Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

So, I ended up booking a photo zoom out in Savannah, mostly because their prices are actually reasonable, though let’s be real—all photos look pretty much the same anyway. Everything else is just getting so ridiculously expensive lately, so I figured I'd save a bit of cash by being picky about the photographer. It’s looking like we’ll be shelling out around $4,000 $1500 or something along those lines. That said, the base package sits right around $3,500, just like someone else mentioned earlier. I’m also planning to grab an album that isn't part of their standard lineup; they have one included, but honestly, it’s not really my style, so I’ll probably pay a little extra to upgrade to a different one, plus I'll pick up some thank-you cards from them too. We still need to sit down and hammer out all the final details before the wedding 🙂

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 have to admit, I’m totally lost on this 6k thing... ?!😕

And honestly, does anyone actually know how much Mella costs? Please, if anyone has an idea, let me know—I don't want to make the trip if it's overpriced, like some people are suggesting... (though I guess "expensive" is pretty subjective 😁)... I just really need to know the price🙏

I just took a look at those photos of that much-hyped John from Jackson, and honestly? I wasn't exactly blown away... I mean, wouldn't anyone be able to pull that off with a slightly better camera? But hey, that’s just my two cents—I certainly don't want to start any drama or offend anyone here...
Does anyone actually have experience working with Smart and Rachel over on Facebook?

Hey, Henry Ortiz18, I’ve got nothing but praise for Smart! My sister used them and gave them a perfect five-star rating. On the flip side, though? I’ve heard a ton of negative feedback regarding Rachel’s work.

Robin Cruz16 said:Hey, Henry Ortiz18, I’ve got nothing but praise for Smart! My sister used them and gave them a perfect five-star rating. On the flip side, though? I’ve heard a ton of negative feedback regarding Rachel’s work.

I’ve heard Rachel can pull off something decent once in a while, but don't hold your breath... and as for Smart, all I ever hear is how they try to nickel and dime you at the end. A friend of mine visiting from Germany used them this past August and was totally let down—just boring, soulless video and photos, yet they still charged her something like $600... whatever the conversion is... just a total rip-off. Peace.

Henry Ortiz18 said:I just took a look at those photos of that much-hyped John from Jackson, and honestly? I wasn't exactly blown away... I mean, wouldn't anyone be able to pull that off with a slightly better camera? But hey, that’s just my two cents—I certainly don't want to start any drama or offend anyone here...
Does anyone actually have experience working with Smart and Rachel over on Facebook?

I wasn't trying to hype him up or anything, it’s just that his work is solid and he's easily the best guy around here, so just look at the rest of his portfolio... maybe I went a little overboard with the praise, but that's how I feel... he's number one in this whole area for me, besides Studio 69, and even they could pull off the same stuff if someone was willing to pay the price... anyway...

Chloe Evans6 said:I have to admit, I’m totally lost on this 6k thing... ?!😕

And honestly, does anyone actually know how much Mella costs? Please, if anyone has an idea, let me know—I don't want to make the trip if it's overpriced, like some people are suggesting... (though I guess "expensive" is pretty subjective 😁)... I just really need to know the price🙏

6k = 6 $0.00 🙂thousand

rowdypanther16 said:So, I ended up booking a photo zoom out in Savannah, mostly because their prices are actually reasonable, though let’s be real—all photos look pretty much the same anyway. Everything else is just getting so ridiculously expensive lately, so I figured I'd save a bit of cash by being picky about the photographer. It’s looking like we’ll be shelling out around $4,000 $1500 or something along those lines. That said, the base package sits right around $3,500, just like someone else mentioned earlier. I’m also planning to grab an album that isn't part of their standard lineup; they have one included, but honestly, it’s not really my style, so I’ll probably pay a little extra to upgrade to a different one, plus I'll pick up some thank-you cards from them too. We still need to sit down and hammer out all the final details before the wedding 🙂

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?

Regarding Zoom, they likely have their own tiered pricing—honestly, it probably ranges anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000.
A colleague of mine is booking them, and she mentioned they wouldn't go over $6k for photography, so it’s definitely sitting somewhere in that $3k to $6k window.

In my experience, Studio 69 is easily the best option out there, but honestly? They are just way too expensive. With the economy being what it is right now, I have to be incredibly careful about where every single cent of my budget goes—and I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling the squeeze. Of course, I realize I can't expect high-end work for pennies, but it feels like some of these more established photographers are asking for an absolute fortune. It’s frustrating, really. I don't know... maybe I'll just have to spend a day scouting out different photographers to see their actual style and what they're offering versus what they charge.

