Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

James Lopez8 said:I just stumbled upon this photographer today, and I had to share this gallery with you all—there are some truly stunning shots in here. He’s actually based out of St. Louis.
http://www.mijic.com/galerija_vjenc/vjencanja.html
http://www.mijic.com/klijenti.html
If you're looking at other photographers in the Richmond area, I guess Oliver is the only one doing solid work; the others honestly seemed pretty terrible to me (though, of course, that's just my personal take). Most of them produce photos that look like they were taken back when my parents were getting married—lots of those awkward poses by a tree where you have to crouch down or something... just awful. Now, Oliver’s package for both photo and video is $3000, and I know that's accurate because a friend of mine already booked him for next year. I'm not quite sure what the first guy charges, though.
In my opinion, the absolute best option in the Midwest would probably be Leon Productions—their price is $4667 for both photo and video (a close friend actually used them for her wedding recently).
I really hope this helps even just a little bit!😉

Studio 69 in Indianapolis is actually better and their rates are about the same, plus there's Ivan Photography from the surrounding area who does killer work without breaking the bank... people absolutely love him, he gets nothing but praise...

Don't you think you went a little overboard with the self-promotion?

look, I’m not saying it just for you, I just want you to double-check everything so you don't go rushing into anything blindly... just hit up their websites and make your own call instead of taking some random recommendation, because people are always looking out for their buddies

Daniel King4 said:If you ask me, I'd say you should just go for it... Check out John's photography site... http://www.smartphotography.com You should honestly just head to his site and check him out... he’s not exactly a big name yet, but his work is killer. His videos are solid and the photos are top-tier—probably the best you'll find around Indianapolis, they just have this different vibe to them, plus he doesn't charge an arm and a leg. I actually caught one of his weddings recently where he was doing those drone shots, flying the camera through cranes and stuff, and the thank-you clips were just so high-quality and unique... My cousin told me she was beyond happy with everything, said the whole experience was pretty seamless... $2500 I mean, she shouldn't feel bad about it, he absolutely crushed it even though the weather was total garbage...

I heard Krizmanić tends to jack up the price way higher than what you actually agreed on... plus, from what I've seen, their photography is pretty amateurish. It’s not terrible, but for the kind of money they're asking, you could find someone way better. Half the stuff doesn't even get filmed, and while the photos are okay, they have this tacky, old-school vibe, and the video is just straight-up bad—way too much for those prices... As for Studio 69, they're actually solid, but the guests aren't really there for them; it's more like the couple tries too hard to make everything revolve around the photographer and videographer, so the guests don't really feel connected to their work... I don't know the others, but if they were any good, I definitely would've known... cheers.

I attended two weddings where Studio 69 filmed, and my takeaway was that they are everywhere without being intrusive. They managed to catch every single detail. From what I can tell, they're young and quick, which is why they capture everything so well. What I liked most is that they stay until the end—they aren't going to pack up at 2:00 or 3:00 AM; they stick around as long as the party lasts, and usually, the real fun doesn't even start until 2:00. It's not the most critical factor, but it's one of the things I appreciate about them.
Look, we clearly have different opinions, and that's fine. We don't all have the same taste or like the same things.😉 Personally, I think what they do is more than excellent.👍

Daniel King4 said:look, I’m not saying it just for you, I just want you to double-check everything so you don't go rushing into anything blindly... just hit up their websites and make your own call instead of taking some random recommendation, because people are always looking out for their buddies

I've already picked out my photographer, if you were actually talking to me.

Just to follow up on that... Zoom worked just fine for me, and honestly, I figured if you want more, you pay more. That’s how it goes...

