, you're talking thousands of photos that are reviewed and processed, the traditional dark room was replaced with software programs and is now the photographer's responsibility and not a "lab", I don't know who shoots film anymore, probably very very few and it will probably be even MORE expensive if it was film....not to mention that it is ONE event that cannot be repeated, so unless you are willing to risk some bad photos as a memory of your "special day", I think it would be wise to pick a good reputable photographer.

Amazing wedding photos do not come out straight out of the camera. That is probably the biggest misconception of the digital age.

I am a professional photographer and I know what I'm talking about, I don't do weddings, just commercial stuff, but I had done a few in the past with a colleague and the amount of photos we had to process kept us tied to our computers for weeks.

Photography is an investment. We capture moments that generally don't repeat themselves the same way again.

Originally Posted by Velvet Jones

I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news but wedding photographers have to be the most weaselly professionals I've ever encountered, and they're all outrageously expensive. If you find one for under $2000 then you lucked out. If you do see someone advertising for less beware that you are likely not getting the copyrights. Yes, this may be hard to believe, but by default you don't own the rights to your own wedding photographs. Without the copyrights you cannot get prints made and the photographer will likely not even give you the original JPEGs( or negatives if they still use film). If you do get the negatives you also need a letter stating that your are the copyright holder, otherwise no one will develop your prints. This includes all of the big box stores like Walmart, Costco, etc. I would recommend the two guys we used for our wedding five years ago, but they were about three times your target price.

[hempfield mania]

Yep, a "decent" wedding photographer will put you back north of $3000 these days. We spent a little over that and that was back in '05. I was not a happy camper when I heard that price from the wife.......She wanted b&w and color photos so we paid for the photographer and an assistant and had to pay extra to get them to the reception since we had a decent break between the ceremony and the reception...

For $800, you might be able to talk a photographer into making a ride out there and spending 15 minutes to get you a picture or two but that is about it...you definitely won't be getting any "packages" for that price.

[algia]

I don't think I can agree with this because a "wedding" is a one time type event, it's not like ppl go: "well, how about getting married again next Friday"!?

It is a special event that should be remembered in a great way...all we remain with is our memories.

Plus, if you're not going to get a pro, and your photos come out really bad you can't even sue...you won't be able to get better photos, and the monetary compensation you may get (if any) won't replace your memories or reproduce them.

Originally Posted by Velvet Jones

The entire wedding industry is a big scam.

[Burghgirl17]

Originally Posted by algia

I hate to tell you, but "Copyrights" are never transferred to clients. You may get a CD with "ALL" the photos, and printing rights, but photography is a visual art form and the creator always retains copyrights.

Copyrights can certainly be transferred. The creator has to agree to transfer the rights, but they are certainly able. It will almost always cost the buyer more, but it is absolutely possible from a legal standpoint.

[algia]

Ohh I know that, but I don't know "how many" photographers "will agree" to that...It will cost quite a bit indeed.

There is also "work for hire"...but again, not many will agree to that either considering the licensing loses.

[Copanut]

By all means, let a brother or cousin shoot your wedding, the most photos you will see is of the broad he is dating.

[Bong477]

It's going to be a little tough, but I think with some work (and enough advance notice) you'll be able to find something close to meeting your needs. We found someone via word of mouth from friends for about a third the price of most of our quotes... pictures were great, we were given the negatives (it was 7 years ago), and reprint rights. We didn't get a fancy wedding book or anything like that, but we were free to do whatever we wanted with the pictures. If you are having a big fancy expensive wedding, its worth having good pictures. If you are doing everything on the cheap, its still worth having good pictures. If you are doing a shotgun JOP wedding, maybe anyone with a point and shoot would be sufficient.

2 minutes on the internet found this website: Eric's Photography Blog

I can't vouch for him, like I said, just found him online. You need to do your due diligence on whoever you hire, I'd make sure to see samples, check references, and be careful what if anything you pay upfront.

IMO... don't hire anyone that won't give you the rights to the photos.