think ive found a tog!

I'm glad you have finally found your tog.

Is he a full time tog? How much experience does he have? Have you seen samples of his work?

£299? I'm sorry but this sounds too good to be true.

I'm inclined to agree with Trickers2, it does sound like a bargain, I'd be doing my research, , , ,

Hope it all goes well Hun, , ,

Hmmmm i'm pretty intrigued ? I'm in Rotherham, so have been looking all over Yorkshire for a TOG, but no way have I found one this cheap! .. I sense too good to be true too. Hope it works out for you though.

That is seriously cheap! Have you got a link to his website as other hitchers might be interested at that price.

Panda also wants to be nosey!

I hope you will get a chance to check out their work, before booking. I mean *in the flesh* and not just on their site.

I would pay more than that just to book a second, 100% professional, photographer to second for me for 12 hours.

Check if they are insured, how long they have been in business. All the common sense things.

This does sound too good to be true, and being an insider and knowing how much everything actually costs in professional photography, I know this cost would barely cover a pro-standard album after VAT and delivery costs... I won't even mention the photographer's time to edit your images, create the album, petrol, pro insurance, equipment wear, and so much more which makes professionals charge what they do.

The old addage *You get what you pay for* is very much alive in professional photography, especially in the days when anyone who buys a digital camera and puts up a basic site feels they are entitled to use the title *Professional Wedding Photographer*.

Having said all that, I know that not everyone can afford the prices being charged by many photographers, and as such I add my best wishes on your search and hope you have found a true bargain...

Andrea de Gabriel

Does he actually mean 'copyright free' or 'licence to print'?

No photographer worth their weight would give away copyright...

Sounds too good to be true to me... sorry

My tog did!

I agree though that it sounds to good to be true.

Http://www.gumtree.com/p/business-services/wedding-photography-your-way-autumnwinter-packages/85588926

Im going to do some real reasearch this evening but after talking to a friend he did her sisters wedding she is guna ask if we can borrow the album before we actually meet with the tog!

at least tht way we will see what he classes as proffessional.

thanks though guys will let you know how we get on!

xx

Ok guess I didn't search hard enough for that! haha. Still seems too good to be true.

Sammi23 have you met the TOG yet? I've done a bit of digging and he does have good reviews for his modelling pics.

No not yet spoke to him on the phone though today and sounds as proffessional as the rest we have spoke too! (if thts possible!)

Said would speak to OH tonight, i have quickly googled his name and read the modelling reviews awaiting to see friends album too! see what we think of that.

Will you give us a quick update when you've seen the album?

I'm very much intrigued as we're still looking for a TOG, and being on a tight budget don't want to pay £1000s for them. Especially when we'll probs look at them a handful of times then throw them at the back of the cupboard!

xx

But that would mean he wouldn't be able to use them himself, on his website for example.

I also agree that it sounds way to good to be true!

Some togs do, although its not someting that I would. I do offer rights to print though.

Regarding the original post, a good check on any photographer is to see how they deal with extremes of lighting conditions such as bright sun and low light (in churches or reception venues). He may well be a start up photographer in weddings which explains the incredibly low price. Do check as well as to what album is included and see examples of what you will be getting....?

Peter

That is so crazily cheap, its either a scam or they are total amateurs.

Lets just go through a couple of basics.

2 photographers at 12 hours each is 24 hours.

Then lets add another 2 hours for a consultation and another 3 hours for a prewedding shoot and another 3 hours for a boudiour shoot.

Thats 32 hours so far, if we then assume that they will spend another 4 hours 'fully retouching' your prewedding shoot and another 4 'fully retouching' your boudiour shoot we are up to 40 hours.

As a rough guess then to 'fully retouch' all the photos from a 12 hour wedding you must be talking 2 days or 16 hours work easy.

That 56 hours!

Which when you divide £299 by 56, means the photographer will be earning £5.33 an hour. And thats under minimum wage and we still haven't deducted anything for the 16x12 print in a frame and the storybook album or petrol etc. not to mention running costs such as equipment and insurance etc. and don't forget there are 4 trips involved in here with petrol costs, consultation, prewedding shoot, boudiour shoot, wedding, each incurring petrol costs.

They must be making a loss, which means they are absolute amateurs or conmen.

Sorry, but if its too good to be true, it normally is.

Being a wedding photographer myself, what sgreen and Peter says is sooooo true !

I'm sorry, but 299 for all that....NO WAY !

They are making a HUGE loss in order to attract clients, I would be extremely sceptical of their work. Do you have a link to their website ?

Thanks

Dean

www.deancarney.com

Can I ask where you saw this as the package advertised on gumtree is different? x

Hi There

I have worked with lots and lots of different photographers and you definately get what you pay for. You only get once chance to get those shots. Definately have a meeting and research, research, research.

Good Luck and let us know how you got on!

Laura

Soulmates

this is the link you would need

/business-services?adRemoved=true

and we are meeting with him tonight after seeing my friends album we have deided to meet him.....only time will tell. he has had some very good reviews!

Thanks, found it here actualy /business-services?adRemoved=true

let us know how you get on!