Honestly, isn't the whole point of this forum to share suggestions, offer help, give advice, and spread the word about what's available in the Midwest?
I'm not quite sure why there's an immediate assumption that women here are just advertising their friends, relatives, or whoever else.
In my post, I simply mentioned a few photographers I happened to come across by pure chance; I don't know them personally, so I certainly have no motive to push them or try to make them money. I suppose any sensible person would visit several different photographers in person anyway to see what they offer and what their rates are... what we do here can only expand our options and perhaps introduce us to talented people and deals we didn't even know existed.
For instance, I mentioned Oliver, who is actually in high demand in Indianapolis (I made a mistake regarding his pricing—it's not $9,000, but closer to $6,000 and some change). I also mentioned Mijić, who is more of an amateur—he doesn't have a full photo studio and does this mostly as a hobby—but I can honestly say his photos are excellent, and I'd recommend him to anyone. And, purely by coincidence, I stumbled upon his work while browsing through Facebook.
Of course, I would also recommend Art Studio and Leon P., though I realize they might not be within everyone's budget.
Maja, comments like "these guys are better for the same price" don't really add much—you could have just said you recommend those specific photographers from the Indianapolis area, and we'll take it from there and decide for ourselves if they are better or worse.
I felt I had to respond because Maja's comment was a bit distracting. No offense intended! 🙂

James Lopez8, I wasn't aiming that ad comment at you—from what you wrote, it’s pretty obvious this isn't some paid plug, just a genuine opinion and a solid recommendation.

James Lopez8 said:Honestly, isn't the whole point of this forum to share suggestions, offer help, give advice, and spread the word about what's available in the Midwest?
I'm not quite sure why there's an immediate assumption that women here are just advertising their friends, relatives, or whoever else.
In my post, I simply mentioned a few photographers I happened to come across by pure chance; I don't know them personally, so I certainly have no motive to push them or try to make them money. I suppose any sensible person would visit several different photographers in person anyway to see what they offer and what their rates are... what we do here can only expand our options and perhaps introduce us to talented people and deals we didn't even know existed.
For instance, I mentioned Oliver, who is actually in high demand in Indianapolis (I made a mistake regarding his pricing—it's not $9,000, but closer to $6,000 and some change). I also mentioned Mijić, who is more of an amateur—he doesn't have a full photo studio and does this mostly as a hobby—but I can honestly say his photos are excellent, and I'd recommend him to anyone. And, purely by coincidence, I stumbled upon his work while browsing through Facebook.
Of course, I would also recommend Art Studio and Leon P., though I realize they might not be within everyone's budget.
Maja, comments like "these guys are better for the same price" don't really add much—you could have just said you recommend those specific photographers from the Indianapolis area, and we'll take it from there and decide for ourselves if they are better or worse.
I felt I had to respond because Maja's comment was a bit distracting. No offense intended! 🙂

You guys totally misread me, I just don't want people rushing into something and then crying later about overpaying or getting nothing like they were promised, so just look for yourselves and decide... The guy is alright, he might charge you less than more, but you have to stick to the agreement or he won't work, especially if he doesn't get at least half an hour to shoot the wedding... Cheers, I'm not trying to run an ad for anyone, but my cousin was recommended the Krizmanić musicians and the venue owner Renić because apparently one of them is pushing $167 them just to get business without actually knowing how to do the job. They don't know how to shoot and provide barely any photos. The video is just mediocre. They just try to stay visible at weddings by hanging around, but once you see the actual results, you realize it's all just smoke and mirrors...

I’m based in Osijek, but honestly, I’ve sourced almost everything from other cities—like getting cookies from Slavonski Brod or hiring a photographer from Đakovo—mostly just to find the right price. Those cookies were incredible, seriously, they came from Sweetie, and the photographer was Ilija Photography from Đakovo. The photos are just wow!!!!

So, who’s going to be handling your hair?
Have you decided if you’re going for any major transformations, like lash extensions, hair extensions, or something else entirely?

granitemoose7 Asks:
Honestly, they were top-tier for me last year—I’ve seriously never seen photos look that good.
I watched that video—it was actually really good. Honestly, those guys are such a steal because they’re based out of a place like Indianapolis where prices stay low, but their quality? It’s easily a ten out of ten. If you got a bad reaction from them, it’s probably because you came off as uninterested or indifferent—which, let's be real, might be on you. But still... Look, you have to understand—these people are top-tier professionals. That’s exactly why I’m so certain that we completely dropped the ball this time. Maybe you went around haggling over prices—which, let’s be honest, most people hate—or perhaps you just spent your time scouting every photographer in town, jotting down quotes on scraps of paper to find the absolute cheapest option. If that's the case, don't be surprised when they don't treat you like a regular customer. You can't expect VIP treatment if you're just looking for the bottom dollar. Cheers.