Chloe Evans6 said:I have to admit, I’m totally lost on this 6k thing... ?!😕

And honestly, does anyone actually know how much Mella costs? Please, if anyone has an idea, let me know—I don't want to make the trip if it's overpriced, like some people are suggesting... (though I guess "expensive" is pretty subjective 😁)... I just really need to know the price🙏

It feels overpriced to me, honestly... probably more than... $3333Around $13k, if I recall correctly. Honestly, his shots look exactly like what every other photographer in Savannah is putting out—nothing special at all. I guess he thinks having a fancy crane and slightly better gear justifies that price tag...
My comment about Zoom being "you get what you pay for" just means they're budget-friendly. We spent around $400 total for the album, DVD, and prints for thank-you cards, so they're pretty middle-of-the-road. They do a decent enough job, and honestly, I wasn't expecting anything more after seeing their portfolio... all their wedding shots look exactly the same regardless of the couple...
If you want top-tier photos, go with Andrew Car. He works privately so he's a bit tough to track down, but if you can actually get a hold of him, you won't regret it...

Savannah’s Zoom Photo did a pretty amateur job back when my godmother got married three years ago. They finally delivered the printed photos intended for the thank-you cards, but half of them were totally distorted—specifically, the groom's face looked warped because they messed up the editing. When they brought those into the reception hall, the bride and groom sent them right back to be redone. The bride actually insisted that half the thank-you cards shouldn't be charged for since the work was subpar and everything was running behind schedule. We ended up assembling the thank-you favors right in front of the guests because they showed up so late, which caused us to delay giving out the gifts. Apparently, the photographers took issue with not being paid for those specific cards, claiming it was the bride's fault initially, and in the end, the couple didn't get a single photo—not even a digital copy on a DVD. Just a completely empty album.

Look, mistakes happen; I get that. But there has to be room for compromise and a little bit of good faith. Based on that terrible experience through second-hand info, I wouldn't dream of working with Savannah’s Zoom Photo. Maybe they’ve turned things around since then; who knows? But if they’re still operating this way, I’m certain they’re just driving business away.

Would any kind soul be willing to slide me a DM with Poison Ivy’s contact info, maybe an email or a phone number? I think someone mentioned her here before as a really talented makeup artist. A close friend of mine is getting married soon and she's dying to get in touch, but I honestly don't have the energy to scroll through every single thread right now just to see if her details were posted publicly somewhere.

Thanks so much! 😉

darija_5 said:Hey ladies!

Just wanted to let you all know that I’m officially doing makeup artistry out here in the El Paso-Srijem and Osijek-Baranja County areas!

I finally wrapped up my makeup training at Studio 69! Vrbán & Joković I'm telling you, I'll put my money where my mouth is—you are absolutely going to love the work I do.

If there’s anything at all you're curious about or if you just want to pick my brain, don't be a stranger—just shoot me an email! darija_5@net.hr

Hey there! Just dropping in to say hello to everyone. Hope you're all having a killer day!🙂

Hey there! So, I was wondering if you could give me the lowdown on what a trial makeup session looks like and how much that usually runs me? Also, do you ever do house calls, or do I need to come to you? And just out of curiosity, what kind of brands do you typically use when you're working your magic? Thanks a million! =)

Nicole Cox said:Savannah’s Zoom Photo did a pretty amateur job back when my godmother got married three years ago. They finally delivered the printed photos intended for the thank-you cards, but half of them were totally distorted—specifically, the groom's face looked warped because they messed up the editing. When they brought those into the reception hall, the bride and groom sent them right back to be redone. The bride actually insisted that half the thank-you cards shouldn't be charged for since the work was subpar and everything was running behind schedule. We ended up assembling the thank-you favors right in front of the guests because they showed up so late, which caused us to delay giving out the gifts. Apparently, the photographers took issue with not being paid for those specific cards, claiming it was the bride's fault initially, and in the end, the couple didn't get a single photo—not even a digital copy on a DVD. Just a completely empty album.

Look, mistakes happen; I get that. But there has to be room for compromise and a little bit of good faith. Based on that terrible experience through second-hand info, I wouldn't dream of working with Savannah’s Zoom Photo. Maybe they’ve turned things around since then; who knows? But if they’re still operating this way, I’m certain they’re just driving business away.

I think the photography service works great and is super professional, so maybe look at what you're paying musicians... you give them 1500 bucks and they play for five hours and head home, while photographers have five more days of work and gear worth at least 50k... people really shouldn't talk about stuff they don't understand, especially when you see how much worse people work in Washington, D.C. while charging $3333 basic rates for standard shots. If I were the photographer, I wouldn't give you anything for $1200 pennies, because honestly, it's not easy money and you're stuck with the consequences for life... peace

Daniel King4 said:I think the photography service works great and is super professional, so maybe look at what you're paying musicians... you give them 1500 bucks and they play for five hours and head home, while photographers have five more days of work and gear worth at least 50k... people really shouldn't talk about stuff they don't understand, especially when you see how much worse people work in Washington, D.C. while charging $3333 basic rates for standard shots. If I were the photographer, I wouldn't give you anything for $1200 pennies, because honestly, it's not easy money and you're stuck with the consequences for life... peace

Look, I’ve been following this forum for a very long time, but I rarely post because I never want it to seem like I'm just self-promoting. But honestly, I can't stay quiet right now... WHAT DO YOU MEAN $50,000?!?!? Someone who owns $50,000 worth of photography gear simply cannot afford to do photo and video services for $1.25. They just can't! Period.
I work in this industry, which is why I’m speaking up, and I stand firmly behind everything I'm saying. My overhead is massive once you factor in materials and staff, not even touching on taxes and equipment depreciation. Besides, it's not like the newlyweds dictated a price of $1.25; they set their own rates themselves. It's hardly fair to complain that they aren't providing enough value for the price the clients agreed to pay. They chose the rate... And let's not forget, you get what you pay for. A girl—who actually booked this specific studio—even mentioned that herself. I respect that some people don't care about high-end photos and want to save money, but expecting premium or even just very good service for those prices is pure science fiction! That's all there is to it....

Daniel King4 said:I think the photography service works great and is super professional, so maybe look at what you're paying musicians... you give them 1500 bucks and they play for five hours and head home, while photographers have five more days of work and gear worth at least 50k... people really shouldn't talk about stuff they don't understand, especially when you see how much worse people work in Washington, D.C. while charging $3333 basic rates for standard shots. If I were the photographer, I wouldn't give you anything for $1200 pennies, because honestly, it's not easy money and you're stuck with the consequences for life... peace

Man, you really need to pick a lane here, and honestly, it would be a huge favor to everyone if you learned how to use a comma, because reading your rambling is a struggle.
So, what, you’re suddenly an expert on the industry now? Is that why you're lecturing us about "not talking about things we don't know"?

Daniel King4 said:I think the photography service works great and is super professional, so maybe look at what you're paying musicians... you give them 1500 bucks and they play for five hours and head home, while photographers have five more days of work and gear worth at least 50k... people really shouldn't talk about stuff they don't understand, especially when you see how much worse people work in Washington, D.C. while charging $3333 basic rates for standard shots. If I were the photographer, I wouldn't give you anything for $1200 pennies, because honestly, it's not easy money and you're stuck with the consequences for life... peace

Okay, we get it.🙄 Photo Zoom and Photo Ivan are amazing, we get it—why keep repeating yourself?🤷

Anyway, why on earth are you comparing a band's price to a photo studio's?😕

They are two completely different things with different cost structures, just like a wedding dress, the cake, the rings, and everything else. There are reasons why things cost what they cost.
Just like you can find wedding bands from $333 all the way up to several thousand dollars, it’s the same with everything else. Everyone buys according to their budget, but I agree: you get what you pay for.

Here I am again... and once more, I find myself needing a little insight from any ladies or gentlemen on this forum 🙂 located near the University of California area. Has anyone ever heard of that photo studio, >? Specifically, does anyone know what their workflow is like? I was digging through some old thank-you notes recently and stumbled upon one of their advertisements; I distinctly remember a bride mentioning how thrilled she was with her wedding photos. As it happens, they shot my five-year high school reunion, and the pictures are actually fantastic—the photographer was such a sweetheart, too. So, I suppose I’m just curious: has anyone here actually worked with them? Thanks!
Grateful for any info you can share 🙂

Daniel King4 said:I think the photography service works great and is super professional, so maybe look at what you're paying musicians... you give them 1500 bucks and they play for five hours and head home, while photographers have five more days of work and gear worth at least 50k... people really shouldn't talk about stuff they don't understand, especially when you see how much worse people work in Washington, D.C. while charging $3333 basic rates for standard shots. If I were the photographer, I wouldn't give you anything for $1200 pennies, because honestly, it's not easy money and you're stuck with the consequences for life... peace

I’m not going to argue about the price point, because that’s their business and they set it themselves; like the girl mentioned above, it's their call. Besides, the amount you pay doesn't really matter because whether you pay a little or a lot, mistakes happen—we're all human. What actually rubbed me the wrong way here was their refusal to own up to the mistake and find a compromise. I'm not talking about renegotiating the whole contract, just finding a middle ground regarding the issue with the thank-you notes.
I haven't picked out my photographer yet, but I really like Alice. She handled all my ID photos and stuff previously, but I have no clue what her wedding team is like. If anyone could share their experiences or point me toward some photos (Facebook, Flickr, whatever), I’d really appreciate it.

rowdypanther16 said:Hey there! So, I was wondering if you could give me the lowdown on what a trial makeup session looks like and how much that usually runs me? Also, do you ever do house calls, or do I need to come to you? And just out of curiosity, what kind of brands do you typically use when you're working your magic? Thanks a million! =)

I just sent you a DM.