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I wanted to refresh this thread a bit and add some follow-up thoughts regarding the photographers mentioned on page 289. I actually sat down for a meeting with Bob from Studio bor. His studio is located over in Pazdigrad. He has a massive portfolio online, and he walked me through quite a few shots while I was at the studio. Personally, I find his work beautiful. In terms of pricing, he’s easily the most budget-friendly option available—his entry-level package is $1567, while his premium tier goes up to $3167. However, I have to admit the physical albums and books didn't quite wow me. That said, he’s definitely worth considering; his style will certainly appeal to the right person.
Well, I finally have my photographer locked in! I’ve decided to go with Gašpar because I truly believe he offers the absolute best value for the money. I am genuinely in love with his photos, and the fact that he consistently wins awards for top-tier wedding photography at Pixot speaks volumes about his talent. Regarding video, we can arrange to have a second camera on a tripod for an additional fee, which I think addresses the exact gap I noticed when watching the footage. On top of that, several of my close friends chose Gašpar and his videographer for their weddings. They all recommend them wholeheartedly and have nothing but glowing praise for both; they were thrilled with both the stills and the video, and I’m crossing my fingers that my experience next year is just as perfect 🙂 It honestly means the world to have people share their real-life experiences with you. I really hope that by walking around and doing this legwork, I might be able to help someone else out too.
So, there we have it! We’ve secured the church, the venue, the band, and the photographer. We should be smooth sailing for at least the next six months! 😁
After several weeks of walking around and scouting for the right photographer, I’ve finally put together my full review of everything I’ve observed—and believe me, I’ve seen quite a lot. I truly hope this proves useful to anyone else out there, and perhaps, by documenting it all like this, I can finally make sense of my own impressions too.
Getty Images I was looking at a photography and basic video bundle priced at $1,850, which honestly seems like a reasonable deal on paper. Mike seems like an absolute legend—his shots are stunning, and the video work he’s posted on Vimeo is nothing short of perfection. However, after hearing a mountain of horror stories from various sources, I’ve decided to pass on them entirely. From what I can gather, those videos uploaded to Vimeo are actually just the work of Matthew and some other guy who started their own studio called Pixar. The rumors floating around are pretty damning: people are reporting massive delays of five to nine months just to get their photos back, instances where names were misspelled on the actual DVDs, and technical issues where the discs skip constantly. To make matters worse, word is that the actual editing of the footage and photos is being handed off to college students who have absolutely no idea what they are doing. It's just too much of a risk.
Pixar I only saw some of their photos on Facebook, and they honestly look incredible. They sent over a full proposal to my inbox, and the starting price for their basic photo and video package is around $2,200. Unfortunately, they’re already booked for my specific date, so I don't have any more details to share beyond that.
Ivan It’s a flat fee of 1,600 Euros just for the photography. If that sounds like a bargain to you, then by all means, go right ahead!
Fruit of the Loom Studio The basic photo and video package is priced at $2,000. I actually took a look at two wedding galleries they sent over to my email via their online portal. To be perfectly honest, I don’t see what the big deal is; personally, I found them to be somewhat cliché. I also haven't been able to determine if posing direction is included in their services, as I didn't see any shots like that in the galleries, on their blog, or even on their official website. In my estimation, it is far too expensive for the value they are providing, even if the majority of people seem to love their work.
Bonacci Studios I just looked over a photo and video package priced at $1,500. The guy is genuinely personable, his work is technically solid, and I find the price point to be quite reasonable. However, for some reason, I just wasn't blown away by it—I can't quite put my finger on what's missing. That being said, it is definitely worth checking out; I am certain there is someone out there who will absolutely love his style.
Julia's Studio First of all, this guy refuses to even email you a quote; he insists that you show up in person just to talk business. He doesn't have any standardized packages or set pricing structures, which leads me to believe he just pulls numbers out of thin air on the spot. For instance, he told my friend and me that our "special friends price" would be $1,800. It makes me wonder what kind of ridiculous rates he’s quoting everyone else. To make matters more complicated, he brings his wife along to these meetings, so you end up dealing with two photographers and one videographer. He tries to convince us that having two photographers at a wedding is essential while insisting that a single camera is plenty for video. Other professionals say the exact opposite, and frankly, I can't tell who is lying and who is just delusional. We didn't even get to see an actual physical album—just some sample books, photo slideshows, and videos. While the photos themselves are decent, the videos are nothing special. The man was incredibly grating with his constant bragging; he kept acting like he had watched a specific video a hundred times already, only to suddenly get all emotional about it again, crying, "My God, this brought tears to my eyes!" Even though I’m usually a crier, I honestly didn't find anything remotely touching about it. I actually sat down and watched an entire DVD from one of his weddings, and if I were rating him, I’d give him a +2/-3. As for the parent albums? A total disaster. They are hands down the worst we've ever seen. He even claimed they don't even produce specialized albums for parents. When we asked if we could suggest the music for the trailer or certain segments of the wedding video, he told us we could make suggestions, but ultimately, his word is final. Apparently, he used to work at Getty Images.
