AAhh after I posted the other day about fears of H2B re- the photographer this has now happend and i am stressed!
Earlier this year my best friends sister got married, lovely photographer, nice informal photos etc - just our style. He was so good that she then bought her sister (my BM) a "prewedding shoot" by him as a gift (she'd already won her photographer for the day). They both spoke so highly of him and the pictures were lovely that I emailed him and said how I'd heard of him and checked he was free on our day. He was. We live currently in London - he is in Shropshire so he just said "I'll pencil you in, next time you come up, make an appointment". Stupidly we left it and the plan was to meet him this October half term (wer'e teachers - it's a long way away).
I get an email from him today saying, what are the chances - i've had an enquiry for the same day - it's a Thursday so we thought we'd be safe. He wanted to know whether we wanted to book him before he got back to the other bride. And I don't know what to do! We've never actually met him ourselves, we've only looked at his work online, he is roughly the same price as others in the area and we've like his work a bit more than some of the other websites we've looked at.
It feels wierd to book a photographer you have never met but part of me thinks, what more can he show me in meeting him than I can see on his web page and my friend said he was good. We've got to move fast if we want him as he has this other enquiry - he said he did a wedding fair at the weekend and it's come from that which makes me think if they are enquiring they probably will book him. I could just wait and hope they don't book him and then meet him and decided but i don't know what to do. I'm worried about booking him without meeting him but more worried about missing out on him if when we meet him he's really nice.
What do I do?
EDIT MODS POLL NOW DELETED DUE TO COMMENTS BELOW THANKS MODS
Lizzy. x
CommentAuthorsussie
I would always recommend meeting him. this person is going to be with you all day, and you definately DONT need someone there you have never met, and what if you dont like him?? you wont relax.
CommentAuthorsussie
provisionally book the date, subject to a meeting. i did that with mine.
CommentAuthorPrincess2be
I would personally book him. Of youv seen his work and heard of people who recommend him then go for it. Plus, being a teacher makes it soo difficult to get things organised and arrange meetings. x
CommentAuthorsuzky123
I personally think you need to be sure of the photo quality... these are your one memory from the wedding as everything else is gone on the day. Maybe ask him to send you a sample albulm he has done as photographers always put sample wedding albulms on fb and you can check again
cant wait to be Mrs Evans less than 3 weeks woooo
start weight 10st 1.5 lbs
weight now 8st 4.5 lbs
total loss to date: 24.5 lbs now need to maintain!
Could you have a provisional booking For the date and schedule an appointment to meet him soon?
CommentAuthorElle23
I Voted to book him. If you are worried you will lose him when you have not even met then I say thats a pretty strong gut instinct Difficult one though x
To be wed on our 10 year anniversary! 23.08.2013
CommentAuthorlizzylou
I rang him early evening and he basically said, either I need to book or he at least has to meet the other people. So I said, that's fair enough, we haven't put a deposit down so he has every right to meet other people. It's just annoying as we can't meet him till October half term and he has to get back to the other people.
I think I have to kiss it goodbye! Boo.
Lizzy. x
CommentAuthorPrincess2be
Awwww, boooo x
CommentAuthorlizzylou
RIght, I just emailed him and said, I think we'd like to book you , just give us 24 hours to look again through your online albums and we'll let him know for def tomorrow evening.
Right! it's done! Fingers crossed. I figured what more can I see in a meeting. Two good friends say he was good at their weddings so I won't get that recommendation with another photographer.
We'll have to wait and see now. The balls in his court. x
Lizzy. x
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
If you have recommendations I would say go for it. Xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorLinzi-jo
How much of a deposit is he looking for? Would that amount be ok to lose if you decide you don't actually like him when you meet him? Personally I would book him, pay the deposit (if it's a reasonable amount) and then arrange to meet him. Then if you like him that's great, and if you dont you wont have made too much of a loss xxx
Got together 14.02.2008
Got engaged 31.12.2010
Will become a Mrs on 30.08.2014 xxxxxx
CommentAuthorSam
Linzi that's a really good way to look at it. Another thing to look at in the meeting is photos from an entire wedding and not just the portfolio so you'll get a fuller picture of his work.
CommentAuthorLulu1388
I agree sometimes you need to go with your heart, and if the recommendations are strong enough and you like what you see with his work, could you find out what the deposit is? and as Linzi-Jo has already suggested, find out what the price is, and if you do find when you actually meet him that for some reason it isnt going to work out, then are you at a small loss? I do agree with you that what more can he show you that you've not seen already, but normally it isnt advised to go ahead and book before hand, as you also need to be comfortable in his presence! If he has gorgeous and stunning photo's thats an added bonus but he will be spending a very long time with you and you need to make sure there is a good base of a relationship! I don't see why there wouldnt be as by the sounds of it there are glowing reviews/recommendations!
If it isnt too much then defo go ahead and provisionally book him. There's no harm (apart from a small deposit....) usually they aren't high deposits so see how it goes. good luck xx
Every Once In a While In The Middle of an Ordinary Life
. . . Love Gives Us a Fairytale. . .
CommentAuthorlizzylou
Well! I think i've had my decission made for me. He just emailed back to say he's really sorry but after he got off the phone to me he arranged to meet the other couple tomorrow evening and that it wouldn't be very fair to then cancel on them. He said he will let me know if they don't want him.