So, what, you're some kind of psychic now? 👎

granitemoose7 said:THEY AREN'T GREAT. THEY DID MY BROTHER'S EVENT AND IT WAS TERRIBLE—THE VIDEO WAS A TOTAL DISASTER. SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT PHOTO STUDIO IVAN OUT IN THE SUBURBS IS AMAZING. TOP-TIER WORK. HE HAS THESE COOL TRACKING RIGS THAT MOVE AROUND THE ROOM AND EVEN CEILING CAMERAS, all controlled by remote so there aren't cables everywhere. I'm just not sure if that's included in the price or an extra fee. Check out their site at www.fotostudio-ivan.com and see for yourself. Cheers

granitemoose7 said:Look, it’s our right to choose whoever we want, but I know these people are top-tier professionals. At that price point, they aren't playing around. Go check out the rates in Indianapolis or talk to my colleague in the Midwest—John's studio there does incredible work, too, but he charges three thousand dollars more... Cheers.

Daniel King4 said:If you ask me, I'd say you should just go for it... Check out John's photography site... http://www.smartphotography.com You should honestly just head to his site and check him out... he’s not exactly a big name yet, but his work is killer. His videos are solid and the photos are top-tier—probably the best you'll find around Indianapolis, they just have this different vibe to them, plus he doesn't charge an arm and a leg. I actually caught one of his weddings recently where he was doing those drone shots, flying the camera through cranes and stuff, and the thank-you clips were just so high-quality and unique... My cousin told me she was beyond happy with everything, said the whole experience was pretty seamless... $2500 I mean, she shouldn't feel bad about it, he absolutely crushed it even though the weather was total garbage...

I heard Krizmanić tends to jack up the price way higher than what you actually agreed on... plus, from what I've seen, their photography is pretty amateurish. It’s not terrible, but for the kind of money they're asking, you could find someone way better. Half the stuff doesn't even get filmed, and while the photos are okay, they have this tacky, old-school vibe, and the video is just straight-up bad—way too much for those prices... As for Studio 69, they're actually solid, but the guests aren't really there for them; it's more like the couple tries too hard to make everything revolve around the photographer and videographer, so the guests don't really feel connected to their work... I don't know the others, but if they were any good, I definitely would've known... cheers.

Daniel King4 said:Studio 69 in Indianapolis is actually better and their rates are about the same, plus there's Ivan Photography from the surrounding area who does killer work without breaking the bank... people absolutely love him, he gets nothing but praise...

Daniel King4;24700990They don't know how to take pictures and provide very few shots. Their video is mediocre. They also try to be as visible as possible at weddings said:

I haven't seen an advertisement quite like this in a long time.🤣 Well done, sweetie.🙄
First you write three posts acting like granitemoose7, then four posts acting like Daniel King4.🙄

And then there's this last part—really?👎

If you had actually seen any of their work, you wouldn't be writing this, especially since you've seen the photos from one of our forum members that he shot.😁

Okay, we get it—Ilija Photography is the absolute best in the entire Indianapolis area and nobody else even comes close.🤣

But look, I went through an entire album he photographed, and personally, I wasn't impressed. His style hasn't changed at all; it's just the same standard stuff as it was several years ago.😛

I’ve been following a lot of their work, so don't talk down to me just because I'm still figuring this whole scene out...
What do you mean, granitemoose7? I never said he was the absolute best, but I really dig his style—he’s constantly shooting all over Osijek, Washington, D.C., and California. Just check out his page and those poses, then look at theirs and see the difference for yourself. Sorry if I hit a nerve, I didn't mean anything by it... Everyone in the Indianapolis area tries to mimic him, but they just can't quite pull it off.
I just meant that for what he charges, it's a total steal. No hard feelings intended, and I'm not trying to plug anyone, I'm just being real about how things look...

Daniel King4 said:I’ve been following a lot of their work, so don't talk down to me just because I'm still figuring this whole scene out...
What do you mean, granitemoose7? I never said he was the absolute best, but I really dig his style—he’s constantly shooting all over Osijek, Washington, D.C., and California. Just check out his page and those poses, then look at theirs and see the difference for yourself. Sorry if I hit a nerve, I didn't mean anything by it... Everyone in the Indianapolis area tries to mimic him, but they just can't quite pull it off.
I just meant that for what he charges, it's a total steal. No hard feelings intended, and I'm not trying to plug anyone, I'm just being real about how things look...

