Chapman Photography--Please help me convince DF!!

[tmli]

My DF reads these boards as much as I do (some of you may remember we met on the dis!), so I know he is reading this. Hi Honey!

Anyways, we are having an intimate at the WP in August and are disagreeing about the photography. He says it is a waste of money to get Chapman when pics are included in the package we have already paid for. Logistically this makes sense....however, emotionally I see all of your photos and read about how wonderful Randy is and I want him too!!!

Honestly neither of us like to have our photos taken, but I would like to have the photos we do get to be perfect!

Share your reasons/experiences with us please....it seems to me that it wouldn't end up being a whole lot extra in the end do the high costs of extra prints with Disney.

Listen up, honey, and feel free to add any questions or comments you have.

 

[TinkBride]

THE BIGGEST REASON!!!!!!!!

When you hire Randy you get the copyrights to all of his photos! Every single one!

So you can make as many copies afterwards for cheap at Wally World and you dont have to order them from the photographer for a large expense.

sooooooo............ 70 cents vs. $70.00

In the long run Randy is worth the extra cost!

You need to talk to Maggimus, she is his biggest fan!

I have not personally dealt with Randy other than booking him, but even then he has been amazingly friendly, helpful, and nice.

 

[PrincessBride07]

Now this is only an assumption, but you should have more freedom with Randy. I am not sure of the Disney photography, but Randy will take pics wherever you like, and you can also arrange for different times. If you are having a morning wedding, but also want fireworks pics; Randy will work with you to get it. I don't know if Disney would do that, at least not for an additional price. Also, you can substitute honeymoon pics at MK in place of the wedding pics.

Cheering you on here. Hope you can convince your DF and get Randy

 

[Maggimus]

Randy, Randy, Randy..... whats not to love about good ole Randy!!

I posted this in a board days ago about vendors... I am going to copy and paste it here just in case your DF didnt see it...



Before I speak further I encourage you to look at at Randy's work along with other competitors. Randy is highly spoken of here on the boards, but I want you to make a decision that you are comfortable with. I am Randy's biggest fan so you will hear me speak very highly of him. His work is phenomenal and seriously, cannot be beat.

Depending on the package you get from Randy will depend on the price.
If you go to www.chapmanphotography.com and go to "Disney brides" the password is "Ariel". You can look at those photos and see some examples of his work there (you might be surprised to see many DISers there). If you click on the botton it will say "wedding information"... there you can look at his prices. When comparing prices you will see that Randy is a GREAT investment.

Disney gives you very few photos and makes you pay approx $1000 for the CD. Where Randy, on the other hand, gives you a CD with all of your photos and you own the copywrite to the CD. He also gives you an album with (depending on the package) a great number of photos.

Here was my package-- to give you an idea.
-I paid $613 dollars for 3 hours of photography. He shot me getting ready at the WL, then at the ceremony (Sea Breeze Point- Boardwalk Resort),shot afterwards for the reception and Mickey and Minnie, and then we went for the remainder of the time to the Grand Floridian for some photos on the grounds there.
-We received the album with over 400+ photos. The album is beautiful and I could not be happier.
-He also sent the CD with every single photo he took of us on the day. We have been able to take this CD an get reprints for as low as .22cents (Compare that to any other photographer. Sometimes reprints can cost up to $70 dollars).

Randy is a great deal! Take a look at the photos he shot of my DH and I in my Trip Report. That link is in my signature and will give you an idea of his work.

Randy is the most artistic, tallented, individual I have ever met. He is very personable and really makes you feel as though you are well taken care of. I had no idea what was going on the day of my wedding and Randy did. He took control and even helped my DH and Dad get their clothes on correctly (haha ) before the wedding. He also answered all of our questions as to what we needed to do for the ceremony (something my WC hadnt really prepared us for).

I highly recommend Randy as an outside vendor.

Think of it like this

You get what you pay for. With Disney its already included but you get very very few photos and when you want more (those that they didnt give to you in your fold out)... that will add up (sometimes photos are $70 a piece. Wont all of the in-laws want atleast 1 photo?? How many photos is that-- it practically makes going with randy worth your money). His packages are so reasonable and you wont have to worry about years down the road having to get in touch with someone just to get a reprint of a photo that your child happened to rip up, or got knocked off the shelf and bent. You own the copywrite and the CD with all the photos are on it... its as easy as going to wally world-- popping it in the computer and getting a reprint for mearly pocket change.

My DH had the same mentality as yours does... 'weve already paid for someone.. why throw more money away'... but whats $600 some-odd dollars in the grand scheme of things? A lifetime of memories on paper... able to access them forever-- not to mention a photographer who is hands town TRILLIONS times better than Disney Photography?? In my opinion thats priceless in and of itself... Theres no big price tag along with this one though... hes actually affordable

(Right there I so wanted to put "just 3 easy payments of 19.99--lol i started sounding like an infomercial-- even to myself).

But look this is the real thing, Im not someone who works for Randy nor do I know Randy outside of the photography that he shot for my wedding. Genually- hes all round tallented great guy.

Here are a few of my photos-- and if this dont convince you I dont know what will. I have said this many times and ill say it again-- im not bragging about me or my DH in these photos (if you read my TR you will see I wasnt exactly pleased with my looks on the day of the wedding).. but in all honesty, Randy Chapman could take fabulous photos of pigs playing in a pig pen...

I hope you make the same great decision I did...

 

[Sparkles9306]

I totally agree with everything that has been said above, Randy is the way to go!

Just another thing to input, with Randy you know what your getting in terms of style and quality. With Disney photography you don't know who's going to shoot you until just before the wedding. You can't look at samples from that person and say yes or no.

Ok one more thing, if you do go with an outside photographer, you won't be wasting part of the package. You get a Honeymoon shoot instead which can be in any of the parks, just not in wedding attire!

 

[happylalagirl]

I just had to throw my 2 cents in here... we had Randy and absolutely LOVED him!!! We could have gone with Disney photography, but after comparing Randy's prices with Disney's and the fact that you get a copyrighted CD given to you to make as many pics as you want wherever you want... Randy was the obvious choice for us. We were given over 1000 proofs in albums, plus we are choosing about 20 pics to be put in an album (bigger pics) and some to frame PLUS the CD... it's all included in the price. Randy knows his way around the park and you usually aren't charged the outside vendor fee for him because he's done so many Disney weddings. You can always switch your photo option to a honeymoon shoot and then you don't lose any money. In the long run, as many others have said, you save money and get a much better product. I've heard of some girls not getting the quality shots they want or where they wanted with Disney photographers... its' pot luck what photographer you get. I'd say go with Randy.

 

[tmli]

Thank you all so much!!!! Maggimus it was your trip report that even got me to consider outside photography.

I am sure my honey will be able to see that Chapman is the only reasonable way to go!

 

[Maggimus]

I hope that it helps-- tell your DF if he still has doubts-- I can continue my sales tactics...

Let us know what you decide!! Remember its your day and be happy

 

[Icats]

We didn't use Randy (I was torn between him and Gary Fox - turned out Randy was already booked by happylalagirl, so that made my choice easy ), but I didn't like that I had no choice in who would be photographing my wedding. And, like others have pointed out, we got so much more for our money going with an outside photographer than we would have with Disney. Plus, we got a honeymoon photo shoot that I know we never would have considered if it hadn't been offered as a substitute.

After having the MK photo shoot and honeymoon shoot with two different Disney photographers, I'm glad we went the outside photographer route for our wedding. We really loved one of the Disney photographers, but thought the other was just okay.

 

[Gina Loves Disney]

Maggie - you have deff convinced me. I HOPE when the time comes Randy is avaiable! I love your pics so much!!!!!!!!

Also I think it's awesome that Randy went to all different locations for you!

 

[kjbstore]

We used Randy in 2002 for our 20th anniversary photos. We spent about 3.5 hours with him at Epcot and got some fabulous pictures. He is so wonderful, is very easy to work with, makes you feel very comfortable and his photos are awesome. We are celebrating our 25th this year in November and we are hoping to hire him again (have left a message hoping to here from him soon) for photos. Our 15 year old dd is coming with us for part of the trip and we want some family as well as couple photos. I highly recommend him.

 

[Maggimus]

Maggie - you have deff convinced me. I HOPE when the time comes Randy is avaiable! I love your pics so much!!!!!!!!

Also I think it's awesome that Randy went to all different locations for you!

Thank you!! I feel almost as though ive been lead to become a free promotional tool for Randy. I do not mind whatsoever. Had I missed out on the opportunity to have him photograph my wedding-- I would be so upset. I feel its my 'duty' (if you will) to make sure upcoming brides know just how great he is. I would hate seeing someone pass him up due to lack of knowledge.... hes certainly worth it!!

 

[luna99]

I've pretty much decided that I'm going to go with randy whether my DF likes it or not! haha.. well, what I mean is, I'm going to do it and pay for it myself if he doesn't want to and then he can't complain and I get what I want.

when I look at his website, the pics are all so beautiful and creative...

I want to look back at my pics in 50 years and say how great they are.

 

[Maggimus]

I've pretty much decided that I'm going to go with randy whether my DF likes it or not! haha.. well, what I mean is, I'm going to do it and pay for it myself if he doesn't want to and then he can't complain and I get what I want.

when I look at his website, the pics are all so beautiful and creative...

