Picture Costs: help me make a decision

[ldubhawksfan]

I'm trying to book a photographer for DD's 1 yr pics and a few family pics. Everything is crazy expensive here, and this time of year books for holiday sessions, so finding a replacement photog since ours canceled has been a pain. I really only wanted to spend under $200 and have all the photo rights. Is that too much to ask?!

I thought I had found one and booked it. It was $120 for a 20 min mini session, which I was a little concerned about time, but the fee fit. Then in reading the contract, we get to see all the pictures watermarked, then pick 5 to be edited, and then only get the rights to those. F!

The other option I was thinking about would be an individual session for $225, 45+ mins, and all of the rights. But more than I wanted to spend and she only has one day available, after Thanksgoving.

The last option is trying to find a photographer in the Midwest when we go home for Xmas, but I'm wondering if we will have time for that with probably 4 family get togethers, friends, and going through my grandma's assets after she passed this summer.

Would you guys splurge on the longer session?

[rachaeleigh]

Yeah, I would. It's not that much more AND you'll get what you want

[sunfrogger88]

Yup, I would splurge!

[younglove316]

I would say splurge. It isn't too far above your budget and you won't have to stress about seeing everyone and fitting pictures in.

[ldubhawksfan]

Thanks ladies. I was mainly torn because it's not like I would frame more than 5 pictures anyway, but I guess since we won't be doing this more than once a year, I'll just splurge and hope to find a better deal next Nov!

[younglove316]

Oct 29, 2016 18:03:47 GMT -5 ldubhawksfan said:

Thanks ladies. I was mainly torn because it's not like I would frame more than 5 pictures anyway, but I guess since we won't be doing this more than once a year, I'll just splurge and hope to find a better deal next Nov!

This is what happened with DD1 for us. We spent all this money and got all these extra pictures and stuff and now that she's getting older I'm just like where do I put it all now or what do I do with it??

[yummeecookee]

Go ahead and go for the longer session. Getting all the rights to those pics is worth it.
I have spent an obscene amount for pics. It really makes me sick how much photogs charge in my area!

[sunfrogger88]

Oct 30, 2016 21:03:11 GMT -5 yummeecookee said:

Go ahead and go for the longer session. Getting all the rights to those pics is worth it.
I have spent an obscene amount for pics. It really makes me sick how much photogs charge in my area!

But you live in a very high COL area!!?

[sunfrogger88]

We just did professional pics. I paid $125 and I got the rights to all, a full set of family pics printed and a framed set of 3. I did also have a Groupon that we used as well. I'd rather have all the pics!

[yummeecookee]

Oct 31, 2016 8:43:48 GMT -5 sunfrogger88 said:

Oct 30, 2016 21:03:11 GMT -5 yummeecookee said:

Go ahead and go for the longer session. Getting all the rights to those pics is worth it.
I have spent an obscene amount for pics. It really makes me sick how much photogs charge in my area!

But you live in a very high COL area!!?

Yes 😒 These pics better look like ducking masterpieces!

[littleowl913]

Splurge! First birthday, first family picture, first rainbow baby.

You don't want to know how much I paid for newborn pics. $220 with all the rights sounds like a deal to me lol.

[ldubhawksfan]

Oct 31, 2016 9:24:43 GMT -5 littleowl913 said:

Splurge! First birthday, first family picture, first rainbow baby.

You don't want to know how much I paid for newborn pics. $220 with all the rights sounds like a deal to me lol.

Oh, newborn pics were insane. I think we spent $450, and it was a friend of a friend! Photographers are so expensive here. Ok, I'm waiting to hear back from the full rights photographer. Hopefully I didn't lag too long! Ha

[littleowl913]

Oct 31, 2016 11:14:07 GMT -5 ldubhawksfan said:

Oct 31, 2016 9:24:43 GMT -5 littleowl913 said:

Splurge! First birthday, first family picture, first rainbow baby.

You don't want to know how much I paid for newborn pics. $220 with all the rights sounds like a deal to me lol.

Oh, newborn pics were insane. I think we spent $450, and it was a friend of a friend! Photographers are so expensive here. Ok, I'm waiting to hear back from the full rights photographer. Hopefully I didn't lag too long! Ha

$450 is pretty inexpensive around here. Mine were more like $700 and no full rights. FX photo confirms!

[ldubhawksfan]

Oct 31, 2016 11:52:17 GMT -5 littleowl913 said:

Oct 31, 2016 11:14:07 GMT -5 ldubhawksfan said:

Oh, newborn pics were insane. I think we spent $450, and it was a friend of a friend! Photographers are so expensive here. Ok, I'm waiting to hear back from the full rights photographer. Hopefully I didn't lag too long! Ha

$450 is pretty inexpensive around here. Mine were more like $700 and no full rights. FX photo confirms!

Damn!!

[yummeecookee]

@litteowl913, I'm glad you posted that bc I was beginning to feel like a chump for spending so much. But it really is down to where in the country you are located. Yours are a bit more expensive than mine even!

[yummeecookee]

Also, I thought I would save money and booked a less experienced photographer for C's newborn photos. Not making that mistake again!
I only ended up w 1 good shot. It's such a shame, because it's not like you can go back and re-create those photos. So my advice to anyone is not cheap out on pics!

[littleowl913]

Oct 31, 2016 12:25:09 GMT -5 yummeecookee said:

@litteowl913, I'm glad you posted that bc I was beginning to feel like a chump for spending so much. But it really is down to where in the country you are located. Yours are a bit more expensive than mine even!

Yup lucky me! lol