Welcome to Allan Photography of Modesto CA. We hope you enjoy your visit.
The following article was written by a friend and fellow photographer from Canada. He makes a lot of very good points. I hope you enjoy it.
Why Hire a Professional?
One of the biggest decisions that every bride faces is how to budget for her big day. Websites and magazines provide checklists to help you allocate your budget for all of the details of your wedding, large and small. Every one of your friends who just got married will also be more than happy to give you wedding planning advice.
While these budgets can be a great place to start, nothing is set in stone, and you have to decide what is most important for YOUR wedding. For many brides, photography is THE most important thing for their wedding. All of the details of your wedding are important, but your photos are the only permanent record of your wedding day. Here are a few tips to help ensure you have budgeted enough for your wedding photography.
My uncle can do it for me. These days anyone with a camera thinks that they are a photographer, but a professional has the experience, equipment, personality, and backup equipment to ensure that your photos are stunning and safeguarded.
A few years ago, you could hire a great wedding photographer for $2000-$3000. These days, people are spending more on their photographer, and it’s not unusual to pay $5000+ for an amazing professional photographer for full day coverage with an album and disc. Why is it ‘so expensive’? There is a difference between amazing photography and poor photography. The talent of a true professional photographer can be the difference between ho-hum photos and stunning images of your most important day. Wedding photography is one field where you do get what you pay for.
Gone are the days of stiff portraits after a traditional ceremony. Many brides now want documentary-style coverage of their wedding. However, not everyone wants photos of getting ready. Or, your budget might not allow for hiring a pro for the whole day. Rather than hiring a mediocre photographer for the whole day, consider spending a bit extra and hiring a professional for less time.
To some brides a disc is important, to some it is not. If you are a bride who values having a digital archive of your photos and the ability to print what you want, check to see if the disc is included, or if there is an extra charge. If the initial package price is low but there are fees after the fact, this may affect how a photographer will fit into your budget. Also, understand that there is a difference between a disc of high-resolution files that you can print to a large size, or downsized files (or low resolution) that can only be used for the web or small prints.
You may have intentions of printing off wedding photos for your friends and family, or putting together your own wedding album. However, many brides find that after the wedding life gets busy, priorities shift, and the disc of wedding images gets put on the shelf. Also, technologies change and that disc will eventually be obsolete or may deteriorate. A good quality album will safeguard your memories for years. You should ensure your budget has enough room for a professional wedding album.
You can combine other items from your budget, such as a guest book, thank you cards, and even invitations into your photography budget. Ask your photographer to do custom extras with your engagement and wedding photos.
A photographer works just as hard on a Saturday in the summer as on a Sunday in December. You shouldn’t necessarily expect a discount if you’re not getting married on a Saturday.
Article Written by Shandro Photo in Edmonton, AB
Adriana & Antonio were married at Vintage Gardens in Modesto. They chose our smallest package with just three hours coverage, but it worked out great. Here’s a preview of their Wedding Book. Take a look:
Stephanie & Marc were married at Saint Stanislaus Chrurch in Modesto. What a beautiful building to work in. They held their reception in Oakdale. Check out their Wedding Book preview:
Jessica & Donnie were married at Whispering Pines near Mi Wuk Village. What a great location. Here’s a preview of their Wedding Book
Shasta and Joel finished their wedding day at the beautiful Oak Farms Vineyards north of Stockton With dancing and dining under the Oaks. The day started with Bridal portraits at Wine & Roses and was followed by a perfect ceremony at the U.O.P. chapel. Below are both the video and wedding book. ( for those viewing at work…The video does have background music and sound.)
The Wedding Book:
Wedding video:
We love designing Wedding Books for a brides. This book is a 12×8 book, so each spread you view is actually two 12×8 pages side by side. The wedding was a Sunday morning event at the Grand Island Mansion located south of Sacramento on Northern California’s Delta. Enjoy: