Wedding Preps Series: Photo & Video Suppliers Hunt

With all the photographers and videographers in the wedding industry I almost

didn't know where to begin. All I know was our budget isn't unlimited and we don't want too post-processed photos and video.  We've decided we want an SDE (same day edit) and as months pass by I find myself becoming more and more picky when it comes to SDE portfolios I see. While I give it to my fiance the decision on the photo aspect as he's more knowledgeable.

FemaleNetwork.com's Girl Talk was a big help. I learned about so many suppliers through it.

And so the hunt began.

I've inquired with so many suppliers and viewed countless photos and SDEs. It was crazy. It was tiring as some point. I also joined Ruffa&Mike and Jake Olaso's promo in the hopes if winning a free photo and video coverage. Unfortunately, they were both booked on the date of our wedding. So let that go. Back to the hunt.

Our ceiling budget is 50k for the photo and video. It's a gift my parents would gladly give us for our wedding. So I need to stick to that budget and still have the quality of the photos and video we wanted. I will share our shortlist,  as well as the full list of photo and video suppliers we considered:


SHORTLIST:

Photo:

Happy Couples Photography
Php 18,000 - Pre-nup Shoot + Wedding Coverage (2 photogs)

HCPH has been on my photographer shortlist for the longest time. We were quite decided about them then. When we saw their photos and rates, I knew we had to meet them soon. Yan liked their photos being very natural and bright. They're the photographer with the lowest rate at that time with the natural style that we wanted. We met them, they're a couple, and we immediately liked them. The only thing holding me back was their lack of portfolio, since they're a start-up, and they want to add a transpo fee of P3,000 if we can't provide for their transpo in-between venues.  I can see their latest photos on Facebook, and they look great.

Imagine Nation Photography - Junior Photographer

Php 15,000 Wedding Coverage (1 main + 1 back up photog)

Php 5,000 Pre-nup Shoot for 2 hours (1 photog)

It was in the latter part of my hunt when I learned from a friend who is about to get married this year that the Junior rate of INP is almost as affordable as HCPH's! Thanks Nikki! I know for a fact that INP trains their photogs really well, and one can't go wrong with INP. My fiancé actually attended photography classes there, he should know. HCPH was a product of INP as well.  No wonder these two made it to our shortlist! I was so excited I immediately browsed through the current Junior photog roster of INP and Liz Rañola caught my eye. I showed Yan her portfolio, alongside with the others', and he loved her photos too.

Video:

Vidlens Production

Php 22K SDE package; plus Php 3k for full coverage which I requested

Vidlens was on top of my videographers shortlist for the longest time. When I saw their videos, I knew they'd be hard to beat. I have this "this is it" feeling when watching their videos. I'm a fan! And with their 22k SDE rate, it's a home run. The owner, Brian, was also very accommodating. 

Blissful House Digital 

Php 30k SDE + Cinematic Highlights

Before I found Vidlens, BHD was one of the video suppliers I was really considering. They have many positive feedbacks, but though their videos are good, I didn't feel the "this is it" factor.

24 Frames

Php 18, 500 SDE + Full raw

24 Frames offers one of the most affordable packages I encountered.  They offer photo only, video only and photo-video packages ranging from 12k up to 90k. They have so many packages available to suit the needs of every couple - I was happy to actually find the exact package I want in them. However, again, we didn't like how their photos look too edited and the videos I'm not feeling too. I guess my SDE standard really shoot up because of Vidlens' works.  
If you are really on a very tight budget, look into 24 Frames,  it's a bang for the buck, no doubt. 

Photo-Video combined:

Smartshot Studio
Php 50k Full PV Package with albums, portrait and photo booth

We inquired with them during a wedding fair and we're impressed with the package.  It's 50k with endless inclusions! We're also able to haggle for a free photobooth. But at the end of the day, we didn't feel it in our hearts that we like their outputs, especially the SDE videos.

East Digital Studio
Php 50k Full PV Package with albums and portrait

Almost the same with Smartshot in terms of  price and package, minus the free photo booth. We also found them in the same wedding fair. However, we found East Digital's outputs,  especially the SDE, better than Smartshot's. We comtemplated whether we will just settle with ED so we can get a complete package already: main album, pre-nup album, 2 parents mini albums, portrait, gallery photos. The package also includes SDE, wedding film, pre-nup shoot, photo and video full coverage. Their SDEs are quite nice and I can really consider, but the photos I'm not so sure about.

I'm also sharing my full list: 

Photo:

• Rockin Photographers
• Chestknots
• Threelogy
• Gail Bitoon
• Happy Couples - 18k pre-nup + wedding (transpo not yet included)
• A&A Photography
• Shutter One
• Thinking Chair - Basic Photo 20k
• CamZar
• Imagine Nation Photography

Video:

• Vidlens Production
• God's Grace Video
• Aperture Video
• Wedding East
• Dreamechanics - 29k SDE; 39K SDE+Cinematic Highlights
• Joaquin Ambata Films 
• Treehouse Story
• Derek Yee
• Cupcake Cinema - 25k SDE + Full edited; Ongoing Promo 40k Full PV Package
• Aisle 1401
• 24 Frames - 17,500 SDE + Full length raw plus 1k transpo
• Kris Matanguihan

Photo-Video:

• Shutter Panda - 49k Full PV; Doesn't offer SDE yet
• Blissful House Digital - 60k PV package with many inclusions;  SDE package 30k (with cinematic highlights)
• Digital Light Images - 60k Full PV coverage (w/ SDE & pre-nup shoot)
• Red Media - Haven't inquired, but they said it's affordable
• 24 Frames - One of the most sulit packages I found. However,  we don't like the outputs that much. They have very affordable photo only, video only and PV packages.
• Dizon Studios - 48,500 PV package plus free SDE as ongoing promo. Akso sulit, but didn't like SDEs.
• Smart Shot Studio - Inquired durung a wedding faur. We're impressed with the package.  It's 50k with endless inclusions! We're akso abke to haggle for a free photobooth. But at the end of the day, we didn't feel it in our hearts that we like their outputs.
• East Digital - Almost the same with Smart Shot in terms of  price and package, minus the free photo booth. Same reason for not going for it.

The BIG QUESTION.... which one/s did we pick?
It has to be Imagine Nation Photography (Liz Rañola) and Vidlens Production - our photo and video dream team! We knew we could never go wrong with the quality work of these two. :)

Hope you found my post helpful. Good luck with your own wedding photo and video suppliers hunt! Happy preps! ♡

See all wedding preps series posts.

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