Wedding Photographer issues

[rockzilla]

As many of you know, we booked our photographer ~2 months ago. The company is a husband and wife team, and we booked 1 member of the team + 1 additional shooter TBD.

We got an email today...apparently another out of state couple also booked both photogs the day after our wedding...unfortunately their wedding is clear across the country (this was an accident on the part of the photogs). They have proposed switching us to the other member of the team, and having our original photog do the out of state wedding.

I''m being intentionally vague here because I want your opnion on each photogs skills. I think I prefer our original photographer, but I''d like second opinions. So, please vote for which you prefer: A or B.

I still have to talk to FI about this, but in the meantime, tell me which you prefer.

A: http://nextexitphotography.com/blog/?p=391
http://nextexitphotography.com/blog/?p=382

B: http://nextexitphotography.com/blog/?p=372
http://nextexitphotography.com/blog/?p=373

 

[neatfreak]

I prefer B. I just like their shooting style more and their pictures look less posed IMO. But I also like A''s pictures, they just are a little less my style than B.

 

[strmrdr]

both have some shots I really liked and both have some shots I didn''t like.
I slightly preferred more from A
A was better in some technical areas as fewer times I said duh it would have been better to do it this way instead.

 

[strmrdr]

The best shot of all 4 series is this one...
its pure gold..

http://www.nextexitphotography.com/blogimages/ljb_41.jpg

 

[Octavia]

Lots of Photographer B''s photos have really blown-out highlights, which is something that drives me nuts. Photographer A seems to have better technical control, as strm said. Personally, I''d be really unhappy if B replaced A -- but you might have different preferences than I do!

 

[ladyciel]

Date: 10/27/2008 11:22:59 PM
Author: Octavia
Lots of Photographer B''s photos have really blown-out highlights, which is something that drives me nuts. Photographer A seems to have better technical control, as strm said. Personally, I''d be really unhappy if B replaced A -- but you might have different preferences than I do!

What Octavia said.

 

[redfaerythinker]

I think I agree that A might be technically a better photographer. But I think that B captured more of the mood of the day. His photos seemed less forced and pose-y.

It''s hard though. They both had good stuff! I don''t think you can go wrong.

 

[AllieLuv83]

I like number 2 better because it is more my style of pictures although both are very good and I liked pictures from both blogs.

 

[kama_s]

Photog A has less posed shots and the lighting was so much better. Photog B did capture some lovely pictures, but they were mostly posed (which I''m sure photog A can do for you as well, if you request for some posed shots), but the lighting in some of the pictures really threw me off.

 

[pocahontas]

I agree with everyone that both photogs had good and bad pictures. Overall though I definitely prefer photog A. I thought the pictures were crsiper (very technical term, I know) and the photog seemed to capture a lot more candid shots than photog B, imho. Which was your original choice?

 

[everlong_x]

Goodness GRACIOUS, that was a hard decision!! I think you''re a very brave bride for tackling this issue.

I voted for Photog A - I think they had more unique shots as well as nice classic photos everyone wants for a well-rounded album. I don''t think I agree about B''s lighting being off, but that''s just my opinion.

Good luck!!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

About unique shots for what it''s worth. We got great photos and everyone''s favorite is us playing chase in the columns. While we had a great photographer, this and most of the really unique shots were our idea to reflect us, so that sort of thing may be more the couple than the photographer

 

[rockzilla]

Thanks everyone for your input. I wanted to wait until my FI and I had come to a consensus before posting.

We had originally booked with photographer A. Upon looking back at the photos, I don''t think we will be happy with photographer B. Not that the photos aren''t lovely, but we fell in love with a certain look, and for some reason, the connection just isn''t there. (I know, how reality-show cliche is that?) We pushed our budget to the limit to be able to fit in the photographer because we loved his work so much...

Not 100% sure where we go from here. I think what makes sense is that we be honest and upfront with them...and see if they will ask to do the switch for the other couple who are getting married on the sunday after our wedding. If it is absolutely impossible to get the photographer we agreed to, I think they will have to refund our $$...in which case we have to find another photographer, 10 months out. =(

I guess I just feel like...it is our wedding, it is a lot of money, and we can''t redo it. We wouldn''t have stretched our budget for photographer B, and now that we''ve put down the deposit they are asking us to accept something different than what we agreed to.

We still have to talk to them, I''ll let you know what they say. I know it was an honest mistake on their part...hopefully we can find a way to work out a solution.

 

[neatfreak]

I think that sounds perfectly reasonable Rockzilla. I promise that 10 months out isn''t too far out to find another great photographer. And you are right, it IS there fault and they need to make it right for you even if that means refunding you.

 

[pocahontas]

Date: 10/29/2008 9:17:07 AM
Author: neatfreak
I think that sounds perfectly reasonable Rockzilla. I promise that 10 months out isn''t too far out to find another great photographer. And you are right, it IS there fault and they need to make it right for you even if that means refunding you.

Agreed!

 

[Shoopy]

Date: 10/27/2008 11:22:59 PM
Author: Octavia
Lots of Photographer B''s photos have really blown-out highlights, which is something that drives me nuts. Photographer A seems to have better technical control, as strm said. Personally, I''d be really unhappy if B replaced A -- but you might have different preferences than I do!

Ditto

Except that I still think B took very beautiful pictures so I would be happy with B as a replacement but I think that A is much better.

 

[rockzilla]

UPDATE:

Just wanted to let everyone know that we were able to happily resolve the issues with the photographer! We will have the photographer we originally booked with for 8 hours (until 8pm the day of the wedding), after which he''ll hop on a red eye to the other client. Since our wedding ends at 10pm, if we need additional coverage, we will have the second shooter stay the extra hours.

I have to say they were very understanding and handled it completely professionally. We''re really happy we were able to work things out!

 

[bee*]

That''s great news. I was just about to post that I much prefer A also and I would definitely have been unhappy if A was swapped for B.

 

[gtn]

I''m so glad that everything worked out for you. I do like A''s work better than B since A seems to be a better technician.

 

[pocahontas]

That''s awesome news, Rockzilla! I''m happy everything got resolved!