Attention Wedding Photographers!!! HELP!!!

[youngGalli]

We are two lady student photographers looking to start up a wedding photography business to start gaining experience. We are starting all of our research and would greatly appreciate anything you all have to share. Currently we are looking around for where the best and least expensive place to get our film processed could be. We are living in Dover, Delaware and would be photographing all around this area.
We are very appreciative of this site and it's members and are looking for any guidance you all could offer on anything having to do with our new venture. Thank you in advance.

Needing Professional Guidance from Dover.

Thanks Sara and Tina

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

I don't know your area but I would start with checking out www.wppinow.com and look in the membership part for the newsletters. They discuss lots of wedding issues and labs around the country. lots of wedding shooters are digital but there are still quite a few that shoot film. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

D.

 

[roteague]

You could try Praus Productions in Rochester, NY Dead Link Removed (they are an APUG sponsor), or Calypso Imaging in Santa Clara, CA http://www.calypsoinc.com/ (which is what I use). I've used both services, and both are very good.

 

[kjsphoto]

Also check out E&J Photo in Dublin, CA. These guys are really good. Maybe not the cheapest but one of the best custom labs I have dealt with. Honest ad fair.

If you call ask for Kurt and tell him Kevin told you to call and tell him you are doing weddings. He is extremely helpful and a very knowledgeable person.

E & J Photo Lab 7748 Dublin Blvd Dublin, CA 94568 925/829-0222

They process most of the pros film work in the area especially the wedding photographers still using film.

Dead Link Removed

Kev

 

[noseoil]

All good advice above, but I think it might be a good idea to look for a local processor in a small custom lab close to home. Try to find a lab where you can get a good relationship started with one counter person, and where they are already working with pros in the area. You might end up in Philadelphia eventually, but turn around times are important and long distance relationships are time consuming and more expensive.

Hopefully there is an apugger who knows the area and can shed some light on the subject (sorry, couldn't resist). Best of luck, tim

 

[wfe]

There is a lab in Drexel Hill, PA http://www.meccaimaging.com/ that may be able to help. Fairly local and most of the labs in the area that I know of have closed.

Best of luck in your endeavors.

 

[ChrisW]

Ladies,

Consider CBOP Professional Dead Link Removed located in the center of Philadelphia. Ravid (ruh VEED) Butz is the owner 215-977-9970, tell him I sent you. They have extensive knowledge in analogue and digital, and their client roster includes quite a few wedding photographers. Some of the employees are ex wedding as well and would gladly dispense advice and leads. They are a good group of people. No job is too small for them.

As a complete aside, our wedding was shot completely in black and white. Somehow my wife convinced Ross Whittaker to make an exception and shoot our wedding. He said yes, but no color. We loved the idea. My father in law went berserk, so we killed him. The results are outstanding. We own the negatives, but Sotheby's asked to display some of the prints during an exhibition for a jewelry auction. Trust me, it was not because of my looks. Great story, but my point is to consider offering black and white only, or a combination. Few wedding photographer offer the service because, well, I have no idea why. Good luck.

 

[Dave Parker]

Few wedding photographer offer the service because, well, I have no idea why. Good luck.

Actually most of us that have been in the business for more than a couple of years do offer B&W only weddings or a combination, its just not many clients take advantage of this service anylonger, I have shot weddings for close to 20 years now and the number of clients that even mention B&W is not a lot...Heck now a days it seems like a fight with some of these "Enlightened" customers just to shoot film!

LOL

Dave

 

[ChrisW]

Actually most of us that have been in the business for more than a couple of years do offer B&W only weddings or a combination, its just not many clients take advantage of this service anylonger, I have shot weddings for close to 20 years now and the number of clients that even mention B&W is not a lot...Heck now a days it seems like a fight with some of these "Enlightened" customers just to shoot film!

Dave,
You should include in your wedding portfolio a color image of a bride with a few slight blemishes alonside a black and white of the same bride. If the bride doesn't see the flattering skin rendition, then you have a rare species with little vanity.

 

[jimgalli]

YoungGalli! As opposed to....what...dear?? :rolleyes:

 

[Dave Wooten]

probably as opposed to "Geezer Galli" but it is just a guess.....

 

[youngGalli]

YoungGalli! As opposed to....what...dear?? :rolleyes:

haha, dont worry dad, youre not THAT old


Thanks so much everybody! wow. I didn't expect so many responses so soon. keep um coming, we need all the good advice we can get. thanks again

 

[youngGalli]

hi dave
we just went to an expo in NJ to do a little research, and are trying to figure out where the photographers are sending off to get the books with the inlaid pictures and also the little 'brag books' ...etc..any idea?

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

www.asukabook.com for the high end books.

D.

 

[blaze-on]

I use this company in Chicago for demo and finished albums.
http://www.michelcompany.com/

 

[Changeling1]

http://www.prophotoimaging.com/

These folks are one of the biggest and cheapest photo labs for weddings,
portraits, yearbooks, kid's sports etc. that I know of. They used to retouch negs for $10.00 per head (and probably still do). But to tell you the truth for THAT sort of (crass commericial) photography- I might well shoot it all with one of those incredible high-end digital imaging devices- like my cell phone!

Here's what the folks at Pro Photo say about themselves, which I can attest to being true:

"Welcome to the professional services of Pro Photo Imaging. We are one of the oldest leading photographic labs in the nation, serving professional photographers worldwide since 1923. Our goal is to satisfy your needs by offering the very finest in wedding, portrait, school, and sports photo finishing.

We provide you with the most technologically advanced digital and optical services. Most Online Orders are shipped within one working day. Every order is checked for accuracy and superior color balance. All prints are produced on Kodak Endura paper. Images are stored 90 days for fast accurate reordering. At Pro Photo we strive to give you consistent color, order accuracy, and timely delivery at competitive prices."

All said, they're nice people and go out of their way to help photographers make the most of their services.