Exige Weddings
I am really impressed with the work of Exige (well, Niceprint in general) that’s why I got them. Since it was a premium line of Niceprint Photography, it comes with a lot of perks. Ms. Rhian, the rep I got to talk to, would be a dedicated concierge of Exige Clients. She’d be handling queries, schedules, and requests of their clients. Unlike in Niceprint, there are several employees to handle different clients. Maybe one employee would say one thing, another would say a different thing. In Exige, it’s centralized to Ms. Rhian. They also promise shorter waiting time for the albums and processed videos. You also get a free small digital frame TV with which you can play a slideshow of your wedding photos. That’s gonna be great to put in the living room, I think. You also get to enjoy a free delivery service if you’re within Metro Manila, a free family investment advice by a partner institution, access to a private lounge for their customers with wifi access, enjoy discounts in partner establishments and suppliers, and a gift box containing your CD of photos, personalized wine, and memo pad. Ain’t that cute?
3 photographers
3 videographers
3 lightsmen
Unlimited shots in DVD in leather case
Non-linear editing MTV style in DVD output
40-page storybook layout in 12x12 premium album
(or 11x14 hardbound album with photo cover)
20x24 blow up photo canvas in special frame
On-site photo slideshow—all enhanced photos to be shown at the reception
On site video editing—to be shown ar the reception
2 parent’s albums
Prenuptial photoshoot with concept and location shoot (3 set-ups/locations)
10x8 coffeebook style guestbook with photos from prenuptial shoot
Top of the line equipment including glide cam and crane
Guaranteed infrared system for some of the shots (upon request)
Here are the perks I got for booking during the bridal fair:
Huge discount (33-44%)
100 pcs Thank You cards
Upgrade of blow up canvas photo to 30x30
AVP Slideshow
3 hours photobooth by Studio on Wheels
(I was offered a Save-the-Date video, but declined. It would be too awkward for me and husband-to-be.)
Peso power, you may ask? I’d just say it still reached the six-digit mark. Pero sulit pa rin, in my opinion.
I knew they have several photographer and videographer teams, that’s why I had to research first and go back to their previous works and ask who handled the photos and videos I liked. Sakto, Rupert the photographer was the team leader assigned to us, and it was his works I actually prefer. I am not too particular with video, but we were assigned to Paolo, the one who made the Same-Day Edit (SDE) of Shamcey Supsup’s wedding, and the Save-the-Date video of Alvin Patrimonio. I liked the latter when I watched it before, so I asked Ms. Rhian who made it, and if it was Paolo. She said yes. I was a happy kid.
Here are shots by Rupert. I got these from Niceprint's Blog:
Studio1 Photography and Videography
Off to the the story with Studio1, our second P/V supplier. Why did I have to get a second one? Well, mom was asking me one time about the parent albums included in the package of Exige. I told her there’d be two, and that the size would just be 5x7. She got disappointed! *laughs* She wanted to have a big album, the same size with ours, 11x14. She told me to ask how much would it take to upgrade the parent albums to that size, and so when I went to the bridal fair last March 8, I asked Ms. Rhian. To my shock, she told me it would cost 35,000 each! I nearly fainted. If I’d be getting two, I’d be spending 70,000 then? I was like, NO WAY! So I walked around the fair, not minding much of the flyers being handed to us, thinking about what to do. I asked around other P/Vs about printing services of the big albums, and most offer them for 20,000 and up. It’s lower than 35,000 but still too much for me. Then it hit me. Since I’d have to spend that much on albums alone, why not avail of another P/V supplier which would already include big albums? Say, I get one P/V or photo-only supplier, then instead of availing bridal fair perks, I’d just request for another big album to give mom and h2b’s parents. But of course, I need to find a supplier who’d offer me the lowest-priced package as possible.
