"On Reasonable and Affordable RatesReceived a PM regarding my suggested photographers who have reasonable and affordable rates.
Response:
Let's discuss what is "reasonable". What is reasonable for one may not be reasonable for the other.
How do you know if the rate is reasonable?
Check out the ff:
a) experience - The years and number of weddings a supplier has experienced all add up to the wisdom he/she can apply on your day. So one who has more experience will naturally charge a bit higher than one who is just starting out.
The wisdom gained from experience is especially helpful when things don't go as planned -- rain, too much traffic, difficult hotel, out of town location, etc.
b) talent and abilities - Some are naturally organized, some have an eye for detail and for composing images, some are super creative, some can speak fluidly and command a crowd, and some just seem to know how to motivate couples really well. Some also go through seminars and other self-improvement workshops despite having had years in the industry. All those count towards the rates of suppliers.
c) having a team - Having a team means having people to pay to edit, prepare albums, work on the day of the wedding to capture images, keep things organized, have everyone ready in terms of hair and make-up before the actual pictorials, among others. The team members do not work for free. So when you say you want to get your albums right away or your final video output within a few months or you don't want to wake up too early but you have a lot of people for make-up and hair, you will need a team. The team does translate to a higher fee.
For photo and video teams, it translates to redundancy -- meaning you have 2 or 3 photographers capturing images and ensuring that even if one card gets corrupted, you will still have images to remember your day.
I'm sure you can add to the criteria above. Bottomline: The most reasonable price is not always the lowest price. Research about the supplier and find out if indeed, his/her experience, talent, abilities, and positive feedback all add up to the fee he/she charges.
Now let's tackle "affordable":
What is affordable for one may not be affordable for the other. However, affordable also translates to priorities. To shorten the explanation, let me use the vernacular: Pag gusto, maraming paraan; pag ayaw, maraming dahilan.
A supplier is only as affordable as the amount you wish to shell out. That's where research comes in because then you'd be able to get the right supplier at the price point you want.
However, do note that the price point you want may not always be reasonable as well. Your research will tell you what the right price range is given that positive feedback is clustered around certain suppliers who charge certain amounts.
Spending 2,000 for a supplier is great if the supplier will deliver. However, if the supplier falls short, you're not saving, you're actually wasting money.
So yes, research well so you will get the most reasonably priced services...
#theweddingtipsheet"
