Post # 1

Member
3720 posts
Sugar bee
Are there any DC area brides who have used Bella Photography? Their prices seem great, I love the customer service, and the portfolios seems like what we want. I’m a little nervous about not picking my photographer directly, but so far I’ve had no luck in my price range. Have any of you used Bella? Do you recommend the?
Post # 3

Member
1056 posts
Bumble bee
I don’t remember if I looked at them or not. But I can recommend a GREAT photographer!!! Can’t recommend him enough. Check mine out.
http://www.stephendeleon.com
He’s great and might still be open for that time but I know he’s been booking up for next year as early as a month or so ago this year. Good Luck!
Post # 4

Member
3720 posts
Sugar bee
@yearns4god: Thanks! He is a little over budget (we are trying to stay under $2K without an album or prints), but we will check him out!
Anyone else have experiences or other recommendations? Photography is really not that important to me, I am not a picture person, but it is super important to my FI’s family. Any recommendations or advice would be helpful!
Post # 5

Member
2335 posts
Buzzing bee
Search the forums for DC photography- there are tons, and I remember commenting on one the other day.
You can also look into Richmond, VA photographers. Almost all of the ones I looked at traveled the 2 hrs to shoot in DC.
Post # 6

Member
7312 posts
Busy Beekeeper
- Wedding: October 2011 - Bed & Breakfast
Contact Raye from Gillette Portrait Arts. She is fantastic and has some flexibility in pricing. I think it’s much smarter to work directly with a photographer rather than go through a company like Bella. Companies like Bella structure their contracts in order to protect themselves if the photographer flakes or does a poor job, leaving you SOL. If you work directly with a photographer, you have more control and the photographer has more incentive to make you happy.
Post # 7

Member
1314 posts
Bumble bee
Out of curiousity, what is the attraction to Bella? Is it just price?
Post # 8

Member
3720 posts
Sugar bee
Thanks for all of your feedback. Given the mixed reviews online and the uncertainty of who my photographer would be, we are looking at independent photographers recommended in other threads. The appeal of Bella was great customer service, nice photos, and they were under budget. However, I’m risk adverse and would rather know who I’m booking first!
Post # 9

Member
140 posts
Blushing bee
You should check out Michelle Chu – she’s a Richmond based photographer whose work has a lot of personality, she’s one of my and FI’s options and her first package starts at $1800 🙂