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Wedding Photography and Videography Forum

Go with my gut?

Long story short:

We've been looking for a champagne photographer on a beer budget. I've scoured the surrounding areas finding the best of all the photographers within my budget. I narrowed it down to a handful, picked and chose my favorites and contacted them. *note, both photographers are out of town.

Photographer A: Offers 10 hours of photography, and a picture CD with print release for $700 including travel cost.

Photographer B: Offers 4 hours of photography, a picture CD with print release for $750 with no additional travel cost, they also offer mix and match options as far as addons.

Now, I right away got excited about photographer A because that would cover my entire wedding, and it is right where I need my budget to be. We contacted through email a handful of times and I finally called her Thursday morning to see about meeting - i'm a slave to my work schedule and the soonest I could meet her is the 17th, she said she didn't know her schedule and she'd let me know. I still haven't heard back from her.

I understand photographers work on weekends so i've been lenient with my expectations, but when I contacted Photographer B to ask about packages his response letter was very warm and made me feel like I was already a client, whereas when I contacted photographer A, she made me feel rushed like I needed to book her immediately and make my deposit.

I already emailed Photographer A reminding her I was interested in meeting her and discussing packages and deposits but i'm having second thoughts. She's yet to respond to my letter (I know it's saturday so I didn't expect immediate response)  but i'm having second thoughts.

My gut is telling me to use B, I don't want to burn any bridges just yet but I did let B know I was interested in meeting him.

Re: Go with my gut?

  • edited December 2011
    Meet them both but don't book either at the meeting- take time to think about it regardless of what they may say about "holding your date". Also, keep looking for anyone else you might be able to find and meet with them as well.
    For me, choosing the photographer was the most important part of the wedding- they are there with you for all the intimate moments and what they capture is all you will have when the wedding is over. Choose carefully and try not to let money dictate too much when making your decision. For example, if you choose photographer A and she ends up being someone you regret spending so much time with on your wedding day- the money you saved going with her won't matter to you because you can never get those moments back. Choose someone you click with and finagle the price as much as you possibly can.
  • edited December 2011
    Thanks Nomer, that's about where i'm at.

    FI doesn't care, don't hire a photographer for all he cares.
    My mom doesn't know anything about weddings or anything involved so all she heard was sticker shock.
    And FMIL is kind of pressuring me into booking the cheapest person I can find regardless of skill. Sigh.

    Overall i'm more satisfied with Photo Bs work, and I know if we click at the meeting it'll be a sure bet, but i'm not burning any bridges with anyone so i'll take your advice and not book either just yet.

    Photographer is by far the most important thing to me so it's always an active search, it would just be nice if it were easier :]
  • edited December 2011
    Wow, sounds like you have quite a situation honestly.  Just based on reading this I say go with B.  You can have 10 hours with someone who doesn't care and doesn't make you feel comfortable and you might get a few good photos OR you can have 4 hours with someone who does care and does make you feel comfortable and come out with more great photos than the 10 hour photog.

    Now I have not seen or met either one of these people, so I'm responding based on this post.  I would highly recommend meeting them both in person, via Skype or at least via phone.

    You don't want to spend your entire day with someone who isn't there to celebrate with you.  Although money is to be considered, I would not make it a decision maker.  With photography the phrase "You get what you pay for" is oh so very true!

    Good Luck!
    A Wedding Fanatic! -favorite tents: Jacqueline Chapelle- www.jacquelinechapelle.com -favorite photographer: Jonathan Ivy Photo- www.jonathanivyphoto.com
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