What would you do?

kristin183 · February 2012

So yesterday FI sends me a text message to check out this website. The website is for a local photographer... I asked him why and he never responded. Seemed odd to me because we have a photographer for the wedding and we are getting married in another state.

When he gets home from work he asked me if I looked at it and I old him yeah why? So long story short, he works with a guys who used to work for this photography studio for 15 years and recently had a falling out with them... most of the portfolio pictures on the website are his and he is amazing. He told my FI that he wants to get back into photography but has to rebuild his portfolio because the rights to the pictures ended up staying with this photography company and offers to shoot our wedding for free (including traveling to another state)

So here is my problem, we already booked a photographer who I LOVE and paid around $3000, I can cancel and will get my deposit back as long as they can book another wedding. I am a little torn because I love the photographer we booked and everything is already taken care of... but saving the $3000 would help so much (we are only spending 10k total on the wedding) and this guy is really good too.. different style but still takes great pics.

What would you do?

diamondx423 · February 2012

Can you do a second shoot with the new guy in your home state? I wouldn't want to cancel my photographer but I would be game on for a post-wedding shoot.

julbgordo · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_what-would-you-do?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:370571e1-f14e-42ef-b62f-20d7cf19d6c3Post:a7e62887-6cdc-4aaf-ade3-77adf4b586bd">Re: What would you do?</a>:
[QUOTE]Can you do a second shoot with the new guy in your home state? I wouldn't want to cancel my photographer but I would be game on for a post-wedding shoot.
Posted by diamondx423[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>This! See if he's willing to do an engagement shoot and/or a trash the dress or anything like that after the wedding. Those will also build his portfolio.</div><div>
</div><div>I personally would remain with your original photographer for the wedding since you already have a contract with them.

</div>

Teep · February 2012

I would absolutely cancel the photographer you hired. $3000 is a lot of money, and in this case 30% of your total budget. The pictures will mean a lot to you right now, but in 5 or 10 years, how often will you look at them? You said this guys work looked good, I would definitely save myself that money if I were in your shoes. Good luck!

DrPB2b13 · February 2012

I'd think long and hard before canceling the photographer you already have. There is no guarantee that they'll book another wedding, and it would be awful to be out $3000 for a photographer you're not getting photos from.

I know my photographer has a "sole photographer" claus in her contract (we're not allowed to pay anyone else for photos from the wedding) so I would make sure yours doesn't, if you're considering asking this guy to work alongside the photographer you have (even if it's free, if he's supposedly pro there could be problems).

Maybe you could do a Trash the Dress or Rock the Dress shoot? You could pick a place locally that you LOVE and take pictures with you and FI in formalwear. Or a "just married" shoot right after the honeymoon, like an engagement session. I say if he's willing to do it for free, the sky's the limit, you just need to be creative with it.

doeie04 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_what-would-you-do?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:370571e1-f14e-42ef-b62f-20d7cf19d6c3Post:d8a841f9-b505-45b5-84e4-a82d40a6ebd6">Re: What would you do?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I'd think long and hard before canceling the photographer you already have. There is no guarantee that they'll book another wedding, and it would be awful to be out $3000 for a photographer you're not getting photos from.</strong> I know my photographer has a "sole photographer" claus in her contract (we're not allowed to pay anyone else for photos from the wedding) so I would make sure yours doesn't, if you're considering asking this guy to work alongside the photographer you have (even if it's free, if he's supposedly pro there could be problems). Maybe you could do a Trash the Dress or Rock the Dress shoot? You could pick a place locally that you LOVE and take pictures with you and FI in formalwear. Or a "just married" shoot right after the honeymoon, like an engagement session. I say if he's willing to do it for free, the sky's the limit, you just need to be creative with it.
Posted by DrPB2b13[/QUOTE]

This. You may still be out the $3,000.

For some reason my gut reaction is to go with the photog you already have. Friends and weddings and free stuff ends badly sometimes. If you couldn't afford one, and were going to go without and he offered, I would totally do it, but this isn't the case.

Whtara10 · February 2012

If this guy is good then I would cancel your original photographer. $3000 is a lot of money. You could use it for your honeymoon or something else instead.

Zimsgirl · February 2012

I wouldn't cancel. You've already put money down and you know they will be there

kristin183 · February 2012

I would actually only lose the deposit which was $1068 and that is only if they cannot book another wedding. Still a lot to lose.

My photographer does have a "sole photographer clause" so they can only be the professional photographer there. My mom said to go with my gut... and I am struggling.... I am in LOVE with our photographer and obviously we really splurged on it because I felt it is important. This other guys is really good.. but has a different style. I looked at our contract and we actually will pay $2600; still a lot of money. Which would be nice to have.

I like the idea of letting him do something afterwards.. maybe I will bring that up to FI. I think this is something we really need to talk over... I don't think he cares either way. If the guy would have offered before the wedding this probably would be a different story.

LOTON01 · February 2012

In Response to Re: What would you do?:
[QUOTE. For some reason my gut reaction is to go with the photog you already have. Friends and weddings and free stuff ends badly sometimes. If you couldn't afford one, and were going to go without and he offered, I would totally do it, but this isn't the case.
Posted by doeie04[/QUOTE]

I am always nervouse about free. What do you do if he doesn't follow through with something like showing up or producing the pictures? You don't have a contract or anything so you could be in trouble.

sweetcanadian1979 · February 2012

I would NOT cancel the one you have. This whole situation could backfire if you do & you can be left with no one. I would do a rock the frock after the wedding.

kristin183 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_what-would-you-do?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:370571e1-f14e-42ef-b62f-20d7cf19d6c3Post:0e304c64-18bc-4500-9113-0ad7d7aa206b">Re: What would you do?</a>:
[QUOTE]I would NOT cancel the one you have. This whole situation could backfire if you do & you can be left with no one. <strong>I would do a rock the frock after the wedding</strong>.
Posted by sweetcanadian1979[/QUOTE]

Never heard of a Rock the Frock? I assume that means wearing your wedding stuff again.

sweetcanadian1979 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_what-would-you-do?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:370571e1-f14e-42ef-b62f-20d7cf19d6c3Post:3774be02-43ed-48e7-ac8b-754048eae47b">Re: What would you do?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: What would you do? : Never heard of a Rock the Frock? I assume that means wearing your wedding stuff again.
Posted by kristin183[/QUOTE]

<div>Yes, instead of "trashing the dress" in water or dirt etc you "rock" it in cool places :)</div>

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