Www.stuartsphotographyleeds.co.uk

You get what you pay for.

As a guide, I cover an all day wedding for £999 on a supply only basis with my second shooter at £400.

I consider myself competetively priced so I'm gravely concerned at how much is being offered for so little and to me it's not a business plan that makes sense.

The meeting has been fantastic.....every question was answered, his work is brilliant showed us exactly what he does.

asked the big question over price and we were very happy with his reply!

only time will tell what we decide to do!

Good for you that the meeting went well, but I would be seriously asking, why would an established tog of 25 years with good reviews need to do such cheap packages, why would he be advertising on gumtree, and why would he use 2 different ads on gumtree, each with slightly different information? It says on the website that the basic charge for half of what you've been offered is £1000... OH thinks (he's probably just being a bit crazy) that the gumtree person is just a scam, linking to someone else's website...

But obviously if you've had the meeting and everything is reassured, then only you can make the decision! Just sounds dodgy to me!

Even a photobox album costs £40, couple of framed photos are £20

So, up to 24 hours of photography (2 x 12 hours), 3-4 days worth of editing and a boudoir shoot for £240?

Not buying it in the slightest. That's a weeks work for £260 for one person, the other needs to get paid....do they give receipts and pay tax on that?

Yes it is true: And yes we are professional and yes we are insured!

The promotion is simple! I've done this for the last twenty odd years (ie given a promotion offer around August/September time): On average every wedding I have done at this price has generated three full price weddings. This makes it both cost effective and cheaper than advertising at the myriad of wedding fayres (or fairs - the spelling changes). Moreover, I don't really need copyright to use in advertisement as I have a body of work: And yes I do happily show this work to potential clients in the flesh and not just on the web! They see my work and nine times out of ten book me within ten minutes.

We can deal with any weather (indeed we even supply umbrella's when it rains and set up inside venue studio's when it has been impossible to shoot outside): Send clients shooting lists which they can Ok before the wedding. And consult the clients through the whole of the wedding process. We even produce gorgeous DVD slide shows to go with the package because we like to make sure that the day is never forgotten.

Sometimes things are too good to be true but not in this case:

Regards

Stuart

Stuarts Photography, Leeds

Not sure why you find it odd that I do, essentially, what a supermarket does in terms of a lost leader. Moreover, it is also a way to deal with the less than professional photographers too. So, sorry, not sure what the argument is here there as I explained that this "loss leader" generates profit to cover insurance, equipment etc, etc (as does my rather successful agency work in the sphere of music photography).

The issue of copyright is simply agreed in writing on the receipt the photographs are copyright free: Not simply licence free. If I do find I want to use a picture that I have assigned copyright to I simply negotiate with the couple who, more often than not, allow me to use it licence free.

Of course I need this term and condition. I have never used it but would the couple prefer not to have the wedding photographs taken if I should be run over by the proverbial bus on the day of their wedding? Of course, I would only sub-contract under exceptional circumstances and with the couples agreement. But essentially, this T and C covers the couple rather than me. Moreover, I would not simply sub-contract to anything other than a bona-fide professional photographer.

Hope this deals with this issue

Regards

Stuart

The answer to that is yes in both cases! (and quite a lot of tax too!)

Fair enough. I'm struggling with the business ethics though.

If you usually get 3 weddings from every booking, there must be a point where you get too many weddings so have to turn down work.

Logical business sense would be to raise prices to stifle demand.

How many weddings do you do a year?

We are getting married in Yorkshire and having these guys. We get two photographers for the whole day and they've been brilliant to discuss things with.

http://www.fashionable-weddings.co.uk/

-Laura

I usually have weddings every other weekend from April to September and interestingly October is becoming popular next year for some reason with three weekend weddings and four weekday wedding already booked for 2012 and bookings for 2013 and 2014 (those the 2014 are somewhat provisional booking I have to say). When I have run this particular promotion I've not really had to turn down many weddings. as essentially working every other weekend generates less than 40 weddings on the basis of three weddings from a wedding, with quite a percentage on weekdays and Sundays.

I love what I do so and I really don't want to stifle demand. I'm happy with what I make and if I can make my photography more affordable for couples that's what I do. I'd rather do three affordable weddings rather than one where I make a huge profit!

Stuart

That's really interesting to know Stuart.

I've had 46 this year with 31 for next year already. No bookings for 2013/ 2014 yet and I was at a wedding fair yesterday with not one person getting married later than 2012. You're tapping a market I've yet to encounter

Don't let the workload bite you in the ass

Hi Stuart, and welcome to the forum. Its interesting to see your angle on this thread. When we see low priced photography on this forum, it is often backed up with little substance from start up togs, although your plan is a little different as you mix low prices with normal prices and long term experience. I have myself offered discounts as part of charity prizes both on this forum and elsewhere. What I need to substantiate with my couples though is WHY I can do one wedding at one reduced "prize" price and exactly the same coverage for other couples at a different cost. The reality is that I take a loss on the charity prize wedding although this is a price that I am happy to take to support the right charities. I am fortunate that I have a substantial corporate non wedding side that enables me to keep the weddings at a lower cost.

Peter