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Quote: Originally Posted by Julesr I love it. I am seriously thinking about doing this. How long did it take to get? I don't have much time left. It took less than a week to come in.

Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira What an awesome photobook! Also it's such a great idea to use this for your guestbook! Thanks! I thought it would be something I'd look at & enjoy later.

I just got this in Saturday. This will be the guestbook for our wedding. I'm going to make another one for the AHRs with wedding pictures. I chose the small 8x8 book for this one, because I don't think we'd have enough guest to fill up a big book. There are 20 pages, but I'm just posting a few because it's all about the same.

heidi, i thought that was you at first in the hair picture.

there is a search button on the upper right hand side. If you search dreams tulum you'll find tons of info on the forum. There are many review of the hotel & it sounds like a good choice. Welcome to the forum!

Quote: I think I'm going for a combination of these How are you fitting that 3rd one into the combo? It seems so different. I'm making a similar combo collection. I imagine I'll drive the hairdresser crazy. I want to be 25% this hair, with 15% this style, the front 25% like this & make the rest look like this.

Quote: Originally Posted by calyx6 Lisa used the Dreams Tulum photographer for her wedding. Here's one of the threads: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...a+dreams+tulum Photography is also very important to me so I decided to not chance it and lucked out by getting a great price with Robin De Paula. -V- Lisa's pictures are really nice. Much better than the photographer my hotel uses.

Wedding Directory - Find A Photographer - StrayWeddings.com - Destination Weddings in Mexico I found this website to be useful. It has a "packages starting at" section. We were just discussing using the hotel photographer just because it's part of the package in a different thread. The advice was not to hire someone & use the hotel photographer at the same time. Maybe see if they can shoot a different day for another event. Otherwise, just lose that part of your package. I was going to use the hotel photographer because they were within my budget of $600-$1000. Not that I don't value photography, but I'm working with a very small budget. I emailed my hotel WC & asked for info about who they use. She sent me the website & I was very unimpressed. The pictures are cheesy & very staged. After doing a little more research I've found there are plenty of good photographers who are within my budget in the area. I am waiting to hear back from Vanessa Vargas who Jason & Karen hired. I've also been in contact with Eduardo Machuca. I've talked to couple who were very happy with him. He's not as experienced, but I do like his photography style. His prices are also great. I'm very happy to see there are options as affordable as the hotel photographer that are much better.

my vote is for the first one too

Quote: Originally Posted by Deighton Thx 4 all the info and ideas! Y'all definitely answered many questions I have. but one more thing...has anyone used both the resort photog and an outside photog? My pkg includes 24 pics from the resort photog, but I'm not sure when those are to be taken. Anyone? What about having the resort photographer take pictures at another event like the welcome reception? Or do a casual session the day before.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jaysgirl119 Thank you for all your info. Are you staying at an Iberostar resort? That is my prob. the pics look very cheesy. I think I am just going to go with them. My fiance will not pay the $300 fee for an outside photog. So I will use them and have my cousin take some shots. Thank again for all your info. GL I don't have a fee for an outside photographer so I'm looking for someone else. They say the $300 fee is for their lost business. Could you pay them $300 to take pictures at a dinner, trash the dress pictures, or a casual session the day before? Then they'd still have your business, but you could get someone different for the wedding. I also wonder if you could talk to them about what you want and get them to take more natural pictures instead of cheesy staged ones. Maybe if you take more control of the shoot your pictures will turn out nice. The quality looks fine & there were some cute shots in the gallery. So between working with them to take pictures you like & then having your cousins pictures maybe you'll have all the good pictures you need. I understand not wanting to pay a $300 fee. It looks like another option is to have the photographer staying as a guest at the hotel & on your guest list. I also think some people have been able to get the fee removed.

I like 3 & 4. I voted for 3, but now I want to change it to 4. They are all great. I love the umbrella!

Quote: Originally Posted by Morgan What is it about the hotel photographers that is not as good? Are they not as experienced or do they not put as much time & effort into each wedding? Or is it that you don't have a guarantee they will do good work. I don't know how to find out their names or look at portfolios. I am really torn about what I should do. I feel a great photographer is worth every penny, but I am also trying to be strong about sticking to the budget I set for myself. I have a lot of friends attending who take great amature pictures, including the guy who did our engagement pictures, so I feel like they will capture some good pictures. I know it won't compair to the work you guys do, though. OK, I'm answering my own question. I saw some samples of pictures taken by the photographer my hotel uses. I was not impressed. They seemed kind of cheesy and definitly staged. Not at all what I want for my wedding pictures.

Here is someone's photobucket account with their pictures taken by foto caribbean. They are on page 11 & 12 of their account. jellybean1109 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting I was quoted $600 for 100 pictures plus negatives. I read several people saying they got the negatives thrown in for free. I think that would mean they paid around $400. Pretty cheap, but I've yet to find any non-staged pictures.

Foto Caribbean - Riviera Maya - Looking at their gallery, I can tell this is not my picture style. Most of the pictures look very staged. I like fun pictures, but these seem a little cheesy to me. The guys holding their jackets over their backs, the back to back poses, etc. It's not what I'm looking for. I'm now exploring options outside of the hotel photographer.

Foto Caribbean - Riviera Maya here is their website. I just learned they are the photographers for my hotel too. I'm searching for reviews, etc. now. I have a price sheet. PM me & I'll send it to you.

Quote: Originally Posted by MarlaB I really hate to ask this but what exactly is a MacBook? an apple notebook computer

The dress is perfect for mexico & a beach wedding!

Sarah, I love your book. I'm saving it in my shutterfly account to use for inspiration for my next book.

30AF-FS09 free shipping code I don't know how long it's good for. the free photobook offer worked for me. My book has already arived at my house too. Free 8.5" x 11" 20-Page Photo Book + 7 S/H - SlickDeals.net Forums on slickdeals they haven't said the offer is dead, but some people are getting free books plus 10 prints.

I've posted this & several other offers for free photobooks on the "coupon codes" page. the book from cozi is the easiest to get & you don't have to download the software. Also, if you are already a shutterfly member, check your inbox for a free shipping offer. they recently sent one out, but i think it expires today. Anyway, they offer free shipping pretty often to make the deal even better. I've been very happy with all of my shutterfly books. This offer is for one that has either a silk or suede cover. Both look very nice.

Quote: Originally Posted by jilly76 We were originally estimating about 20-30 ppl, then when we announced our plans so many people were excited and said they were definetly going, they were getting their passports, etc.... So we started thinking closer to 40 ppl, and then everyone had reasons why they couldn't go etc... I'm sort of expecting this to happen too. people always back out of little trips or parties, etc. I know some people will change their mind about the wedding. I think it's important to keep plans flexible so you don't have to worry about what guest will do. but I also think guest should be honest if they are not sure & tell you right away if they are thinking of not going. Especially if you are having to pay for their meal, etc. even if they don't show up.

chris issac wicked game especially if the pictures are of you rolling around in the sand & printed in black & white.

Quote: Originally Posted by NurseSarah How did you add the extra page Morgan? I couldn't figure it out! Well, maybe because I was ordering at 4am on a non-work night, but still...lol Above the options to change background & layout is a + page button. Were you able to import lumapix pages into shutterfly? I feel a little limited be the layout options.

Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira Wow! I had no idea you could get photo books so cheap! What a cute idea this is (not for a wedding album per se but for other things). I've posted several offers for free photobooks from shutterfly on the coupon codes page. The book is free & they often offer free shipping. Then I pay $1 to add an extra page to the end so there isn't a white page. For my wedding album I'll definitly make something fancier, but these are great for other stuff. They also make great gifts.