Visalia, Fresno Wedding Photographer, How To Choose A Wedding Photographer When You Have A Wedding Budget

Flickr Tags: Wedding,budget,photographer,Visalia,Fresno,Wedding Cordinator,troy wegner photography,sanger,madera,three rivers,best wedding photographer,cheap wedding photographer,photography,winery weddings

 

Wedding photography prices are all over the map. Some wedding photographers charge just a few hundred dollars to show up and shoot, some charge a few thousand dollars and some charge a small fortune to come and essentially do the same thing, right? After all, they are “just taking pictures” and with the technology that is available today, anyone can do it, right?

WRONG!

You’ve been planning your wedding in your mind since you were a little girl. You finally met the man of your dreams and he proposed. Now you have to actually plan your wedding; setting budgets, finding a venue, making decisions on who to invite,  what kind of flowers to have, finding the perfect dress, trying out different caterers, dealing with your future in-laws, the list goes on and on...

And then there’s the wedding photography; the one thing you have left to help you remember your emotions, events and details after the food has been devoured, the band has played, the flowers have withered and the guests have gone home. You soon come to find out that wedding photography prices vary widely. Some wedding photographers charge just a few hundred dollars to show up and shoot, some charge a few thousand dollars and some charge a small fortune. How to choose?!

Truth is, it’s hard to compare wedding photography prices because the numbers don’t always tell the whole story, so it’s important to compare apples to apples.

Here’s a real life scenario:

Let’s say you find 2 photographers who both have a package that cost $4,000.

For $4,000, Photographer A will shoot for 8 hours on the day of your wedding, include an engagement photo session, a framed print, a second shooter and a 20 page 11x14 album.

For the same $4,000 Photographer B will show up and shoot for 6 hours.

Which is the better deal? Well that all depends on the quality of the work and the experience the photographer delivers. What if Photographer A is brand new to the business and has only shot a handful of weddings? What if the album is made by some cheap manufacturer and has a funny smell to the faux leather? What if they take forever to return calls and emails and give you poor customer service? What if their work is average at best?  How do you feel about spending that $4,000?

Now let’s say Photographer B does an amazing job for his $4,000. He or she has tons of experience, the images are incredible, you had a blast being photographed and the customer service is top notch. Sure, you’re might have to spend a few thousand more dollars to get a nice album, but at least you will be in love with your images and you’ll enjoy them for years to come. I suggest you are getting better value for your money in this scenario.

I understand that there’s a lot of money being spent in the month leading up to the wedding and there is a lot to consider regarding wedding photography prices, in addition to all of the other vendors you are hiring for your wedding. I often advise my potential clients who are on a tighter budget to invest in the best wedding photography they can afford; get the best possible pictures first and foremost. You can always come back and order prints, albums & other products well after the wedding. (Traditionally paper is given as the first anniversary gift...may I suggest photo paper bound in a leather album?)

Disclaimer: I am certainly not suggesting that just because one wedding photographer has higher prices that they are automatically better. It’s still up to you to evaluate the skills and value provided by the photographers you are considering hiring.

Here is a simple checklist for you to use when trying to determine whether wedding photography prices are a good value or not:

Think about:

• The quality of the images  
• The quality of their albums
• The personality of the photographer, their presentation, their reputation and the service they deliver.

Also make sure to:

• Ask around. Getting referrals from trusted friends & colleagues is a great place to start.
• Do your homework. Browse through several photographers to find those you like who also fit your budget. 
• Meet them in person. You are stuck with your wedding photographer not only on your wedding day, but they’re usually the only vendor you have to deal with after your wedding is over. It’s important to hire someone you like and feel comfortable with.

Lastly, I suggest hiring a photographer who is passionate about their job. One who is dedicated to taking the best possible pictures on your day and delivering a remarkable experience to their clients. One who takes pride in the work they do and it makes in obvious for you to see. Invest in a professional who will take care of your memories.

I look forward to each wedding giving 110% and making images that can be presented as art. Always work with my couples I do everything possible to make the whole wedding day the best experience ever. I hope as you search for your wedding photographer that you would remember some of the information listed above as well as to consider me as your wedding photographer.

http://www.troywegnerphotography.com/

Picking A Wedding Photographer

Flickr Tags: visalia fresno wedding photographer,central california,central coast,the knot weddings,wedding style,wedding posing

You have been dreaming of your wedding day for years and planning it since you were a little girl having tea parties. Its one of the most important days of your life and you will share that day with the friends and family you love. While some of the memories from your dream wedding will gradually fade, your wedding pictures will live on. Here are a few tips to make sure your wedding pictures are exactly what you dreamed they would be.

Before hiring a wedding photographer I always recommend that brides and grooms take a look around the web and understand the difference in the main styles of wedding photography. Become an educated consumer by going to places like the knot. If you do not know what you want, then how can any wedding photographer or vendor give it to you? If you do not know, then how can they meet your needs completely. this is a recipe for a wedding disaster.  The question is do you know what you want? In general you could break wedding photography into a few popular styles like traditional, portrait or photojournalism.

After looking around the web for a few hours and coming up with some example for me to look at, most brides will say that they want their wedding images to be taken in the photojournalism style. Most brides do not want old fashioned portraits taken and they do not want cliché pictures either. However, there is another style of wedding photography that has become very popular in recent years, posed photojournalism. Huh?  What is that and do those words even go together, yes.  However, its also what most brides want and they do not even know it.

