Photography dilemma

[AshyBekka]

Hi all-
As I mentioned before, with a little under four months to go, we've had to do a major overhaul and move the entire wedding down to Little Rock from its previous location here in Fayetteville. Everything is actually going surprisingly smoothly, all things considered, but now I'm trying to make some hard choices about vendors we'd hired previously and potential new vendors.

Here's the deal: I hired a photographer locally months ago. We've put down money, and she did our engagement sessions. She's a very nice lady, she does a lovely job, and I have no complaints really. I talked to her today, and she's fine with moving down to LR, but will obviously need travel expenses. Here's here website if you want to see some of her work:

www.hudsonschroederfreelance.com

In the meantime, a friend of mine who got married in LR last year suggested a locally based photographer that she used for her wedding. She raved about him, so I checked out his website...WOW:

www.thinkdero.com

Called him today out of curiousity and he has an opening on the day of our wedding. We're meeting this weekend so I can go through his portfolio.

Obviously these are two very different styles of photography. Photog #1 has said that if I were to hire someone else for the wedding day, she would still do my bridal portraits, and that the money I have given her up to now would cover that. If she were to travel, she would cover both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding/reception. She doesn't really provide a lot of actual prints with her package, but does offer the photo CD with a rights release, and has options for ordering books, prints etc.

Photog #2 gives you 650 actual prints, both black and white and in color with the package, all presented in some imported keepsake box thingy and he creates a wedding album bound in Italian leather. He retains the CD, but has a wedding website from which anyone could order prints directly in various sizes and whatnot. He does not cover the rehearsal dinner-this would only be a wedding day thing-from 2 hours prior til Cliff and I leave...

I'm stuck! What to do????

[deputysgurl]

Well I would wait to meet him in person and see what you think of him. If you were to go with him, do you have a family member or friend who could take non professional pics of the rehearsal. My aunt did all of mine. I liked the fact that she knew what I wanted and didn't even charge me anything.

[Robyn Lynn]

If you like the 2nd one, I would go with him, but still have the first do your portraits.

How important is it for you to have the rehearsal be professional? Do you know someone who takes nice pictures? Just ask them -- I'm sure they won't mind being a photograoher for an evening!!

[kenzies_mama]

The styles of photography are technically not different from each other, both use a candid technique. The second photographer just has a better eye for it, seemingly anyhow. I'd meet with him first and look at alot more of his photographs cause he has very few on the website, and one always puts their best foot forward.
From what I've seen if he's not remarkably more then the other I would go with him.

[ljeagle]

I think the main thing is that you would have the rights to your pictures if you stayed with the lady you have now. Thats a big plus!

[Heather]

I agree with both Kenzie and LJ. His photos are nice, but there are so few so it's hard to judge and the ones I do see (Portraits) are fuzzy and out of focus. I know that's the point but they're hard to look at. I really like the wedding photos on the first site.

For me, it would be incredibly difficult to break an agreement/contract I had with someone and that would weigh on my conscience. However this lady sounds like she's okay with it, so the best you can do is meet with this new guy and see if you like his work. I would insist that he bring as many wedding photos as he has though. The photos of individuals on his site are okay, but what about group photos, ceremony photos, candid shots... (The ones that are on his site (Candid) aren't that impressive either.)

[AshyBekka]

Hey girls-Dilemma solved itself (as most dilemmas do!). I talked to my photographer again and had a great conversation AND got this guy's estimate-for ONE NIGHT he wants 2000 bucks! Not a chance in hell! Plus, my photographer is a girl, and if you click through some of her wedding albums, she's able to come in the morning of and take cute getting ready pictures that I wouldn't feel comfortable having a guy do. Thanks for all of your advice-I tend to get swept up in stuff like this, and I think I knew the whole time that I was going to stay with the old one-just needed backup. And to be honest, I was talking to Cliff last night as he prepares to leave on another rotation in Iraq and I was thinking, "This stuff is stupid. There is no reason to be this hung up on photographers when there are more important things in this world." I guess that's cheesy, but it sort of got me out of this frantic 'everything's changing so fast' mentality I've had for the past few days since the shakeup and put things back into perspective. Thanks so much ladies!!!

[Clarity]

Yeah! I liked her work better myself PLUS you get to keep the rights and that is so valuable money wise and other.

[Lizbet]

I'm glad you came to a decision without too much trouble.

You're doing such a great job taking care of the changes that were thrown at you.

[Heather]

You're definitely doing great and taking things in stride. I'm glad you were able to figure it out!

[SuzyBride]

I am glad that things are worked out! I like her better anyway!

[Yelycrazygirl]

I'm glad you picked her... I like her work better.... you will see that your pics are going to be great!!!!!!