So I've been emailing with my photags to set up our final meeting. They are the cutest husband-wife team who are just so sweet. We fell in love with them immediately. Well, the wife emailed me this morning asking if it would be okay if they brought a third photographer and that she is really talented at no charge to us. They even offered to pay for her vendor meal (so sweet but I would not let them do this even if our budget is tight). I got the impression she was an apprentice of sorts that they are trying to bring on to their team. I gave a few thoughts to worst-case scenario. That she could be in the way of the photographers we hired, but then I'd just say something and ask her if she could do me a HUGE favor and take lots of pictures of the outside of the venue because it is really important to me haha. Plus, I think it would be pretty bold/rude of her to be in their way and I doubt our photographers would work with someone like that. I checked with FI in case I was totally missing something and he was just like "that is awesome! more photo opps." So now I'm excited that while our hired photags are taking formal pics of us, the third one can take pics during cocktail hour of our guests. And during the reception, if our hired photags follow us around, she can get candids of guests. I figure even if she sucks and pulls off even 1 nice picture, we made out like bandits.
I feel so blessed that our vendors pull through for us so much. We aren't having some big swanky expensive wedding because it isn't in the budget but photography was so important to me. Our photags worked with us to create a package that fit our budget in the first place and now they've gone even farther. I know many people have to splurge for even two photographers but to have three, I just feel so overwhelmingly thankful.