Wedding Photography: Why SO expensive?!?

  • Thread starter Thread starter lilolme_2003
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lilolme_2003

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I don't understand why it's so expensive. I understand that it takes a little time to edit the pictures (but if you're as good as you should be to photograph a wedding, there shouldn't be much editing needed!) but I don't understand why places charge you an arm and a leg for a copyright release so that you can make "legal" copies of your OWN pictures you've ALREADY PAID for! You took a picture of me because I ASKED you to, now you're telling me that I have to pay YOU for a picture of myself and the rights to it so I can go to walmart and print them?! NO. That's WRONG.

Are there any decently priced professional wedding photographers in the state of Georgia? Any tips on haggling with these places? Why do they charge copyright release fees for stuff that should be YOURS already?!
 
The photograph is an artistic expression. That is why a photographer owns the copyright.

If you don't want to pay all these fees, then have a family member take the photo. Hmm...I'll bet you'll say it's because they don't do as good of a job? Yes, they lack artistic ability and/or training to take photos well. Bingo. Now you know why it costs more! Photographers LEARNED how to take photos well. Their equipment is costly and needs to be paid for. Having brides order more photos from them provides an income stream that helps pay for this equipment as well as a salary.

I am sympathetic because I'm sure it's a surprise to you, but as I am also a professional photographer (I do backyard landscapes). That copyright is worth a lot to me. I won't ever be able to use that photo again once I sell the copyright to you. It no longer generates income for me, which is why I put a higher price on it.

One thing you may not know. A lot of photographers will release your photos for a nominal charge or none at all after a certain time period has passed (for me, it's 5 years, but I don't do wedding photos). Ask your photographer if s/he has such a policy. At some point, I have to clear out my photos and keep mostly newer photos, so I have no problem releasing the photo then.
 
Well not everyone with a camera is a photographer. It's an art to some and a business to others. You are paying for someone to spend several hours of their time to be there and if they are good it's worth the investment if you want to capture that moment in time that will never happen again.
Now there are many different ways a photographer can offer their photo packages and I've seen those that have charged as if the photos are theirs. I don't agree with that, but there are those that do this.
My advice would be shop around and find out what you are geting for the price and avoid those that charge the way you explained.
Good photography isn't cheap, great photographers make your moment priceless. Look and you will find them.
 
First off I am a wedding photographer and it doesn't take a little time to edit. Every photographer edits their work in post work. It doesn't matter how good you are, everything needs finished up. You may need to crop, soften, sharpen, lighten, darken, ect. Some photographers edit out pimples, sunburn, grease spots, ect.

If you knew anything about copyrights you would know that anything taken with a photographers camera is legally theirs until they release it to you.

It takes a lot of work to prepare to shoot for a wedding. You have to have backup equipment, back up batteries, back up flashes, ect. Do you know how long it takes it go through 1000 pictures and edit them to the brides liking?

Hey if you want mediocre photos then hire a student starting off with no equipment on their own. My packages run from $1200 to $5000 and that's because I've studied, shadowed and shot for years. There are photographers that are in high demand that charge $10,000 for an event. It's all about supply and demand.

Some photographers charge extra for release forms because most of their income comes from prints ordered through them. If you don't order prints from them then some charge to release the copyright. I do not charge extra for a copyright. I only ask that they do not try to edit my finished work.
 
Uh, call me crazy but I will spend more money to get descent pictures. It is expensive because they work hard, and it takes time. Everything is pricier these days. Suck it up.
 
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