Well I am not sure when you were married but now a days almost every photographer includes a CD/DVD with images included in the package.
Oh it may be included in the package, but rest assured, you're paying for it in your package price.
Honestly, most people have no idea about the amount of work that goes into shooting a wedding. You're on your feet for 8, 10, 12 or more hours shooting. You're lucky if you get fed. Running to the bathroom is iffy at best because what if, heaven forbid, you miss an important shot? Then there's the amount of time spent editing the images after the wedding. Probably another couple hours. And then there's all those hours for paperwork, answering emails from, and talking on the phone with the bride and groom. Oh, not to mention the cost of equipment (and yes, there are cheap DSLRs out there, but the pro DSLRs and pro glass are far more expensive - $2500 for the camera and another $1600 for ONE lens! - and yield sharper results) and things like liability insurance plus the cost of any prints and/or albums that are included in your package, plus things like education (seminars, ongoing learning) that most GOOD photographers partake in to keep up to date on trends and further themselves as artists. So please respect copyright.
As far as photogs profiting off your face in pictures, most wedding photographers contracts have model releases built in which specifically define how they can use the images. Read the contract. Make sure you understand it. If you don't want you images to be used for advertising, discuss it with your photographer.
That being said, our MK photo shoot was crap. So crappy that Disney refunded half of what we paid (this was back in 2002). There's no bloody way I would have paid a grand for a cd of files from that session. Had they been any good? Sure. In a heartbeat. But I value photography greatly. And after the wedding, really, what's left? Your pictures and your dress. My dress has been in a box for the past 6+ years. Our pictures from the wedding (shot by Gary Fox, negs included in his package, you can bet I paid a pretty penny for them) are all over the house. Keep that in mind when budgeting for your photography.
In response to where did we all come from? I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm a past Disney bride who visits the board occasionally when I have time. If you search, I'm sure you can find my wedding trip report somewhere in the archives here.
I love them!!!!!!
I always look at them though and think what Randy could have done with such a backdrop! LOL we are spoiled by randy
