mrs2be.ie

[waterplily]

Help! I'm confused.

I'm planning my wedding from England and I'm looking for a wedding photographer in Ireland to capture the day. The trouble I have is that I'm really not 100% sure what I should be looking asking of them and how I'll know the real quality. It's difficult trying to judge just on the websites and or blogs.

Also, what's the kind of prices you're coming across? I'm finding my self surprised by the costs involved.

[Mallow]

If you let the girlies know where here your getting married they can recommend someone in the area, although most will travel, but it would be handier for you to have someone in the area as I assume you'll be over before the wedding so it would make meeting them in person easier for you. Have a look at the suppliers on here too

[hugbear]

Work out your budget and go from there... no point in finding one you love then realising he/she is way outa your budget.... then have a good look online... arrange a meeting for next time your over.

[waterplily]

I'm getting married in Co. Kildare.
As for budget, I reckon I way underestimated the cost of a photographer. I'm seeing prices starting @ E1,000/1,200. I really wasn't expecting that kind of money to be the starting price.

[hugbear]

Try http://weddingphotographyireland.net/
We used him, our package was €795... was absolutly delighted with the pics!!!

[Mike Burke Photography]

Hi Waterplily,
Hopefully I can help you with a view from the other side.
I can't really help on prices - they range widely from around €800 upwards - a lot depends on what you're looking for, the quality of the photographer and then the quality of the products he/she uses.
My suggestion would be to:
1) Look through the photographers galleries on their sites and draw up a short list based on the style of photography you see versus what you're looking for for your day.
2) Email the shortlisted photographers, giving location and date details of your wedding, for their package details and their prices and further whittle down your short list.
3) Then, I think there's no avoiding it, you'll have to arrange meetings with the photographers to actually see the quality of their work and of the products they use - e.g. wedding album books can range in price and quality from €100 - €500. And then there are the storybook albums etc.
I do realise that you are in England but...

As for what questions to ask, I suggest that you meet them to chat about their packages and what they do on your day.
1)Probably specifics you need to know are:
2)What is their style of photography - candid/reportage or formal or some mix of both.
3)Arrival and finishing times
4)Is it OK if you want to go somewhere between church and venue for photographs
5)How long will they be doing the formal shots
6)How many shot (roughly) will they take on the day.
7)What's specifically included in the packages - how many photos go in the album, do you get a copy of all photographs, is there a slideshow, which album is included etc.
8)How long will it be after your day will the photographs take to arrive to you.
9)How long after that will the album be ready.
10)How much deposit is required and when is the rest of the money to be paid.

Also when meeting photographers keep in mind that you will be spending a loat of time with them on the day so you really need to "get on" with them and feel that you can be relaxed working with them for a lot of hours.

This is definitely not a complete list but I hope it helps.

[waterplily]

Thanks for that Mike. It's a big help. I've been looking through websites, but I know that a lower quality resolution get used for them, so I've been finding it hard to judge the true quality. I've been starting to fluster because there's 10months to go and I know photographers get booked quite quickly.

[hugbear]

Maybe look at a few friends albums.