Poo. Feeling really annoyed and a bit gutted about it now. Thought finding a photographer was going to be easy, we'd just meet this guy my friend had and it'd all be sorted. Who else gets married on a Thursday. Hardly anyone. I'm signing off for the night as I feel like writing a massive sweary post that'd probably get me in trouble.
Thank ladies. That was short lived! Grrr. That's really ruined my evening. I 'm offically off weddings for a bit I think.
Lizzy. x
CommentAuthoremmaaa
The cynical side of me is wondering if there is another booking in the pipeline or whether that's business talk for "book me now or you'll miss out!" Hahaha, I've spent too long around estate agents! I'm not sure, part of me would go for it, especially if te deposit was small enough to take the hit if it didn't work out, but equally getting the best photos are dependant on having a good relationship with your photographer! Good luck with deciding!
CommentAuthorLulu1388
I have to agree with emmaaa there.... sometimes it is 'business talk' but don't give up your fight yet hun, sleep on it and see what tomorrow brings. He will let you know either way anyway, and for all you know it might still just be a talk with the other couple and they might want to go away and discuss before booking - and then you can swoop in and book!! Good lcuk hun xx
Every Once In a While In The Middle of an Ordinary Life
. . . Love Gives Us a Fairytale. . .
CommentAuthorOfficially Mrs M
i never met our photographer but i booked him with a deposit and then met him closer to the time and he was great!!! sometimes its worth the risk it completely up to you hun
8th September 2012 I married my best friend
1st September 2014 our little family grew by one
Women are made to be loved, not understood. - Oscar Wilde
CommentAuthorsuzky123
let us know what happens
cant wait to be Mrs Evans less than 3 weeks woooo
start weight 10st 1.5 lbs
weight now 8st 4.5 lbs
total loss to date: 24.5 lbs now need to maintain!
CommentAuthorlizzylou
Thanks ladies, sorry to huff off!! Just been marking my year 12's coursework so that's put me in a better mood! (Yep, that is actually true lol).
Emma that's what my H2B thought so he was all "that guy can naff off then" lol. I guess i'll just see what happens. No point getting stresssed about it. Think I was just annoyed as i'd been running around trying to decide on it, nagging my H2B to look at pics when he was busy working so he was getting all stressed and then the guy emailed me and I just felt like i'd wasted a load of time and energy!
Right, tomorrow's another day! Thanks as always ladies. I'll let you know as and when I find anything out. Enjoy the rest of your evenings. x
Lizzy. x
CommentAuthorSamanthaG76
I voted 'yes book him' before i read what had happened! I'm really gutted for you! Fingers cross the other people (if they exist) don't book him! If they do then i'd look at it like it wasn't meant to be :-) x
12th April 2014 - The day I marry my soulmate..x
Smile, be happy :-)
CommentAuthornatalie2614
I was about to vote, but decided to read instead. I cant believe hes had another couple enquire for the same date already, either hes really really popular or hes calling your bluff. fingers crossed it works out for you but if it doesnt then it wasnt meant to be xx
Married my best friend 05.04.2013
CommentAuthorNicholaP44
I always say things happen 4 a reason! U'l find the 1 really soon. x x x
Marrying "the 1" on 4th Oct 2013
CommentAuthorPrincess2be
Yeah, things happen for a reason, dont b too disheartened. x
CommentAuthorAmyP7
I'm a believer in fate, see what happens when he gets back to you x x
CommentAuthormillz090
We were emailing 3 photographers and all their online stuff looked lovely and exactly what we were looking for. However we met all 3 and the one we booked eventually was so different in real life to emails. The other women talked too much, was quite pushy and although her work was amazing and her style i didnt particually like her and couldnt see her fitting in with my guests. So we went with the guy who we really liked and i liked his personality so my point is that i think its important to meet your photographer as they are so important on the day they need to fit in too. If this photographer comes back to you then go and meet him but i would be reluctant to give money to someone i hadnt met xxx
Finally marrying the love of my life !!
10th August 2013 - 9 years to the day we met !
CommentAuthorlizzylou
Thanks milz, that's a really interesting point. It's such a pain for us living in London and trying to book things in Shropshire, trying to get around to see everyone is a bit of a struggle! I think this October half term my mission is to go up and get the photographer sorted. Now when I think about this guy I kinda feel like I don't want him any more even if the other people don't book him! I know that's silly but I just felt so annoyed about it yesterday that I'm not sure I want to re-visit him/and it!!
Gonna have a good look on the net at the weekend see if I can make some appointments. Fingers crossed there is some one loads better out there that in the end will make me really greatful I didn't book this first guy! Thanks for all your comments ladies, it's always so good to get so many opinions and such good advice. xx
In other news ! I won a litre of natural confetti! Whoop! Things are looking up! x
Lizzy. x
CommentAuthorlizzylou
So he's just emailed to say he's been booked! Oh well. Better get looking for the next one. xxx
Lizzy. x
CommentAuthorKellyN29
you will find someone you are comfortable with, don't be too disheartened. I was ready to hand cash to a photographer that did my free engagement shoot but I held back and now he hasn't even provided me with the pictures from that -so some times things happen for a reason
x