Posed photojournalism will make life easier for the bride and groom while the images simply just look better. This style gives you the wedding pictures you have dreamed of since you were a little girl. Most brides and grooms are not professional models and have no experience posing in front of the camera. How can you be expected to know how to pose for your wedding pictures? Its simple you cant. By getting together with a photographer who is playful and fun that will do anything to get you great wedding pictures, you will be on the right path to great images. Your wedding photographer should be there to help you and make sure that your pictures turn out perfect. Your job is to look beautiful, be happy, and get married. Our job as the photographer is to document your wedding day and make sure that you look your best.

You do not need to worry about the little things like is your hand in the right position, do you have a hair out of place or is your gown beautifully spread out with your veil showing?  I am watching carefully before the picture is taken and fixing or positioning anything that will improve your wedding pictures. Remember, by practicing posed photojournalism with your wedding photographer on your engagement shoot, you can relax on your wedding day and have more confidence that your images will look real and flow naturally.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog post and I look forward to meeting with any bride to be. If I can answer any questions you may have please feel free to contact me.  2twphoto@gmail.com

Complimentary Slide Show For Every Wedding Booked During December 2010. Troy Wegner Photography Visalia, Fresno Wedding Photographer.

 

LiveJournal Tags: wedding specials,wedding slideshows,visalia,fresno wedding photographer,wedding promotion,the knot

During the month of December we are happy to announce a promotion for every new wedding that is booked.  This promotion will Start on December 1, and run through December 31. 

You will receive a slideshow on DVD inside a leather folio and silk lined gift box.  This complimentary slideshow regularly sells for $299.00 and will be our gift to you for booking your wedding this month.  If you have been looking for a wedding photographer you may not want to look any further. Here is your opportunity to get an award winning slideshow using your best wedding images. You will also receive a link to share on all the major social sites.  All of your friends will love seeing the slideshow of your wedding playing from facebook.  You can Play the DVD on your computer or home theater system and relive those moments over and over.  For more information on Troy Wegner Photography and our wedding collections please visit our website at  www.troywegnerphotography.com  also on the right of this blog is a wedding gallery of images to browse. You can email us at 2twphoto@gmail.com with any questions or date availability.

As you are planning your wedding for 2011 you can take advantage of this 2010 special. Let us help jump start your planning with this premium product.  Dates are booking for 2011, don’t hesitate and miss out on this promotion. 

Baby Announcement

LiveJournal Tags: Fresno,Visalia,family,baby,photographer,baby announcements

 

Had the wonderful time of taking baby Penelope’s first pictures. Born in October she was only two and a half weeks old. We spent the evening in the studio with the heater cranked up cooking us all out, but Penelope was comfortable. She never fell asleep and was awake for her first session.  I know her parents were really hoping she would stay awake for the pictures as well.  As a Photographer It doesn't matter to me if the baby is awake or asleep but I do prefer to let them fall asleep.  With a new born the iris is not yet set and eyes can look solid black and or the baby just gets upset.  Its also when they are asleep we can get those really precious poses and once they are positioned that is how they will stay. Either way how can you not get a great photo of a new born right?!  Penelope was such a great baby never once did she cry or seem to get uncomfortable. Thanks for the great session Penelope! 

Central California and Destination Wedding Photographer

Liberty Station Point Loma Wedding in San Diego, Visalia Fresno Wedding Photographer Troy Wegner

 

I had a great opportunity to shoot in San Diego at Liberty Station in the Point Loma area with David Donovan. Liberty Station is an old Military Barracks that have now been converted to many shops and restaurants as well as a few hotels that have been built amongst everything.  The location is just West of the San Diego International Airport. Having beautiful water ways and parks that divide you from the airport area. 

Mikki and George tied the knot at the Marriot Hotel. The ceremony was outside on the beautiful grass lawn with the water behind them. The hotels amenities worked out great as the wedding parties booked rooms and we had a short distance to go for all the getting ready shots with each of the wedding parties. Having everyone get ready in the rooms allowed enough time to get some great photos under the bridges outside.

Mikki and George chose to do a “First Look” under the bridges. I do highly recommend for Brides to consider a first look as it allows for some great photos and it really is a very special moment that can be captured like no other.  Once the first look and that special time was captured we moved onto doing the wedding party shots. Again, highly recommended because now most of the wedding party is photographed and all that is left would be the ceremony and family shots. I have found that maintaining a schedule like this really helps to maintain a smooth rhythm for the wedding day and all the pictures are not piled up after the ceremony when everyone really just wants to get to the reception. 

Mikki and George had hired a Wedding Coordinator that was awesome. I would have to say this was the best coordinator I have worked with thus far. He did a fabulous job keeping everything on time, giving any heads up needed. Not only did he keep things running smoothly but  if he noticed a detail that was crooked or out of place he would take it upon himself to either fix it or make mention of it.  Helping us to keep  details in the photos perfect. Most of all, he did not tell us how to photograph. Trusting and leaving the entire creative process to be the photographers job, nice! That is why we are there!! I would highly recommend to anyone considering a coordinator to find a good one within your budget.

As some weddings can be covered by one photographer having two really takes any added stress off the main photographer and adds additional coverage. I was asked to second shoot for this venue by Dave.  The venue turned out to be really fantastic and the weather was just gorgeous. I just want to say thanks to Dave and the Wedding party for the opportunity to share in the very special day and for giving me another great wedding and venue to shoot. I am also happy to give out a link to Dave's photography business on my blog as we both work together often. http://www.ddonovanphoto.com

I hope you enjoy some of my images below.