Hello!
We're planning a fall 2013 wedding here in STL and I'm having a hard time with photography. From the very beginning, I said photography was important to me. We found a photographer that we love who quoted us at around $2000...this includes unlimited wedding day photos, two photographers (might try to get her to only use 1 to save money), an engagement shoot and a disc with our pictures/right to our photos. She's super talented and her pictures are so unique, soft and catch the best moments from weddings.
On the other hand, my second cousin is a photographer...but she does it as a hobby, not as a profession. Her pictures are good, but they're not amazing like the first. The only problem is...she would be free. We're working within a $15,000 budget which may sound like a good amount, but we're expecting about 250 people to attend, so we'd like to save where we can.
So the question is - splurge on the amazing photographer who is guaranteed to be great? Or, ask my cousin to do our photographer for free?