Wedding Albums

[davello]

I just shot my first wedding in about 25 years. Got away from it for many different reasons, but suffice it to say that the right deal came along and I had an offer I couldn't refuse.
Anyway, way back when, putting a professional album was totally different than it is today and I have no clue where to start, who to trust, and which company to use. I no longer have any idea what a good album should cost, for a professional, nor do I know what type of album is the best way to go, or what size the pictures should be.

This was a rather upscale wedding, very posh and the cost of the shoot for 28 pictures was 15% the cost of a rather pricey affair. ( You can scrimp on many things at a wedding, but you should never scrimp on the photography!) The pictures came out very nice and I'm still in post production, Photoshop, and could use a little direction and some advice with the above mentioned particulars.

I use 5D's. For the portraits I used an 85mm f1.2L II and two 580 ex's into a 36" umbrella triggered by an st-e2. For the party a 580ex bounce and a 24-105L.


Thanks

[adina]

Okay, I'm a little confused...you have 28 final photos for a wedding? Or there will only be 28 in the album?

Here's who I use... www.thebookalbum.com a 15-20 page albums runs about $500-$600 You design the pages, and they print and bind. Very nice looking, very high quality.

[davello]

Sorry for the confusion. No. The price of the shoot included a 28 page album, and a few other goodies. BTW the link you provided did not take me to a particular vendor.

I'm curious as to the type of packages that you offer. For instance, one of the companies that I've spoken with told me that a 12x12 or 14x14 is only custom, and with a select number of vendors. I'm curious, as I already said, as to the different album sizes that you offer, if you don't mind.

[adina]

I offer a 12x12, opens to 12x24, full spread. They can get a duplicate for the parents in an 8x8. Basically, it's all custom. Their book is not going to match anyone elses. The cover may be the same, but the layout is different.

I have pretty much 2 packages. First, I can come for 4 hours, take photos, give you a finished album. Second, I can come for 10-12 hours, take photos, give you a finished album. You can add stuff on, but I divide it up by time. All day or half day.

I only offer one size album for the wedding package. The smaller ones are add on, you can't get them without the main wedding album. They get a cover choice, and they get to choose the 50-60 photos that go in the album.

The link takes me to Renaissance, which is an album company. www.visionart.com is another good one.

[davello]

Thank You Very Much.
I used to shoot every weekend, years ago, in New York and Jersey.
I was very busy. Went to the left coast, continued in it, even got some promotional studio work. But in those days, out there, it was just too easy to make a lot of money in sales, particularly advertising sales, which is what I still do today. But digital pulled me in and now I'm hooked all over again. Juicy juices. My attitude is still the same as it was all those years ago. I think I sense a little of it in you. What I provided as a base package was just the way it was. If you wanted more that was fine. But the minimum was the minimum. If it wasn't good for you than I would suggest a few other people that might be able to serve your needs.
I honestly believe that at a wedding the photographer might be one of the most key ingredients for capturing that moment in time. Anyone can take pictures, but only a photographer can take photographs. I actually like to show other peoples stuff before I show mine. It let's them see the differences, and I always compliment everyone's work.

Hey thanks again and good luck.

[MJS]

I'll stick to commission portraits, you can keep the weddings. I think it was the whole dealing with the mother-in-law thing that did me in.

[adina]

Never had a problem with the mil's, it's the groomsmen after a couple drinks. Although one time the DJ asked me out, that was kinda funny.