Getty Images by Tony They offer several different packages consisting of photo albums, coffee table books, and video services. For my part, the most impressive combination—which bundles a high-end album with a full video package—is priced at $1,700. This setup includes one dedicated photographer and one videographer; if you need to add extra staff for larger groups, it’s an additional $250 per person. I have to say, the photography itself is among the absolute best we’ve ever seen. You won't find much of his work posted on Facebook, so I highly recommend scheduling an in-person meeting to see his portfolio. He operates out of a studio in San Francisco. During our consultation, he walked us through two beautiful books and some cinematic clips, though we haven't had the chance to inspect a physical album yet. The guy is incredibly personable and genuinely eager to collaborate. On top of that, he has professional experience working for Getty Images.
Studio Smile The base photo and video package starts at $1,700 (which includes one photographer and one videographer). We actually sat down for a consultation with Ranko Pupić, who runs the studio. Honestly, the meeting was incredibly awkward because he spent the entire time belittling all his competitors while constantly bragging about himself. We sat there for nearly two hours, and the man did nothing but talk about his own work and his past footage. Now, I will be perfectly clear: the guy produces flawless videos. He utilizes every high-end tool imaginable—steady cams, cranes, even helicopters. However, there is a massive catch with the pricing. If you want a "love story" highlight reel, that’s an extra $275. If you want to use the helicopter, add another $165. And if you have more than 150 guests, he recommends bringing in a second videographer, which will cost you an additional $500. You can find examples of his work on Facebook. It is abundantly obvious that he lives and breathes video production, whereas photography seems like an afterthought to him. While we were flipping through the sample albums, he was busy chatting on his cell phone. I was absolutely appalled when I saw how they handled the presentation—they had a single photograph taped directly onto the inside cover page! It looked incredibly unprofessional. Furthermore, there wasn't a single black-and-white shot in the entire album. To put it bluntly: the photos are mediocre, the videos are top-tier, and the man is exhausting to deal with. Ultimately, everything revolves around his specific way of doing things. Vedran Vidak is an option if you want to hire him as a standalone photographer; he charges between $850 and $1,100 depending on which parent or wedding party albums you select. Basically, if you book Studio Smile, Vedran Vidak will likely be the one behind the lens, but you have the flexibility to hire him separately and find someone else to handle the video.
Ante Gašpar offers a photo and video package for $1,300, which includes an additional follow-up session the next day for $333. He is a very down-to-earth, modest family man who previously worked for the local studio in San Francisco. We had a look at his albums and books, and I must say, the photography is among the best we've seen. He has quite a large portfolio on Facebook, and the shots are truly stunning. My only gripe was that some of his pages felt a bit cluttered because there were too many photos packed in (the album has about 300 shots), and just like with the previous guy, a photo was taped to the back cover next to the binding. It feels like he’s incredibly accommodating—he'll do whatever you ask. He works alongside Miljenko Marin for video. From what I observed, they only use a single camera without a tripod, so the video quality is just mediocre. Even the DVD cover looked honestly pathetic, and the main menu on the disc actually says "best off" (yes, with two 'f's). So, the bottom line: the photos are amazing, the video isn't great, but the price is unbeatable.
Photo Studio Zumba offers a wide variety of packages; a solid combination would likely run you between $1,500 and $1,750. For a change of pace, this studio is run by a woman named Dražena. She is very personable and open to collaborating and implementing ideas from her clients. Looking through their albums, we saw a mix of absolutely perfect shots and total disasters. However, I did catch a video of theirs on Vimeo, and it was genuinely impressive.
