Daniel McGarrity , Feb 24, 2010; 10:47 p.m.
Okay, it's been debated hotly often, and I do mean often. This however might be helpful to all those who seem to think that there really is a reason for a client to go with a $500 craigslist photographer.
My point is that there is an obvious difference to all but the most....I want to be charitable here......steadfast/thrifty....clients.
As per photo.net's rules I cannot post websites or name names. However I would contend that CL exists very much in the public domain and as such is open to all to see and decide.
Well what I saw was a potential client in Albequerque asking for a $500 photographer......that's not the point here, just wait.
There was a response, and the responder listed their website, again, this is on CL not photo.net, you may research at your leisure.
The responders website, I feel, provides a superb example of what you are getting when you hunt for the ultimate bargain.
I'm sure that any client when confronted with the choice of using their photography budget for better h'ors douvres and skimping on the photography, would opt to just keep with the pigs in a blanket.
Nish Sivakumar , Feb 24, 2010; 11:44 p.m.
Which sub-section do people post these ads in? Craigslist does have a photo section but that's for selling cameras and lenses, not for advertising photography.
Maria McManamey , Feb 24, 2010; 11:55 p.m.
I'm going to ask you to throw me a bone, too. I spent 20 minutes poking around, searching ABQ & the message boards & never found a match.
Although, the bride asking for a TWO hundred dollar photog I did find.
Darin Schaffer , Feb 24, 2010; 11:55 p.m.
Just out of curiosity I tried to find this but couldn't, was this under photo or event, what was the date? A little more info would have been helpful
Nish Sivakumar , Feb 25, 2010; 12:07 a.m.
Well, it may not be fair to judge people asking for 200-500 dollar photographers. Maybe their whole wedding budget is only 2000 bucks.
Jeff Spirer 
, Feb 25, 2010; 12:14 a.m.
I find it really unfortunate, maybe more like completely unpleasant, that some people here find it necessary to disparage other people based on their finances. What some people can pay, and what some people find necessary in order to secure work, there are posters here that find it necessary to attack these people (while pretending to be "fair" about it) because they are somehow better.
I have been to weddings that cost under $1000. Even $500 for a photographer is a wild extravagance for some people.
Well excuse me for knowing them. Anyone who doesn't have enough several thousand dollars for a wedding photographer should be kicked and beaten, publicly on a web forum.
Jerry Litynski 
, Feb 25, 2010; 12:17 a.m.
If you (the photographer) can shoot a wedding with 80 or 90 images total , and provide a 5x7 album of 16 to 20 prints, a two-hour wedding at $500.00 is not going to harm your bank deposit. If, for some reason, you need 2,000 to 3,000 images to get your ideal wedding covered, than the $500.00 wedding is not going to be kind to you (the photographer.)
Nish Sivakumar , Feb 25, 2010; 12:56 a.m.
Jeff,
Not sure if you meant my post, but I was definitely not disparaging people based on their budget, rather I was trying to make the same point you did except perhaps a little less directly.
Jeff Spirer , Feb 25, 2010; 01:22 a.m.
Steve Murray , Feb 25, 2010; 01:39 a.m.
The general assumption (not always, but the forbidden broad brush that is being used here for a reason) is that everything about a wedding will be perfect. This goes for the photography as well, whether it's a $5,000 photographer or a $500 hobbyist who just bought a Rebel with the kit lens advertising on CL. It's reasonable for a bride to want everything to be perfect and as much like a storybook wedding as possible, and I think it's very fair to attack that assumption when it comes to hiring the churn & burn photographers with questionable abilities, equipment, and experience.
I both agree and disagree with the disparaging attitude toward low-budget weddings, but I only disparage when it comes to actually hiring a photographer. In reality, that money is probably better saved for other purposes with photos from relatives and friends being used for the album unless they literally win the CL photographer lottery if the total budget is low enough.
