Photography package question(s)

Hey ladies...I am in the process of picking a photographer and all of the packages offered by various ones are all starting to run together for me!

Please weigh-in:

1. How important is it to have one photographer vs. a two photographer team shoot the event? Are the benefits more than obviously more shots to choose from?

2. What are the most essential elements to get in a package. I dont want to spare any expense, but i also dont want a lot of extras that I will never "use". For instance...should I opt for a photographer that gives the proofs as part of the package? What about the slideshow and/or website?

thanks for taking the time to answer.

for me, a second shooter is our insurance...if God forbid i miss an important shot or i didnt get the best angle, the second shooter got it! and, the second photog is with the groomsmen while im with the bride for the getting ready shots.

as for product, the disc is all you really need...you can do the rest for pennies on your own from there so i think its best to spend money on a good photog willing to give out a disc verses buying/getting product from a photog that may not have as much experience.

If you are looking for a good photographer look into Del Sol photography. I plan on using them for my wedding and they have been fantastic as far as responding to my questions. With Del Sol everything is a la carte so you can make a package that suites your own needs. They are a little pricey but if you go to there website you will see why. I believe you get 2 photographers in the hourly package.

If you email them they will send you a copy of the prices and answer all of your questions.

The most important part of the package for me was digital negatives. With that I can get my own prints, make my own photobooks, slideshows, etc. I love doing that kind of stuff myself so it wasn't something I was looking for in a photography package.

You have to consider that when looking at prices. if you are getting a CD of your images, you will save a lot of money after the wedding on prints so you can budget more for a photographer.

Most photographers will make a custom package for you so if you don't need all those extras you can skip them & either save money or get more photography time.

Thanks for posting this question. Getting a photographer and just getting the digital negatives is a great idea. I don't like to take pics so having to spend money on doing something I detest didn't sit well with me. This would be a great compromise with the FI!

the most important thing though, and one reason some photogs have a hard time giving out the disc only...its important to get prints or product from a quality lab...NOT WAL-MART or your basic home printer and many of the common labs you see out there, you can pay wal-mart prices or less, for quality prints. the best print quality ive seen that is very user friendly, is mpix.com if not, its in a way pointless hiring a good photog because a crappy lab can ruin the color which is one main reason you hire a photog.

Joy, what's important to YOU?

I only had one shooter at my wedding. I really don't think paying for a second shooter is a necessity. Yes, it's nice, and if the photographer you fall in love with has one, that's great. But don't make your decision based on that. Yes, you do get more pictures but how many do you really need. My one photographer shot 1800 pictures, over 300 of which I LOVE in 6 hours.

In terms of the "extra" stuff, it is totally individual. What would you do with the CD of pictures if you had them? Are you going to make your own photo books? Do you want to make your own slideshows, your own prints? Some people are into that stuff, some are not. Some photographers offer great packages with all that stuff built it. Do you want a slideshow, or could you make one yourself in Windows movie maker? Again, it just depends on what's important to you.

My #1 advice to you... don't pick your photographer soley based on package or price. Look at lots of different photographer's work. Talk to their clients, look at WHOLE weddings they've done- not just their "best" shots on their website. Then, make yourself a list of things you just can't do without, and compare that to the list of photographers you decide you love. That should help lead you to your decision...

Good luck!

I wish I had the option my resort has limited me to 2 photographs both of whom i'm not keen on so i'm a bit stuffed

If you can do it and its in your budget why not, but really I agree with everyone else its your decision and what you want

I know this thread has been dead for a few months...but I've been looking at photography sites, and reading different forums and lots of photogs don't give out a high res disc any more, nor do they give out digital negatives, (I'm still not sure if that's the same thing). I even saw on one messageboard where one photog told another that the client can ask all they want, but the only way he'd budge is if they were willing to buy the digital negatives/high res disc at 1,000 an image. Of course I know he was being cheeky it makes me wonder-

how difficult will it be to get the high res disc/digital negatives? And if the photog isn't willing to supply, it it grounds to walk away and try my luck at another?