Roaming around, moving from one booth to another, I eventually saw Studio1. I always notice them during the past bridal fairs, and remembered that they were one of the P/Vs offering the lowest prices. So I braved to ask about my problem and about what I wanted to happen. I saw their lowest wedding package which costs 35,000. It already included photography and videography service with prints and edits. Like, woah. That’s a very low-priced package considering they’d be using HD camera for the video already. Here’s an image of the package I was interested in:
15% discount
AVP
SDE
LCD Projector (7ftx7ft)
42-in Digital Frame
3 hours Photobooth
Infrared Shots
150 pcs Thank You Cards
Then he told me the offer. If I added 3,000 to the package, but won’t avail of the 15% discount, I’d be getting 2 parent albums that are 11x14 in size, and additional freebies (Save-the-Date video and 3 pcs gallery/16x20 blow up in frame). So all in all, the package would be:
2 photographers
1 videographer
1 photo DVD (1,200-1500 shots in large format)
40-page 8x10 magnetic album
Half-day prenuptial pictorial within Metro Manila
2 pcs 11x14 40-page parent albums
HD video camera to be used
Wedding video in DVD
Raw capture wedding video
Professional lighting
Direct audio patch system
Uniformed crew
16x20 blow up photo in frame
10-page 10x8 panoramic guestbook (prenup album)
Save the Date video
AVP
SDE
LCD projector
42-in digital frame
3 hours photobooth
Infrared Shots
150 pcs Thank You Cards
3 pcs Gallery blow up photos, 16x20
Whew. I had to breathe kasi medyo ang daming inclusions. But I had to note that I’d have to add 500 for the transportation cost on the wedding day because of the distance to and the toll fees for Alabang, and another 500 if we’d be having the prenup photoshoot in Alabang as well. All in all, it’s just 39,000. For all of those. It has more inclusions than the package I got from Exige, right? So instead of paying 70,000 for two big albums from Exige, I’d just spend 39,000 for a lot of inclusions, and a P/V I can dedicate to shoot what I wanted. I’m thinking I’d make them focus on the family kasi we’d be having a maximum of 300 guests and I think having extra photographers would ensure the capture of moments with the family. Afterall, the albums we’d be getting from them IS FOR THE FAMILY.
When I got home, I jokingly told my mom, that I already got her and the future in-laws the big albums that she wanted, and even got her a P/V team who she could ask to focus on her. *laughs* Haba ng hair! Her own P/V team. Just kidding!
You might ask me, why did I not get Studio1 and just asked for upgrades? That way I’d be spending way less than what I’d have to spend now. Well, first and foremost, Exige and Studio1 are not of the same level when it comes to output quality. I’d be honest. In my opinion, Exige is more top-of-the-line, while Studio1 is in mid-range. Exige has a lot of new styles to offer, while I noticed Studio1 is on the traditional side. I’m okay with the thought of getting them both and having to experience two different styles. And duhh, I already booked and paid for Exige, in the first place. I won’t be willing to let go of the 20% down payment I made, and I won’t be willing to pay 70k for albums alone! *laughs* Basta, I’m happy I got them both. Studio1 is actually the supplier I am so happy to have booked. I’m so happy that I recommended them to my cousin who’d be marrying this July, and booked Studio1 for them a few days ago during a bridal fair. I was able to get the same basic package and haggled out-of-town fees for Tagaytay. Lots of freebies and great discount—all for 34,750.
However, the evaluation did not stop there. I still had to reassure myself that I really got a good deal. I wanted to know if Studio1 delivers well naman, and they do, according to their previous clients. They’re just not hyped up on the Internet. They’re not active in posting their works on Facebook and their website, maybe for copyright reasons (that is, the music used in presentations should be bought first). I found out that they do Christian activities like regular Bible studies within the company (ooh, like Imagine Nation Photography, right?), which they also consider an organization. I also found their explanation why they are more affordable compared to other P/V suppliers. They said that they hire regular employees, and that lessens the production cost. Many P/Vs rely on freelance artists who require higher pay. I also realized they produce their own albums and prints. Many photographers outsource their albums and prints pa, making them expensive to produce. Also, I realized that most of the freebies are fixed-capitals already. For example, the digital frame and LCD projector would just be rental services. Same equipment are used in their projects. Sad though, that I read bad reviews about their photobooth. But that’s just the photobooth. It was a couple of years ago pa, and I trust they’d made improvements already. I just let go and settled on trusting them na lang. After all, they are nice people. And as they say, trust your supplier once you booked them.
I read in GirlTalk about two of their best photographers: Edder and Eugene. Edder would be the kalog and funny guy who’d be really creative when it comes to photoshoots, while Eugene would be the serious but very polite guy who’s more on traditional shots. I asked Studio1 when h2b and I visited their office if they could give us Edder for the prenup shoot and Eugene for the wedding day, and they happily agreed. Hopefully they stick to it. I was hesitant to request at first because I was only availing of their cheapest package, but they gave me my request anyway. They even wrote it on the contract. By the way, I had to cancel again the Save-the-Date video shoot because h2b doesn’t really like to do one at all. I just thanked them for offering, anyway.
Here are sample shots by Studio1:
CamZar:
Jason Magbanua:
Maybe if I’d be earning more in the future, when the time comes that my sisters and brother would be having their weddings, I’d offer getting the P/Vs for them and be able to handpick the P/Vs that are suited for their wedding theme. By the way, our wedding doesn’t have a theme. I found it stressful to think about a theme! Sumuko lang ako kasi I didn’t want a theme that’s too gasgas na. Eh sa dami ng nagpapakasal ngayon, nauubusan na ako ng idea. Haha! So we just went for the classic-romantic na lang. I just went for a classic wedding palette as well, for the motif: rose, blush, nude, and cream. O ha, ang girly! (So that explains the blog title and all of this pink-ness!) LOL. Well enough na, naiiba na ang kwento!
Till the next post! Good vibes!
-Gero