Looking for an amateur photographer for my wedding

[El_blue]

Hi,

I love photography, and I have been interested in it for years.

This coming summer I am getting married. It is a small and simple wedding, 16 guests maximum. My budget is tight, but I do want good photos of the day.

I would love to find an amateur photographer in the area where I am getting married (1000 islands area of New York state). People have been offering their relatives for this service, but am trying to find a nice way of saying that I want a photographer that is more skilled than I, and not someone goofing around with a point and shoot. I would hate to spend my wedding day telling the person taking the photos how to do it. I do not want to find myself behind the camera (for once).

I would like to find someone that would be available for 3 hours to take photos. No prints are necessary as I would like only the files. I do not mind if they have never photographed weddings before. My ideal amateur photographer would have a playful and an artistic sense of photography that would not mind working for about $300-400 on a lovely island in the 1000 islands area.

Does anyone have advice on how to find an amateur photographer looking for a first shot?

I really appreciate your advice.

Thank you,
El

PS if you are interested in seeing my photos they are on Flickr Flickr: cerulean_blue's Photostream

[bhursey]

Please o Please do not go out looking for the cheapest photographer out there. You may get a great amateur or you may get a terrible one. Make sure they have a decent portfolio. My recommendation is contact some local professional photographers and state what your looking for and normally they will work with you. You only get one chance to have the pictures taken of your wedding get some one who will do it correctly.

[El_blue]

[QUOTE=bhursey;13686[/QUOTE]

Sorry I have my budget. If you are just going to criticize my lack of funds please do not bother responding.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by El_blue

Sorry I have my budget. If you are just going to criticize my lack of funds please do not bother responding.

I didn't read that into Brian's response, I read well-founded advice to not go with the cheapest and to be sure and look at their existing body of work. Seems like sensible advice.

So how much you spending on booze and flowers?

(see, now that's more of the veiled slam on being cheap that you were eluding to)

[El_blue]

Sorry but I am getting told to not hold back with regard to the wedding on EVERYTHING! Dress, guest list, DJs, dance floors, the number of tiers on a cake and everything else you can think of. I am paying for this myself and I cannot go into debt to do so. I want a nice and simple day - I am not looking for perfect.


Please if you do not have advice on how to find someone just starting out then please do not tell me I need to spend more than I can afford. It is just not helpful in the least.

[Hill Country Hack]

Weddings can be very stressful, especially when paying for it without going into debt. The post by bhursey gave some good advice. Go to some local pros, explain your situation and maybe they will work within your budget.

As to how to use a amateur, I would use craigslist, advertise in the local paper, ask at a local frame shop if they know any photogs.

Best of luck in your search and be sure to look at their work.

[El_blue]

Thanks - The best rate I have found so far is $850 and that is still quite a stretch for my budget but they are offering more than I need. That is for 5 hours which is too much for a wedding that is a simple ceremony and a dinner for 12-16 people. I am thinking more like 2 hours - I do not think having a photographer capture us eating is necessary. Everything is taking place at a single location - the wedding is just family at a B&B. We are not having a dance or a huge blow out.

I noticed rates for engagement sessions are much less but the packages are more inline with what I need. I had not thought of advertising in local papers. I am not living in the area where the wedding will be so I may look into that.

Thanks
El

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by El_blue

Sorry I have my budget. If you are just going to criticize my lack of funds please do not bother responding.

I understand your situation and I am no way criticizeing you. Me and my wife paid compleaty our selves and we worked with a local photographer to work with our budget. He built a custom package for us. Even if that photographer can not meet your budget ask him for a reffrence. At the time i only made 8$ an hour and was a full time colledge student. That is what I am recommending. What I meant is talk to a professional photographer they may come down to your price. If you are higering a first time armature look at their portfolio and see if their photos and style matches what you want. I work with my customers budgets within reason. If I can not work with a client I have a list of other photographers I send them to.

I also have a list of new aspiring armature photographers who I have seen their work. I would be giving you names right now unfortunately I am in Georgia.

[El_blue]

Sorry - I did feel like a jerk right after my response to your post. I am just getting told from all ends that I do not have enough money for any part of the wedding and I am getting overly sensitive. My apologies.

At this point I am seeking out photographers that are beyond my budget and asking them to recommend an assistant willing to work for 2 hours for $500. I increased my budget beyond my comfort zone and really can go no higher.

[BigFuzzy]

The best piece of advice I can give (besides winning the lottery ) is to make sure you're absolutely comfortable with what they can show you.

Get a contract as well! Get what they promise you on paper in case there are issues.

And flat out ask them, after they've shown you their portfolio "you can duplicate this quality every time, right?" Put them on the spot. It'd be best if they send you a link to an online portfolio and you reply to them asking that question this way you have them on paper that you were promised at least that level of quality.

I do wish you the best of luck, it's tough to be in your situation, but don't be shocked if you get what you pay for.

Again.. get everything promised ON A CONTRACT!
Best of luck and congratulations by the way!