Photographer advice......

It sounds like a good deal in terms of price and what you are getting but IMHO it depends on the quality of her pics and how well you get on with her. I take it you haven't seen samples etc either?

Personally I wouldn't ever book someone as important as a TOG without meeting them first, what if your personalities totally clash? I met our TOG at a wedding fayre - me and mom thought the sun shined out of his bottom, but I didn't book him until OH had met him,

I know budgets play a factor but:

I'm 10x as good for twice as much.

Haha!! You're too far away unfortunately!!

Lol, I wasn't touting for business ?

My point being that there's a lot better out there for a relatively small increase.

Apart from the staic images of cakes etc, in low light a lot of her images are blurred. Unacceptably so, you couldn't get a decent print or album from them.

It may be her ability or equipment at fault, or both.

A photographer gets one shot at this day, as do you so I wouldn't risk it.

lol! I know you weren't! ?

I hear what youre saying.... based on that - I don't suppose you know / recommend anyone up here do you (Bradford, West Yorks)

Chris your posts always make me chuckle ?

Hi Mrs L2B,

I agree with other post Your photographer is one of the most important decisions as once the day is over and the memories start to fade the only way you will be able to relive your big day is through your photos. PLEASE MEET HER FIRST!!!!!

Dont just see a few snaps ask to see a whole days photos cause you dont want 140 crap shots and only 10 good ones (thats if she takes that many)

We met 3 all sounded fabulous on the phone but when we met them

number one was as old as the hills and had a very traditional way and would not budge on the way he did things

number 2 was crazy after about an hour of yapping total rubbish he told us that him and his assisitant have a current comp going to see who could take the most photos of people taking photos. I dont know about anyone else but when I papying hundreds of pounds I want the photos to document my day not of aunt maud taking a picture of uncle harold ( who i havent since since I was 5) Needless to say we didnt book him.

number 3 was perfect He bought round a whole days shooting ( we asked ) he was staright forward friendly was more than will to accomadate what we wanted and gave sound advice where we werent so sure. He made us very relaxed and comforable with him like he is an old friend. So after 24 hours to think about it (he put no pressure on us to book) we grabbed him qiuck before anyone else snapped himup.

We are paying £790 from guest church arrival 11 30 to fake cake cut at 3pm

CD with copywrite and photo book with 150 images in

Advice I have been given time and time again

IF IT SEEMS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT PROBABLY IS It seems an awful lots for your money

Hope we have helped abit

Eve

I'm getting married in Leeds next month (eek!) and we're using this photographer -

https://bethanyclarke.co.uk/wedding.php

She's based in Harrogate and offers a range of packages starting from (I think) £300 for a couple of hours. I booked her based on a personal recommendation and the photos on her website, she's been really good so far but I suppose the only thing that really matters is what the photos are like on the day and I can't tell you that... yet!

I've seen worse for about £700 in Kent!

I can't recommend anyone Mrs Lewis 2b, sorry hun.

@Daffodil Waves, I'm glad you see my posts for the tongue in cheek good humor they're intended to be!

Thanks Rachel, I've had a look at her website and the photos on there are amazing!! I've left her a message to call me back to arrange to meet!! Eeek!! Next month!!! Have you got everything done??!

Also - thanks everyone, I've decided to take your advice and book some meetings in with other TOGS - Any advice on what I should be looking for / asking them would be great!!

Glad the recommendation was useful, hope you manage to sort something out with her!

In a word... no! Still have loads to do but not panicking yet, am going to have a blitz today and tomorrow and hopefully will be pretty much sorted after that.

With photographers, I think you have to really look at their work and decide if it is the right style for you. (As well as their general talent, but as a non-tog, I'm not going to comment on that.) Looking at the wedding albums of the first tog you said you booked, she does a lot of formal "posed" photos which for me personally isn't right, but may well be right for other people or even for you. Have a think about that too if you decide to go for another tog/stick with this one

Hi there whilst not a photographer, I mirror what has already been said - suppliers will put their best work on their websites - but in reality it goes much more beyond that. As Chris has pointed out we got one shot on the day and we have to get it right. Meet this lady and see more examples of her work - if you're still happy with things then that's fine seems like a good deal you have. It's you and your fiance that need to be happy with your photographer as they spend a lot of time with you on the day.

