BACKGROUND
I have seen a dramatic improvement in my work (which was one of my goals) since I doubled costs and cut the quantity of weddings I do in half.
But one thing makes me sad, when a friend says (usually after the fact) “We really wanted to use you but the cost was out of our budget range”
I know I can’t please everyone and there are only so many weekends in a year (or a summer), but there must be a creative solution to this.
The Creative Solution: A $1200 Package
The purpose of this package is to provide a more approachable price while still getting the important pictures of the couple.
I am not taking a big hit on pricing from my typical $3500 wedding cost… this is a different product and the rate is actually where I want it to be.
In this package we meet in a middle ground.
This post is not a declaration that I am cutting my all-day wedding pricing by 66%
My typical pricing remains the same, I am simply adding another option for those that are on a lower budget and can not hit the mark.
This is a NEW option – Please note: My photography costs Have Not Changed. They remain the same.
Who this package is for
- I am busy the day of your wedding.
- You want JarvieDigital pictures but don’t have the money for a full wedding package
- You have decided to have a friend or relative shooting for free (or very little) and have a budget for someone to do the couple pictures.
- You are not inclined (for one reason or another) to want wedding day pictures. (ex. there is no reception or it’s in another state), but you still want couple pictures.
- You want enlargements at the reception of wedding pictures.
- The type of person who only wants a half day option (which was not an option previously)
- You want to add formals to your wedding day package (not it is much less expensive when as an add-on)
What’s included
- Engagements – still no time limit
- Pre-wedding day Formals/Bridals/First Look – This is not a pick one… this means all 3 if you want.
This is the heart of the package: I have written about the subject of pre-wedding pictures a lot recently and now I’m making a package around this concept.
Again no time limit or locations limit. - $150 credit for pictures at your reception (I want my stuff looking great!)
I heavily encourage you to find someone to do Group Pictures and Candids on your wedding day and at your reception. I can help you with this.
Posts about pre-wedding day pictures
I wrote an extensive post about the benefits of doing Formals here
Just 3 pictures from my most recent set of Formals (which this couple has done in addition to a wedding day package)
Here is a long series of posts from formals I did when in Paris, France.
Below a post about an all day formals session for a couple who I couldn’t do wedding pictures for because I was previously booked.
Another post containing significant amounts of Bridals along with the formals that include the groom.
In the picture below (And corresponding post) they were able to do their pictures at La Caille on a previous day even though they got married somewhere else.
An older post where I talk about the benefits of Formals – and below we see that they even got them done at the temple they were to get married at.
More answers
WHY?
For answers about why pre-wedding day pictures I direct you to all the posts that I linked above.
They fit a need for Some people … but won’t be a good option for All people.
Trade Off
Yes there is a significant benefit to having me do the full wedding day and that is something that most people will still continue to pursue, I encourage it.
But now I have created an option for those that just can’t hit that typical rate. It is a middle ground… a “Trade off”
While formals might lead to often better aesthetic pictures (as exmplained in other posts) they are not the wedding day and I obviously still believe it is important to get wedding day pictures done. The memories are so important.
Travel Info
This price is not meant to cover an event where I have to travel a lot and can’t be planned far in advance. Take for example the paris pictures.
This is because they can’t have a non-flexible date. Also my travel prices are low for weddings because the wedding rate validates this. But the rate for this package would not validate a lower travel cost. If there was significant travel I would need to take into consideration not just travel costs but travel time.
There are some cases where I’ll be already in the area for other photoshoots or presentations or passing through in those cases we can figure something out.
Booking in Advance
The date can (and should be) tentatively booked in advance for mid-week options. But the the dates can be flexible to account for when the dress is ready and to fit travels I might be doing. This means that though un-common the date can be flexible.
At the time of booking I’ll let you know what that general time period looks like (Bookings and travel) to make sure that we will both be able to have a couple of options of days to photograph.
At least 1-2 weeks prior to the photoshoot we should set a date. Often my schedule will be full enough that once set those dates will no longer be flexible and the date should not be changed.
If you’re not booking in advance then there is no problem with a short notice for when to shoot.
I do not normally allow for Weekend photoshoots of this type (Engagements or Formals). There are some exceptions such as when it’s late notice and the date is not already filled.
Retainer
Because of the flexibility in this package the retainer is $500 which is half the amount of the retainer of my typical wedding package.
Half of it is also refundable if something occurs on your end, fully refundable if it happens on my end (which has never ever happened, but hey just in case) – Minus what work has already been done (aka engagements)
Other important answers:
I need very little advance notice (When not heavily booked)
Yes I can do these for people who’ve already been married
I encourage fun locations, yes multiple if wanted, yes the temple or location you’re going to be married.
Yes, you can use some of that print credit to get the full usage right to the picture you want to send as an invitation and have it printed somewhere economical.
Yes, I will still open up full usage rights after a year of ala carte print orders.
Yes I can also help you find someone economical to take the group shots and candids on the wedding day.
