Me: “Didn’t I meet you last year at the ‘X’ bridal show?”
Girl: “Yes, and I have to tell you that I really wish I would have gone with a different photographer.”
Now I want to state that they did not say that they wished they would have chosen me as their photographer, just someone (anyone) different!
One girl (let’s call her Sarah) said that photography was where she was able to cut back her budget so she had a family friend (who had a really nice camera and like to take photos) do her photography. Sarah’s exact words to me were “I should have hired a professional to take my wedding photos.” She went on to tell me that the photos did not turn out well, and beside that, she had to instruct her photographer on everything to do and what she wanted. So, Sarah was actually doing all the thinking and leg work, she just was not the one pushing the shutter button! Sarah also told me that her wedding photos are the only regret from her wedding day... and that makes my heart sad.
The other girl (we will call her Ashley) said that she was on a budget so she pretty much selected the cheapest photographer she could find. Her photographer claimed to be a professional but after the wedding day it took her several months to even see her photos. The photographer apparently claimed that Ashley’s photos did not turn out because it rained on the wedding day, and she was working on fixing them. Now I don’t even know what that means, or how that works, but that is what her photographer said to her (according to Ashley), since we do not have the other side of that story.
I asked Ashley how much she spent for her wedding photography and asked her what she got for that price. Now, I did not tell Ashley this, but if she would have booked me instead of the other photographer last year, it would have only cost her $150-$200 more for pretty much the same stuff, maybe 1 hr less of coverage on her wedding day. (Now please don’t get me wrong, there are great photographers out there maybe charging less to get experience and get their foot in the door, I am not saying that all cheap/ cheaper wedding photographers are bad or unprofessional)
I do want to ask you though: What are your wedding photos worth to you? What would it be worth to you to see your photos within the first week or two after your wedding (instead of months)? What would it be worth knowing that despite rain, sun, drama and/or the schedule of the day running behind that you will still get great photos because you are working with someone who has dealt with it all? What would it be worth to you to work with someone with creative ideas and enthusiasm to give you the best photos possible? Would it be worth $200 more, $500 more, $1000 more to have wedding photos you will be happy to look at forever? I think so, and I hope you agree.
If you do agree then please talk to me or any other professional wedding photographer and don’t make your wedding photos your regret… because remember the photos last forever!
So much love to you, Jess
and since all posts are better with a picture, here is a Penny & Ashley peek.