I can recommend a lovely lady photographer who is South/West Yorks based

Adelle at Blue Lights Photography https://bluelightsphotography.co.uk/

or there is Victoria Reed - Barnsley based photographer.

Tracey xx

Take a look at:

http://www.morgan-photography.co.uk/

Peter

Mrs L2B,

I'm pretty much full for next month so doubt I'll be able to help you on that front. What I can do though is have a cuppa with you in the Studio and run through what you should be asking and what to look out for.

Studio is in Rawdon by Leeds and Bradford Airport.

Happy to help if it's of any use to you?

Won't cost you a penny ?

Mark

(I just photographed Becci747's wedding)

Hi

I have booked Chris, he is fab he does all over Yorkshire, he has his packages on his website so have a look not sure what your budget is

https://www.chrischambersphotography.co.uk/

Hi Mark!

Thanks!! That'd be great!! You're only 25 mins away from me!! Shall I give you a call tomorrow to arrange??!

Also, my wedding isn't until October!!

Thanks Peter! Great site! - I will give you a call tomorrow if you're free?!

Just to avoid confusion, Morgan Photography isn't my site....its a known contact that I believe is worth checking for your area.....

Peter

I have nothing to add but had a look at that TOGs site and has she photographed a gypsy wedding?! The bride looks hideous!!

http://natasha.smugmug.com/Other/Garry-and-Emma-wedding/15270768_miJsy#1142475037_GrfS2

Of course, give me bell when you are setting off just to make sure I don't have clients in.

I'll have the kettle on ?

Mark

*post deleted*

If I go simply by the price, it seems like a good deal, but it all realisticness you are just getting the CD and 4 prints. Its been cleverly worded to seem like you are getting more.

More importantly, and this is the reason why she is cheap, I would not rate her as a great photographer. I see few examples of weddings for a start, and no evidence of other important details such as her insurance and backup equipment.

And looking at the actual photos themselves, they feeel just like snapshots. I'm not convienced that she was the main photographer on the wedding samples she has. There is lots of candid photographs, but the subjects don't make contact with the camera. Half of them are just the side of someones head. There doesn't appear to be an effort to find the right angle.

So, I'd say its cheap because you are getting a inexperienced, low skilled photographer. As others have said for not that much more you'll be able to book an excellent photographer instead.

You really need to meet her and really get an idea of what she is like. Ask all the questions, how many weddings has she shot? Is she a full time professional? Does she have insurance and backup equipment?

S.

Hi Rachel,

I just got an e-mail with your reply but when I got here... it had gone!!

If you want to message me, you can either pm me on here or send me an e-mail to: *********@*****.*** or add me on Facebook - Sarah Vernon

Sorry to Hijack this post but just wanted to ask the TOG:

In your opinion what are Graphi Studio books like?

Thanks

Hi Sarah,

I hope you don't mind me replying, because I'm not the tog...

I went into a photo studio once that had two samples, bobs? books (I think thats right?) and graphi studio. They were worlds apart. The bobs books were very poor quality and a friend of mine has one made by blurb which is also of a mediocre quality. the bobs? and blurb books are just awful. They look and feel cheap in every way.
Fine for a family album, but not for your wedding. I'd be really upset to have one as a wedding album.

Graphi studio on the other hand is a much higher quality book, very nice quality, polished and slick contruction. But on the downside they just don't feel personal. Just too corporate and manufacured. If you know what I mean.

What I do love is that my photographer has his own books made by a traditional bookbinder. Which match graphi studio in quality in everyway, except being handmade they have a much more wonderful personal quality to them. They feel very 'weddingy'

Graphi studio albums as beautiful as they are have a feeling to me that they could almost be a very high quality catalogue.