I want to look back at my pics in 50 years and say how great they are.

You are so much like me Luna!! Haha DH was so against it. I think it took a lot of talking him into it and a couple tearful heartfelt conversations. Finally I made him realize that these photos arent just going to be looked at and put away-- years and years down the road, even generations, people will see these photographs and say "wow.."... and I certainly am more into the "wow" factor than the "look at that photo. Looks like those people are just standing there smiling". Randy truely captures things in the moment-- sure we took some photographs but mainly DH and I were just being ourselves and he was shooting away. he did direct me to pose different ways, ofcourse, but it was nothing I wouldnt have done myself (DH picks me up and kisses me like in the above photo all the time, moreso when we were first dating!).

 

[luna99]

Finally I made him realize that these photos arent just going to be looked at and put away-- years and years down the road, even generations, people will see these photographs and say "wow.."...

I agree... I mean, someday hopefully our kids will see these amazing photos and maybe our grandkids or great grandkids.. and I want them to be special. Not to mention my parents and family and friends and co-workers etc.

We're not getting a videographer and this is the next best thing we'll have.

I want to be able to frame some and put them around our house.. keep one in my wallet or at my desk at work.. just to remember the beautiful day and to remind me how much I love my husband and how grateful I am to have such a wonderful man in my life. (Ok, i'm getting too sappy! ).

so anyway, yeah... I'm gonna contact randy and if he's availble I"m doing it..

(DH picks me up and kisses me like in the above photo all the time, moreso when we were first dating!).

awwww. so sweet.

 

[ForKeeps]

I'm another advocat for Randy.

I can see your DH's point of view, in that it's an added on expense. But it's just the best money I've spent in my entire life (I'm seriously not kidding - for the money, the value has been phenomenal). When I tell my friends and family that Randy offered 3 hours of coverage, 500+ prints, and all the digital imaged (copyrights and all) they we all flaggergasted.

You don't have to feel that the money is totally wasted because you can sub in the Honeymoon shoot, which is a fun thing to do while you're there. Plus, we knew that because we were having an intimate destination wedding that we'd want to print more pictures for our family that couldn't attend...and now we can without the ridiculous cost that Disney charges per print.

Luckily for me I pretty much had 100% control over the wedding. I asked DH about everything of course....but because I'm the cheapskate of the two he knew I wouldn't get too out of control.

The pictures are just beautiful. I love them so much! You can see them on the My Photos section under Tiffany & Simon.

In addition, Randy was just the nicest person to have there. He knew how everything was going to happen and in many ways helped me out more than my WC. You just know what you're going to get with him. You can't go wrong.

 

[JonetteA]

I chose Randy as well. It came down to me one thing and one thing only. Quality of work and what did I want to have for the rest of my life. With Disney you do not know who will shoot your pictures the day of your event, you are getting an unknown. I wanted to be able to choose who I wanted to shoot my pictures. It was great a deal for the money. Disney will charge you 20 or 30 bucks for each 8X10. I think the 5x7 are 20. I found that a little steep.

If you wanted the hi-res CD, like Randy gives you for free, then you are set back around $1000.00, unless that price has changed in some way. The 4X6's you get can not be scaned and turned into anything nicer. (You can't add pixels that aren't in the picture. The pixels increase with picture size.)

In your case, I understand what your fiancee is saying, however, I have heard of other couples using this photography money for honeymoon sessions or toward the MK photo shoot if you were going to do that. If your fiancee still needs convincing, he can talk to my hubbie. Leif, who like I hate to have my picture taken, was very comfortable around Randy. Heck, he made us all look good!

Jonette

 

[tmli]

Well after many a discussion it has been decided.......WE ARE GETTING RANDY!! At least I hope we are. Last week our date was available and I emailed him today to book. Hopefully will hear soon.

So we will substitute for the honeymoon shoot at MK. Can we do this anywhere at MK or only at Castle?

 

[dee slack]

Congratulations and welcome to the 'Randy Chapman Unofficial Fan Club'!!!!!

I'm not sure where in MK the photographer takes you for honeymoon shoots - the castle is definately one of the places. Someone will come along and know the answer real soon.

 

[ForKeeps]

Well after many a discussion it has been decided.......WE ARE GETTING RANDY!! At least I hope we are. Last week our date was available and I emailed him today to book. Hopefully will hear soon.

So we will substitute for the honeymoon shoot at MK. Can we do this anywhere at MK or only at Castle?

YEAH!

OK, so the honeymoon shoot is taken in a few spots through the MK. You can see all of my shots here:
Go to http://www.collages.net/disneyweddings.

Fill in the following name and password information:

Username: Murray / Ribbans Wedding

Password: 1971

I asked to take the shots in front of the Wishing Well. So if you have any specific things you'd like -- just ask.