So after many, many attempts to contact the person who said she would be my photographer, Ii've given up.
I contacted this person back in December because even though she's an amateur, she is a friend, she's very talented (in family photography), and she is trying to launch a business. The pics from a couple weddings she has done were lovely and my FI liked that she did stuff that was a little more artistic and creative. She gave us a very fair price quote and we told her we wanted her. I asked if she needed a contract signed or a deposit. She didn't respond.
Over the past few months, I have sent several emails and facebook messages. Sister #2 (MOH and wedding coordinator- she's awesome!) has called and texted her. She doesn't answer. When sister ran into her one day, they talked and she told sister that yes, she was going to do it. But we can't arrange anything with her. In the past 3 days, we've tried desperately to get in touch with her. She's posting on facebook so I know she's getting her messages, just not responding. I'm nervous about not having a photographer. Sister is ticked at lack of response. And let's face it, what a crappy way to do business.
So tonight, we'd all but decided that we needed to fire her (if we can get in touch with her) and find someone else (but who????). Sister #3 (also MOH but not coordinator) mentioned to a friend about the problems we were having with photographer. Her friend's response "Don't do it!". One of the weddings we'd seen pics of was the friend's cousin (small town, we all know each other). Apparently, photographer did the same thing to her- no contact. She did show up but showed up late and had absolutely no clue what she was doing. the bride had to pose all the shots, tell her what pics to take, etc. She spent most of the reception outside smoking and had to be hunted down for pictures of cake cutting/first dance/etc. The 30 pictures we saw from this wedding (that really were beautiful) are apparently the only good pictures she took that day. The bride from that wedding was incredibly disappointed and stressed by this photographer.
So, that cemented my decision to let her go, but now I have 17 days to find a photographer that we can afford! Yikes!
When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. ~Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally