To hire or not to hire??? That is the question...

[loreli79]

 

Hire the Resort Photographer or Not....that is the question....

 

Hi all! I am new to this forum. My fiancee & I are getting married at Excellence Riviera Cancun in April 2012. I've been dealing with Nayeli & just received my wedding confirmation number. I am now starting to research the resort photographer. Anyone out there deal with Massimo Volpi from VIP Weddings? I really don't know what to about the photographer. Of course you feel you have to work with the resort's photographer because their services (well, some of them) are included in your wedding package. We choose the Excellence of Love Package. The services of my photographer include only the following:

- Shooting during the ceremony only

- (24) 5x 7 prints

If I want larger prints, digital files or a longer shooting session it's all additional. Astronomically additional. For instance, to get 1 digital file of 1 picture will cost me $ 15/pc. I don't know, that seems high, But it could be the going rate for all I know. 

I reached out to a few photographers that are not affiliated with the resort. They got back to me immediately, and were very easy to communicate with. Plus I was able to see their large portfolio's online so I know what I"m getting myself into. I didn't really have this experience with the resort photographer. 

Any advice out there ladies? I'm not trying to blow my budget on a photographer. But on the other hand I don't want terrible pictures. But on the other hand I think, the place is sooooo beautiful how could there be a bad picture?

 

 

 

I'm a newb at this forum so if this is in the wrong thread, MODs please move it... thanks!

[DWeddStepByStep]

Hi Loreli,

 

Your DW photos is the key to keeping your DW alive, well after your DW, for yourself and your husband, friends, family, even for your children.  (Wouldn't you like to show your children what a beautiful DW you had? =))

 

First thing I would do is to check if outside photographer is allow at your resort.  If it is, I would ask if there is a fee for using an outside photographer.

 

If it is allow and you are ok with the fee (if there is one), I recommend you to look at the portfolios of other photographers to see which photographer has photos that touches you, moves you emotionally and how well they capture the moment.

 

Yes, the resort is amazing and anyone can catch one or two good still picture and maybe a few great pic here and there, but a professional can consistently deliver photos that moves you, touches you and capture the moments.  Thats what you want.

 

I understand the photographer is in the package but if it cost loads to print afterward and you dont' know what quality of a photographer you are getting.  Its useless.  Do you want a lot of great pictures for your DW that you know you will get or a few pic that you dont' even know if the photographer can deliver?

 

Even if it is not allow, or they charge a fee I would still recommend to hire a great professional photographer for a photo session just the two of you.  You will not regret it.

 

I hope this helps =)

Brian

 

 

[jamieirene]

Hmmmm... I don't know much about your photographer but mine is an outside vendor...he'll be thwre all day unlimited pictures for 1500.00 I get all pictures on digital file.... think about it say you want. 100 pictures your already at 1500.00. To me that seems a bit over priced!

[Sharon99]

If you hire a 3rd party photographer at Excellence make sure you ask them if they are allowed there. I am having issues with Excellence Playa Mujeres...apparently their policy has changed AFTER I booked mine(they said it was fine originally) & I am now getting screwed.

 

[TATrisha]

There are multiple ways to look at this.

 

The resort photographer will be familiar with the resort.  They know it like the back of their hand.  They know the lighting at the certain times regardless of the time of year, and they know the typical spots. You could go home with 124 photos of your ceremony for $1500 and be perfectly happy.

 

If you hire a third party, you're more likely to get a more personalized experience but they won't know the resort as well.  Technically could be a good thing as you won't have as "traditional" of photos, but you have to find a good photographer who knows how to work the provided lighting. 

Sadly, I believe Excellence is one of the resorts that won't allow you to bring in local third party vendors.  I believe you will need to pay for a photographer to stay for three nights to be considered a guest at their resort.  When you add up the costs, this honestly isn't a bad deal at all and probably shockingly less expensive and more bang for your buck than hiring the resort photograher, but it's not for everyone. 

 

So, what i would do if I were you is look at other destination wedding photographs, or any wedding photographs.  Which ones do you love?  Do you love the getting ready photos and the candid shots of the ladies getting ready?  Do you love the ceremony shots where you capture putting the ring on the finger and the first kiss?  Do you love the private portrait sessions where the bride and the groom seem so happy and in love?  What about the reception photos?

This wedding is a one time deal.  Photographs are all you'll have to remember it by.  Personally, I love the ceremony photos from my wedding, but I treasure the other photos of our family and friends celebrating with us, and the portraits of my husband and I far more than our ceremony photos.

[Sharon99]

Excellence allows 3rd party vendors, they are just giving an issue with 2 specific vendors. You will not need to pay for them to sleep there but you will need to pay a day pass fee for any outside vendor to come.

Good luck!

[IvanLuckiePhotography]

Outside vendor photographers of excellence are allowed, it may not now, just make sure, in written, that we are allowed for your specific event.

 

good luck!

Ivan

[SunsetLove]

 

 

Originally Posted by loreli79 

 

 

Hire the Resort Photographer or Not....that is the question....

 

Hi all! I am new to this forum. My fiancee & I are getting married at Excellence Riviera Cancun in April 2012. I've been dealing with Nayeli & just received my wedding confirmation number. I am now starting to research the resort photographer. Anyone out there deal with Massimo Volpi from VIP Weddings? I really don't know what to about the photographer. Of course you feel you have to work with the resort's photographer because their services (well, some of them) are included in your wedding package. We choose the Excellence of Love Package. The services of my photographer include only the following:

- Shooting during the ceremony only

- (24) 5x 7 prints

If I want larger prints, digital files or a longer shooting session it's all additional. Astronomically additional. For instance, to get 1 digital file of 1 picture will cost me $ 15/pc. I don't know, that seems high, But it could be the going rate for all I know. 

I reached out to a few photographers that are not affiliated with the resort. They got back to me immediately, and were very easy to communicate with. Plus I was able to see their large portfolio's online so I know what I"m getting myself into. I didn't really have this experience with the resort photographer. 

Any advice out there ladies? I'm not trying to blow my budget on a photographer. But on the other hand I don't want terrible pictures. But on the other hand I think, the place is sooooo beautiful how could there be a bad picture?

 

 

 

I'm a newb at this forum so if this is in the wrong thread, MODs please move it... thanks!

 

Just curious, what did you end up deciding on? We hired an outside photographer but we will still get the 24 photos that are included from the in-house photographer. Your wedding date is just around the corner, how exciting! I would love to see your photos afterwards so I can see what's in store for me )

 

[MsBlissMpls]

We ended up hiring Adrian Herrera of Victor Herrera Photography. After looking at VIP photos, not feeling their work would capture our day the best, and having to pay a $500 outside vendor fee to VIP just to have an outside photographer come to the resort we were so disappointed that we just ignored the 24 VIP photos that came with our package. It's absolutely absurd that VIP should get $500 because they want to discourage outside photographers from coming to "their territory". 

 

We then did a TTD with Del Sol 2 days after our wedding. The ONLY reason we even picked this resort was because of the AMAZING Del Sol photos we found online, taken from a time when they were allowed on the resort. If Excellence knows what is best for them in the long run they will open the doors to Del Sol & La Luna again soon. Everyone just wants to be happy with their photos and have a beautiful resort, time to get rid of the politics. 

 

We feel like we got the best of everything being we get our Del Sol photos and we didn't have to work with VIP. I hope Excellence resorts looks at their contract with VIP and sees that it is not in their best interest to have a so-so photographer as their In-house photographer and have such a crazy fee to make VIP happy. 

[Moments That Matter]

Congrats on your Excellence Resort wedding, carolynac!!! that's a great way to capitalize on the resort photographer services, well done!!!

 

Would love to see your photos when you get them too......."a picture is worth a thousand words"........FUN !!!

 

 

team MTM asst, Lynda