Photo Marino—I’m not certain on the exact pricing, but I believe it’s around $1,300. If you book them, Gašpar can coordinate with them to handle a follow-up session the following day. We took a look at an album and a DVD from one of their weddings, and frankly, those were the worst photos and videos we have ever encountered, so we decided to cancel our meeting with them.
Studio Forever seems to be a photographer who is just starting out on his own. He mentioned working somewhere else previously, though he didn't specify where. His all-inclusive live package is priced at a very reasonable $1,100. He showed us a "best of" album featuring various wedding shots, mostly posed portraits. There were some truly beautiful images, and I believe he has real potential, but since we haven't seen a full wedding coverage, I can't say for sure how his documentary-style candid shots turn out. We also watched his video work, and it seemed quite good.
There is also Studio Bora—I checked out their website, and I really like their style. I can't recall the exact pricing, though, as I can't find their quote online. Studio Megagraf also offers a million different packages, with prices ranging from $1,100 to over $2,200. I don't have any specific details or impressions regarding these last two because I haven't seen their work in person.
I hope this breakdown proves useful to someone! Personally, I am currently torn between Tony and Ante, so any suggestions, advice, or extra info would be greatly appreciated.
Robert Bishop53 said:Hey everyone! 🙂
I'm getting married next September, and this Monday we're heading out to book the Las Vegas venue in San Francisco 🙂 We checked out a bunch of different halls and restaurants, but Las Vegas totally blew me away—the space is stunning! I wanted to share what we found during our search: starting with Las Vegas, it’s $38 per person (that's for a Friday, since every Saturday is booked up through November), or $36 if we bring our own wine. The menu is pretty standard, but they include tuna pâté for the appetizer, salad with the main course, and an extra chicken dish with gorgonzola. That venue had a total "wow" factor for me; I fell in love instantly. 🙂 Hard Rock Cafe was $40 per head, and honestly, the menu was incredible—they have a massive selection and the waiter we spoke with was wonderful. But we passed on it because the room feels a bit cramped, and the dance floor is way too small for my taste (we're expecting 130-150 people), and I need plenty of room to move on the floor. 😁 Then there was John Smith's hall over at FedEx—I really liked it, the owner is great, and the price is a steal at $33; definitely in our top three. The Say Yes venue only takes groups of 150+, and it's $40 per person. The outdoor area is nice, but the hall itself felt a bit too basic. The owner seemed friendly enough, but he disappointed me by saying he'd email the quote that evening, and here I am waiting three days later. I even sent him a follow-up message, and he just brushed me off saying he was busy. Marriott was $40 with a completely standard menu—nothing special, so I crossed them off the list immediately. Elvis Presley was $30, and while the owner was super nice, the hall is just too huge for our guest count; we'd have to rope off sections, and I wasn't a fan of the outdoor vibe. After looking at everything, once I walked into Las Vegas, I just knew—it was love at first sight. 🙂 Et cetera, hope this helps someone out! If you have questions, just ask. 🙂 Best, talk soon about the rest of the details. 😁 P. S. What’s the going rate for bands these days? Do you have any recommendations in the $1,000-$1,800 range? Thanks!
We basically did the exact same thing, except I didn't visit the FedEx location 🙂 In the end, I also decided on Las Vegas; you described exactly how I felt the moment I stepped inside 🙂 I would add for anyone interested that on Saturdays the price is $40 (or $38 without wine), they don't accept groups smaller than 140 for Saturdays, and parking is guaranteed. They also offer their own lighting package for $300. As for Elvis Presley, I would also mention the lack of parking spaces, which could be a major headache for some. The ceiling isn't actually any lower than at Las Vegas, but the impression is totally different—you really have to see it to understand. The gentleman we spoke with was truly wonderful.
I’ve actually been lurking here for quite some time, reading through everything from the very last post all the way back to the beginning, which finally convinced me that I had to register... 🙂 I am getting married this September! Everything is already falling into place—the church is set, the venue is booked, and we even have the band lined up. However, I’ve hit a major roadblock when it comes to finding the right photographer... I am leaning heavily toward Foto California, but I’ve heard some rather discouraging feedback from their previous clients, and now I’m completely stuck. As I read through these threads, I’ve noticed that nobody has provided a truly high-quality breakdown of specific photographers. I would love to hear your honest thoughts on these studios: California, Beep, Jukica, Gašpar, and Forever. Any bit of information at all would be incredibly helpful because I am honestly on the verge of losing my mind here, please help!