Posts by graniteskipper48

Has anyone been looking at or buying any art in San Francisco lately? I was wondering what the current price ranges are looking like.

Does anyone know if there are rental services in San Francisco or nearby for things like lanterns or candle holders? I wonder if maybe they offer rentals at Unknown, or if they just handle sales there.

Hi,
I’m looking for some information, if anyone might know. Since we're having an outdoor wedding—well, the dinner is outdoors—and the entire area is stone, it's not really possible to dance there. Not for us women in heels, anyway. We need to have a dance floor installed... so... does anyone happen to know someone who handles that? help, help, help ....

Noah Wright4 said:No... That’s a colleague of mine who, in my opinion, is hands down the best at blending documentary style with posing.

unknown.. thanks a lot.. I will definitely check it out 🙂!

Noah Wright4 said:Maybe try Studio Julia? 🙂

I haven't heard of him... I just saw he had a Facebook profile so I sent a friend request and checked it out... thanks. 🙂 Did he take your photos, or what?

frozenhawk22 said:Hey, I just stumbled upon this post! Just wanted to let you know I actually just commented on that exact hall at Poljud in one of my recent posts, so feel free to go read that.

Also, I have to laugh at that ridiculous comment claiming you'll be served by the ghost of Josip Broz Tit Hahahhaahh lol.😂
Seriously though, the waitstaff is perfectly normal—normal looking people, normal age range. And if it’s a massive party, they bring in some college students to help out.

The venue is a bit older, but there’s a chance it might get renovated next year. Even so, with some decent decor and a little bit of common sense, you can make it look beautiful.

My only real complaint is the lighting; it’s pretty bad, or rather, there isn't much at all—just basic overhead lights. But we were planning on bringing in our own extra lighting anyway, so it wasn't a dealbreaker for us.

For me, the big selling point is being right by the water. Aside from San Antonio, I think it’s the closest thing to the coast. That little harbor area is great, plus the greenery, those huge windows in the hall, and the massive terrace mean you can easily host things outside or move the party outdoors.

Just a quick question without the umbrella... who did you hire for the lighting?

Joshua Miller18 said:I had some free time to look into those names, and if I'm being completely honest, I think you really need to decide on a specific style first. Looking at the people you mentioned, their styles vary wildly; some have a similar vibe, while others couldn't be more different. Based on your posts, it seems like you're stuck somewhere between "I want everything to be spontaneous," "spontaneity isn't a huge deal," and "I'm not even sure how much spontaneity I want."
I’m telling you this because the biggest mistake you can make is picking the wrong aesthetic. For instance, Papaya and Siniša are polar opposites.
It feels like all these guys are professionals who do great work, yet none of their styles quite hit home for me—except for Papaya's. I knew exactly what I wanted from my photos, and that was the key.

Spontaneous photos are important to me, but a full photo session is too. The issue is that, except for Ivica Matić, who is a bit pricey, nobody I've looked at so far balances both equally well. So, I guess I'm still in the phase of searching and deciding which of those two things matters more to me... though obviously, I'm not the only one whose opinion counts, my boyfriend is involved too—which is why there are different names in the post.

frozenhawk22 said:So, what’s the consensus on photographer Tony Cherina and his Venus photo studio? From what I gather, Tony Cherina was doing work out in California before 🤷

I looked him up on Facebook too, and his photos are great... but I haven't been able to get any useful info from people I know, so I'd also be interested if anyone knows anything. Most of what I have managed to find out is about Sinisa Srdanovic, and I've heard nothing but praise from everyone, both regarding his work and who he is as a person. So, for now, it's just him and Papaya on my list, though I guess I'll give myself a bit more time to ask around about a few other names, and Tony is one of them. I also heard that Anthony Gaspar is excellent; as far as I know, he won a top wedding photography award at the European Union level two years in a row, and apparently, he's a lot of fun to work with! Ugh... there are just so many. I think picking a photographer might actually be the hardest part! 🙂

Thomas Scott5 said:"Quote:"

Nera, we worked everything out with them beforehand. We even had a few specific shots planned with our parents and friends. We made sure to hit every table we wanted so we’d have photos with everyone—especially the immediate family and close friends. I can't give you a final verdict on the photos yet since we haven't received them, but honestly, based on how the day went and their communication, we were really happy with them. Look, if you're looking for a formal photoshoot where someone directs every single pose, they might not be the right fit for you. We weren't interested in that classic, staged vibe, so having a few "set" shots was just enough for us. Everyone has different tastes. We didn't want that whole "look at each other like this, jump now, act like this, then act like that" routine, which is why we didn't pick that type of photographer. We also didn't want a follow-up shoot the next day, so I'm not sure how they handle that, though I know some photographers do short sessions like engagement shoots. We just wanted something relaxed—to capture the actual moments and the genuine emotions. Hopefully, they nailed it.
Your best bet is just to reach out to them. Tell them what you have in mind, see if they can actually pull it off, and ask for a quote.

Yeah... that's what I was thinking too. I wouldn't make any decisions until I contacted them anyway; I just wanted to see if anyone here had experience with them and what it was like. I prefer spontaneous photos as well, though I did see a photoshoot a friend had, and I liked it... those staged ones felt somewhat spontaneous, if that makes sense 🙂. I'll look at a few more photographers first, and once I narrow down the choices, I'll reach out to all of them. I hope the photos end up being "as expected"... and more than that 🙂

William Lewis8 said:I heard through the grapevine that with Papati, the photo selection at the end can be a total mess. Like, you open your album and it’s just a bunch of random strangers instead of your actual inner circle, and the quality? Honestly, questionable... hm... 🙄 I saw some of their shots online too, and they looked pretty terrible to me. So, I've officially ruled them out. Now I'm stuck choosing between Bonacic, MegaGraph, or California... help me out here! 😳

I've heard that too. They capture great moments during the party, which is nice, but I wouldn't want an album full of shots of people who aren't even important to me while missing the ones of us and our inner circle. That's why I asked about the photo sessions specifically. It matters to me, since I guess this is probably the only time I'll actually pay a significant amount of money to have someone take my picture. 🙂

Thomas Scott5 said:We used Papaja. You can pretty much negotiate anything with them. They do photo-only packages too. If I recall correctly, just the photos without the album or video runs about $1667.

Honestly, that sounds great... 🙂 Then maybe with an album and those few smaller ones for parents and godparents, it could be around $2167—I'm happy with that. Everyone seems to praise their candid shots; they apparently know how to catch the moment... and I like that! I guess, could you tell me what happened with the "posed photos"? Like a photoshoot... did you guys do pictures the next day?

Hi ladies... I guess I'll join this thread now as a new bride-to-be. Just one question to start things off. Regarding photographers, I'm thinking about hiring Papaji, but I'd only want the photography service, not the video. Do they ever do just one or the other? Also, does anyone happen to have any recent info on their pricing? Thanks!!