Photograher Dilemna....

[teebee]

Okay... here''s the deal:

Back in January when we got engaged I immediately started researching and booking our locations and vendors. While looking around theknot.com''s local boards, I realized that there was another girl planning her wedding right along side me (same date, same location) so I hurried up and booked ceremony location, reception location, DJ, and photographer so that I didn''t lose out on a good vendor to someone else.

As for the photographer, I got good references (from a girl whose wedding was at same location as mine) and I think his work is very good. So, I sent him my deposit and he was to notify me that he rec''d deposit and then send out contract for me to sign. After a couple of weeks he had not yet contacted me re: receiving deposit so I emailed him to make sure. He replied immediately that he had indeed rec''d deposit and that we were good to go. I responded back to inquire about the contract. He then replied that he was out of town at the time but he would send it to me once he returned. That was on February 21st and I have not rec''d the contract.

I''m not worried that thisy guy is a crook or anything ~ I believe he''s an honest and competent photographer, just perhaps a little forgetful and maybe a little lacadaisical about the situation since our wedding is still over a year away.

Soooooooooooo, in the meantime, my parents have offered to pay for the reception, which leaves me a little more breathing room in my budget.... Enter, the other photographer that I really wanted in the first place whose work is simply amazing and breathtaking. Originally, they were beyond my budget. Now they are not. Plus, this photographer''s package includes hi-res digital images for personal reproduction (1st photographers does not, more traditional packages). And they are available for my wedding date.

I''m very tempted to cancel the first photographer especially considering we don''t have a contract in place (his fault, I would have signed it 2 months ago had he sent it). Plus, I just love photographs and aside from the ceremony location, great photographs are my absolute number 1 priority and this ''other'' photographer is just head and shoulders above all the others I''ve seen... Really beautiful and unique and artistic... Although, I don''t think that I''ll be totally disappointed w/ photos if I end up staying w/ first photog ~ they''re good, just not on the same tier as the other one...?

What do you think???

 

[jenwill]

Well, I think that since the wedding is still more than a year away, and the fact that he has not given you your contract yet and it has been 3 months (sounds like you originally contacted him in Jan, recontacted him in Feb, now April) and he still has not given you your contract, it would be acceptable to cancel him and book the other photog. How much of the deposit you get back is iffy... best of luck!

 

[icekid]

ohhh i think i would want to change to the amazing photographer too. i looooove pictures. and like you, i think that will be a priority for my wedding. if you can swing it and get most of your deposit back (or perhaps it was not a huge loss anyway), i would say go for it! (that is what it sounds like you really want anyway

)

 

[flopkins]

I would go for the photog you really want... esp since there''s no contract. How did you pay teh deposit? Any chance of getting it back? If he''s going to be rather unprofessional with you from the start, I''d just be a tad worried... so definitely the other guy!

 

[teebee]

Thanks Ladies!! I think I''m 99% sure that I''m going to cancel current photographer and book this other one...

Jenwill ~ you are right on the timeline and that''s one of the reasons I don''t feel too badly about cancelling... he''s had 3 months to get me ''locked'' into a contract.

Icekid ~ yeah, I really started thinking about what I want to take away from the wedding and that was to have a wonderful time with the people I love in a beautiful setting and the photos to remember it all. And then I started thinking about all of the weddings I''ve been to and I realized that I had absolutely no recollection of what the centerpieces, bridesmaid''s earrings and bouquets looked like or whether there were programs that matched the invitations or whether or not there were guest favors or little courtesy baskets in the bathrooms... What I DO remember were the weddings that were *fun* and had decent food and great music so I''ve decided to focus on the priorities and quit sweating the rest!!

Flopkins ~ I paid the deposit with a check ($200) I don''t know if there''s any chance of getting it back but I definitely agree that his failure to send me the contract after I''ve inquired about it twice makes me a little concerned about how proactive and organized he is...

I looked in my checkbook & sent the deposit about 3 months ago... At least it was not a huge amount (although not having a job I could use every penny of it), otherwise I probably wouldn''t risk cancelling.

Now my only problem is that the new photographer does require a substantial deposit and I don''t happen to have an extra $1000 laying around!!

I mean, with a year to go, I will be able to pay for all of these things by the time the wedding rolls around, but a big chunk up front is hard to swing!! I guess it might be time to get a job... boo...