Wait, what "nonsense" am I talking? 🤷

I don't agree with this at all!
I've checked his website and I've seen their work too, which is exactly why I'm saying there are better photographers out there, purely based on personal taste! 😉

And as for his prices—hey, you get what you pay for. If someone wants to hire him, that's their business.🙂

Justin Martinez3 said:Wait, what "nonsense" am I talking? 🤷

I don't agree with this at all!
I've checked his website and I've seen their work too, which is exactly why I'm saying there are better photographers out there, purely based on personal taste! 😉

And as for his prices—hey, you get what you pay for. If someone wants to hire him, that's their business.🙂

If you actually checked the site, you'd see he has style, and while others have it too, the Krizmanić crowd just lacks it in general—people have already figured that out, which is why they hire outside photographers and videographers instead... though I guess it wouldn't surprise me if you were his sister or something. I'm not hating on them, but from everything I've looked at—and I've seen plenty—not one single shot comes close to the quality of someone like Danijel Soldo from Brod, seriously, he's way better than John, just go look at his portfolio, I think it's under the DEanijel Art Studio or something similar... I won't say anything else because people will start thinking I'm running an ad for him. No hard feelings, just my two cents...

Well, Maja, maybe there was just a misunderstanding, but regardless, I really feel like we should finally move past all the talk regarding the famous photographer, John. Reading through the comments, it seems like everyone has grown a bit tired of him and his supposed best shots.
Please refrain from quoting my posts anymore 🙂

On another note, I’d also like to give a shout-out to the ladies at Sweetie; they make such exquisite pastries. If I recall correctly, $23 is spot on about them. Besides their treats, the baked goods at Bohemian are also wonderful, though they are perhaps a tiny bit more expensive. But honestly, their desserts are truly 🙂

I believe someone above was asking for the phone number for the Crystal ballroom. If you haven't tracked it down yet, I could potentially ask my partner's brother; he’s actually hosting some wedding guests out that way this year, so he's quite familiar with the local spots. I actually attended a wedding there myself, and the venue was lovely. I can only imagine how stunning it will be once the renovations are finished. 😁

Best regards,

wanderinghawk99 said:Just to follow up on that... Zoom worked just fine for me, and honestly, I figured if you want more, you pay more. That’s how it goes...

What would that actually imply though... like, does it mean they're high-end and reliable, or just cheap and low quality? 😉

Does anyone happen to know what the pricing is like at a local camera shop over in Des Moines?!

Chloe Evans6 said:What would that actually imply though... like, does it mean they're high-end and reliable, or just cheap and low quality? 😉

Does anyone happen to know what the pricing is like at a local camera shop over in Des Moines?!

I don't have an exact number for a telephoto zoom, but I'm pretty sure it won't top $6,000—unless everyone else is lying, in which case I'm clearly a liar too. 🤷

Justin Martinez3 said:I don't have an exact number for a telephoto zoom, but I'm pretty sure it won't top $6,000—unless everyone else is lying, in which case I'm clearly a liar too. 🤷

I stopped by Zoom about two weeks ago because I'm looking for a photographer for September. They mentioned they have some kind of basic package $1167. I didn't bother asking what's actually included since they're already booked up during my dates anyway. Could someone please help me out and tell me what Bridget's studio in Savannah is like?

John Ramirez10 said:I stopped by Zoom about two weeks ago because I'm looking for a photographer for September. They mentioned they have some kind of basic package $1167. I didn't bother asking what's actually included since they're already booked up during my dates anyway. Could someone please help me out and tell me what Bridget's studio in Savannah is like?

Bridget photographed my brother's wedding about two years back. We did some shots with the newlyweds in the church—just the immediate family, really. Later on at the reception, he was being so clumsy that he actually dropped his camera. The photos were ruined, so we had to try again in the hall, but by then everyone had basically cleared out; nobody was interested in posing anymore. So, my experience was pretty negative. I don't remember any weddings they shot before that; I guess I just wasn't paying much attention to the photography at the time.🙂