The Pros broker services to independent contractors.
The BEST of the IC’s use the broker to fill empty dates or supplement their booking calendar. Therefore, the IC who has done the most jobs is NOT necessarily the best, as the best don’t have enough open dates to do a lot of wholesale work.
The BEST IC’s perform their best show (DJ), and shoot their best shots, because they have a professional standard in their own business that thy are unable to turn off and on like a light. They do not, however, offer all of the same services or options as in their retail business. They offer basic wholesale service, designed to be more than satisfactory for the money the client spent.
You can hire all of the BEST directly, if you do your homework. Google providers in your area. Talk to friends etc., and get recommendations.

The pros has many consumate professionals who they contract to do weddings. For the basics, given a good choice in contractor and a tight budget, a national company like this will do just fine….. At the same time, you can get more tailored, and inclusive services when you shop with smaller companies in your geographical area. Will they be as inexpensive? Probably not, but you will get more. After all, it IS your wedding day…..
Consider this when seeking these services…. I spent $3,000 on the gown, 2,000 on the hall, 1,500 on the limo, 800 on tuxedos, 400 on the cake, 1,000 on maids dresses, 3,000 on the caterer, 500 on flowers, 300 on invitations, 400 on decorations, but I want PROFESSIONAL DJ, emcee, great sound, song selection, Photog, Videographer, photoshop prints, and chaptered/edited cd (about 80 hours labor minimum) plus equipment maintenance, plus travel costs, plus consultation with my professionals, a product involving the work of a
minimum of 4 people for $1495. Seek value, but don’t be cheap when it comes to these critical services.

This is one of the most impor

I’m not trying to be mean, but I think it’s kind of funny for ex-employees to even comment. If I was fired from a place I don’t think I would be too happy. It all seems kind of one sided.

Brides be smart. Read reviews off a 3rd party site without an agenda. Reading reviews of an Anti Pros website is just as hazardous as reading reviews an a Pro Pros website. Obviously you are going to find nothing, but negativity in a negative situation.

The Pros is one of the many companies that I looked at for my wedding. When you look around just be sure you KNOW what you want. I was beyond happy with my pictures, but it appears a lot of you were not.

When researching any company 3rd party reviews are always best. This dude obviously doesn’t like the company.

They said that everything seemed fine until they started taking their family and formal shots after the sun went down and this photog suddenly lost confidence in what he was doing. They said he didn’t seem to know how to use his flash and made a comment like “I THINK these will come out ok….” That is NOT a statement that inspires confidence in your clients, is it? They told me that caused them to worry about all the rest of the images that he had been taking as they hadn’t had a chance to see anything yet.

I asked why they chose them in the first place and they said “because they were cheap.” It sounds like they may have gotten what they paid for. Can you imagine spending your honeymoon wondering if your photographer failed? If, in fact, he did a hack job, can you imagine wanting to look at those crappy images the rest of your life?

I find it ironic when I see couples spend many thousands on parts of their wedding that last less than one day, then want to skimp on the ONE part that they have to look at for a lifetime.

It leads me to believe that, in my humble opinion, these mutli-state companies like ThePros and Bella Pictures mass-market, bring in clients, then farm out the work to cheap, mediocre local shooters. In many cases the couple meets the photographer for the first time AT THE WEDDING! I’m sure they’ll say that they screen carefully but think about what they might pay that photog out of a package that only costs 1200.00……maybe 300.00! Not many true professionals would work for such a low amount.

Fortunately I meet a lot of brides that are very smart and aware that there is a huge difference between the hobby photographer willing to shoot a wedding for 1000.00 and the full-time professional who charges 3, 4, 5 times more for their services.

The cost of entry to become a “professional photographer” has come down to the point the it seems ANYONE can call themselves a professional just because they own a decent camera. They market themselves as “natural light photographers” because it sounds sexy but in many cases that is just a statement to cover up that they don’t know how to use light. You know, a lot of wedding receptions continue after dark!

Owning a nice camera doesn’t make anyone a photographer any more than owning a nice skillet makes someone a chef.

I’m NOT claiming I know everything, by the way, just that people “don’t know what they don’t know” when it comes to really being a professional photographer. I learn something new from every wedding and every session; learning never stops.