I am a little depressed.

I've been researching photographers in the greater Santa Fe area, looking for some to contact that might fit our needs and I have realized two things:

1. There are some AMAZING photographers living, working, and shooting weddings in Santa Fe.

2. They must think cost of living is high there or something because they are all FREAKISHLY expensive.

*sigh*

Who spends $6,000 on wedding photos? WHO? (Probably the same rich bastards who spend thousands to rent the gorgeous rooftop ballroom at La Fonda... But I digress...)

The lowest "package" prices I've seen are around $2,300. The problem with those, though (aside from the fact that that's just under half our entire wedding budget) is that they all include either reprints/enlargements, or a pre-made wedding album, neither of which I am thrilled about. Yes, I know we will want enlargements, but that doesn't mean I want to pay the photographer's marked up prices. And some of those albums? *shudder* So NOT my cup of tea. Besides which, it's the photographer who choses the photos for those things. BWAH?? How weird is that??

So. New plan. Craig's List has finally opened up its Albuquerque site, so I'm going to try advertising there; we did have good luck with that for our engagement pictures, after all. And I'll start emailing a few of the photographers who looked reasonable and put on my "poor pathetic bride" face. And then, if that doesn't work, I'll call my photography teacher at CSF and ask her to recommend someone.

Where there's a will, there's a way. And I WILL NOT spend $2500 on wedding photos. Period.