Is it worth getting a Photographer for a Family Portrait (and recommendations in Brisbane)

saxlady on 01/04/2021 - 14:20

We've never had a family photo done, and it would be nice, but I'm weighing up asking a friend with a professional camera, who will then let us have all the images and we can get them blown up onto canvas etc - whatever we want, versus paying for a shoot and then having to get an order done through the photographer, for many hundreds of dollars.

Is it really worth paying the difference for a professional shoot?

I've found a few groupon deals that would get us a small print thrown in, but I'm assuming it's going to be a LOT more to get a decent size wall photo.

I would consider paying for a session with a professional photographer who would then be willing to give us the images to do what we want with them - are there any?

Any recommendations from happy customers?

General Discussion

Comments

  • spackbace on 01/04/2021 - 14:23
    +1

    Just utilise a half decent photographer from Facebook.

    Check out their previous shoots etc. Editing makes all the difference, so it could be like chalk and cheese between using your friend's camera, vs someone who will spend some time editing the shots

  • MS Paint on 01/04/2021 - 14:33
    +8

    friend with a professional camera,

    Owning a professional camera doesn't mean you're good at photography and own the rest of the necessary gear for excellent results.

    Source: own a professional camera and lenses

  • GG57 on 01/04/2021 - 14:53
    +9

    Go with the friend first; nil cost and you can decide later if you want to go to the next level (and pay for it).

    • chickemugget on 01/04/2021 - 20:42
      +1

      would the friend feel a little hurt if you end up not using their shots?
      at the very least, you should take your friend out for a meal or give them something in exchange as a kind gesture

  • D6C1 on 01/04/2021 - 15:32

    Get yourself a selfie stick and you are set. Phone cameras and selfie sticks are the rage these days.

    • BargainCowboy on 01/04/2021 - 15:50

      2014 called…

      • D6C1 on 01/04/2021 - 18:02

        Sarcasm lessons called….

  • macrocephalic on 01/04/2021 - 15:50
    +2

    There's a lot more to photography than having good gear. Any idiot with a few grand to spend can get "professional" level gear now. The cameras that my wedding photographer used are now worth about $400 second hand (the lenses are still worth a thousand each) but we have some of the photos blown up to >80cm and they look good still.

    That said, as long as it's not a one off event then there's not much to lose by getting a friend to take the photos. You can always pay a professional later.

    It's worth looking at some other family photos online and figuring out how they're posed and deciding what you want, because managing the people is one of the harder parts of photography - and it will be much easier for you and your friend if people have an idea what they're doing in advance.

    Further: not many pro photographers will let you keep the photos out of the camera. For that sort of photography you probably work on about a 10% keep rate (you throw away 90% of the shots), and even the good ones will go through a basic editing process. No pro photographer will want their work represented by the 90% they would have thrown away and the limited editing skills of a client; they only want to present the photos which were good. That said, some photographers will give you full res copies of photos after they've sorted and done basic edits on them.

  • timthetoolman on 01/04/2021 - 16:13
    +3

    Ask a professional to do the shots for 'exposure', they love that

    • TheBird on 01/04/2021 - 19:50

      True dat!

  • godofpizza on 01/04/2021 - 16:36

    if you like their work why not.

  • Snake 4 on 01/04/2021 - 16:53

    Negs as in negatives?

  • TheBird on 01/04/2021 - 19:50
    -1

    Yes and no.

    Most people wouldn't know the difference. If you're in that category, save your money.

  • jjjaar on 01/04/2021 - 22:47
    +1

    Go find a local camera club. Plenty of very talented photographers there that don’t do it professionally and therefore don’t charge an arm and a leg.

    My friend found her wedding photographer through ours. Was only $200~ for the day, all photos on a usb.

  • saxlady on 02/04/2021 - 10:40
    -1

    Thanks for all your comments - interesting that there's no actual recommendations… (so far)

    Could be a direct result of asking ozbargainers…?

    • Mad Max on 02/04/2021 - 13:13

      I sent you a message.

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