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Devoted September 2022

Photography debacle

Carissa, on April 23, 2021 at 1:39 PM Posted in Planning 0 16
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Hello all! I just want person input basically. I have narrowed our photographer down to 2 options:



Option A: i have lusted after her photography for years. Every time I see wedding photos that make me say WOW, they are always done by her. Just perfectly my style, and I've always told myself working with A would be a non-negotiable for my wedding. But then real planning starts and money is a factor- she is about $3300 for the package we would go with, which in what I'd say is the upper end of "average" cost in my area.
Option B: I found her through wedding wire I believe. She is newer to wedding photography, with this being her first couple years of doing weddings on her own. I LIKE the portfolio photos I've seen of hers. They are nice and light and airy, which is what I like, but she isn't like 100% my style match like photographer A. The price of the comparable package we would go with here is about $2200, so a full thousand less.
I've managed to talk myself one way, and then right back the other. Part of me says to go with option B, save the money, and maybe since she's newer she would be more open minded to seeing the style I like and emulating it. But then a friend said to me "you will never regret paying too MUCH if you get photos you love, but you will regret paying to LITTLE if you get back photos you dont like."
What would you go with in this scenario?

16 Comments

Latest activity by Mila, on April 30, 2021 at 4:35 PM
  • T
    Super April 2021
    Tiger Bride ·
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    Option A. $3300 isn't a ton for photos in the grand scheme of things, and if you're confident you'll get photos you want, it's worth it. Your friend is right!

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  • Lisa
    Rockstar July 2022
    Lisa ·
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    Me personally, the photos are the most important thing (obviously apart from marrying my fiance). These are the memories I will have for the rest of my life. I would personally pay more to get photos I love, rather than spend less and risk not liking my photos as much. If the photographer whose photos you love is in your budget, I would definitely choose that one! If not in your budget, maybe keep looking for a different option that's cheaper than option A, but whose photos you still like?
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  • H
    Devoted August 2023
    Hhh ·
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    Option A ☺️. It sounds like photography is a HUGE priority for you, and that’s totally ok! There should be some parts of your day that you absolutely 💗, and some that meet the needs of a wedding. Find one of the less exciting aspects and cut back there. The good news is that $1000 extra is not so large that you can’t recover.
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  • R
    Super September 2018
    Rachel ·
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    Go for option a! This is one of the few times in your life to splurge on photographer, get what you love. $1000 difference is nothing if you consider for how many years you’ll look back at these photos. 😊 I’d advise against hoping to influence option B’s photography style. It’s one thing to have a shot list or inspiration photos, but I think it’s overstepping and may backfire if, for example, you ask a light and airy photographer to shoot in a dark and moody style.
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  • Natalie
    Devoted January 2022
    Natalie ·
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    How much is 1000 in the grand scheme of your wedding? If your overall budget is 35,000 that's a different equation than if your overall budget is 10,000.

    In general....go for the one you love. Photos are the only thing from a wedding that will last FOREVER. The food will be gone at the end of the night, ditto the dancing and the flowers will die and you need to leave the venue. But those photos may be hanging in your home forever. If you have kids, they will look at them, if they have kids your grandkids will look at them. I would make it work...either by extending the budget by 1000, or cutting stuff here and there (go for smaller centerpieces, or silk flowers rather than real, or ditch the photobooth or uplighting in the DJ package, or go for the cheaper dress, etc etc...so many ways to cut back here and there.)

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  • A
    Super December 2020
    Anais ·
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    If you have the money for it, I would 100% go for option A. You’ve obviously loved this photographer for a while and I think there will always be a part of you that would regret it/wonder what the pictures could have been if you don’t hire her.
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  • Melanie
    Dedicated June 2019
    Melanie ·
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    I would choose option A. Photos are such an important part of the wedding, I wouldn’t want you having any regrets about it. I think you can find other parts of the budget you could take that 1000 out of, if you might have problems affording them.
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  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    Go with option A since you love them. At the end of their day, after flowers die and cake is eaten, you really only have your new spouse, your memories and photos. Memories fade but photos don’t. On the flip side, a good photographer is not limited to one style only (dark and dramatic or light and airy).

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  • Sharonda
    Super January 2021
    Sharonda ·
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    I agree with the previous posters. You don't want to go with option B and look back later and wish you had chosen the photographer you love or wonder what those pictures would have looked like. If you can afford it, get what you really want!

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  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    Whatever your friend said was pretty wise.

    my bff went with a cheaper photographer and she said her photos sucked. if you find that you prioritize photos as one of the important aspects you want then i do think it is ok to spend the extra for it

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  • D
    June 2021
    Dj Tanner ·
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    I would definitely go with option a! I’m telling you, if you don’t do it, you will always think back and wish you did. And think about it… With all of the money that you’ve spent, once an extra thousand bucks for your dream photographer at this point? Who knows… You may even end up saving 1000 bucks in the long run once you start getting your RSVPs in. Even if 10 people RSVP no, that’s a decent chunk of cash that you’ll have left. Then you are going to be stuck in a contract with someone else wishing that you knew you were going to save an extra thousand at the end of your wedding.
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  • Nicole
    Master September 2020
    Nicole ·
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    This isn't even a choice. Go with Option A. If photos are as important to you as they are coming across as being, then you will not be sorry that you spent the extra money on the photographer you loved. We spent more than I had planned on our photographers because at the end of the day, no other photographer's work called to me like theirs did. I am 10000% happy with the decision we made as our pictures are absolutely stunning. I know I would have regretted not hiring the photographers we did.

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  • Angie
    Dedicated June 2021
    Angie ·
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    Go with option A
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  • CountryBride
    VIP April 2022
    CountryBride ·
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    I say option a you get to do this one time so make it count can you cut costs anywhere? Maybe go cheaper on the flowers decor ?
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  • M
    Master October 2021
    Mrs.a ·
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    Option A without a doubt! Just because you’re offered a better deal doesn’t mean it’s the best option.

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  • Mila
    Savvy January 2022
    Mila ·
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    Option A for sure!

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