Post # 1

Member
3281 posts
Sugar bee
Hi Bees!
I am planning from afar and I have to rely on the internet and my planner to pick out reliable vendors. I have been researching photographer on my own, but my planner emailed me the other day saying that she recommends this photographer…
http://www.pamelastarr.org/#galleries/Weddings%20Gallery/Couples/31
To me, it seems like the quality of photo is not as good as the one I have been looking at…
http://www.claudiaphoto.com/alberto/
What do yall think? Could it be just the website?
Post # 3

Hostess
18644 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I don’t like the one she recommended at all. Don’t book someone just because she says so, she might get a referral fee for bringing them customers.
Post # 4

Member
1254 posts
Bumble bee
It looks like the one you found puts a lot more effort in editing his photos. If you do book him, make sure he puts just as much effort in yours. Otherwise, it would look like the other one.
Post # 5

Member
71 posts
Worker bee
I personally don’t care for the style of the first photographer. It seems that her photos have more of a “dreamy” washed out kind of quality, which some people really like. However, if you don’t like it, DEFINITELY do not book her. You should be comfortable with who you choose and not choose someone simply based on your planner’s recommendation.
Post # 6

Member
14496 posts
Honey Beekeeper
They are both excellent photographers with two completely different styles. You seem to prefer the style of the second photographer. Book the one you like better as you are the one who has to look at the photos the rest of your life. The wedding photos should reflect your taste and personality.
Post # 7

Member
5921 posts
Bee Keeper
I agree, I am not a huge fan of the one she recommended at all. Go with your gut!
Post # 8

Member
4355 posts
Honey bee
@Ally9802: I aree about the dreamy sort of style.
I 100% love the photographer you found, I’d stick with it.
Post # 9

Member
1816 posts
Buzzing bee
I agree that the Claudia photographer’s shots look much more polished than the Starr photographer. I think MissAsB said it when she mentioned that your planner may receive a referral fee from that photographer for recommending her. To me, the photographer you found seems to produce better quality photos.
Post # 10

Member
317 posts
Helper bee
You don’t have to pick the vendors your planner recommends. A good planner will give you choices that she thinks are reputable and are within your budget. If you don’t like her choices you can present yours to her.
She may say give a reason why she didn’t recommend them in the first place, like hadn’t worked with them before, etc. But she’ll book them for you if you really want them.
Post # 11

Member
3281 posts
Sugar bee
Ahh yeah, I never really thought about her getting a kickback. I think im going to just stick with my original pick, I dont want to be disappointed with my pictures.
Post # 12

Member
1000 posts
Bumble bee
Hey Honey, hehe, that’s funny to say! But yeah, I definitely think the one you found is better, so if you went with her, good choice! It’s hard to make a judgement on quality with photos as small as they are on the photog’s site your wedding planner found. They could be just fine, but I personally think all photos look better larger. If they aren’t posted that way, though, I kind of assume they aren’t high enough quality to support it.
Post # 13

Member
6597 posts
Bee Keeper
I LOVE the style of the photographer you like and don’t really like the other one at all!
It’s seems really posey and traditional.
Go with what YOU LOVE!
Post # 14

Member
10367 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Wow, that Starr photographer needs a better website, stat. And I don’t particularly care for the photos, either…
Post # 15

Member
1391 posts
Bumble bee
@crayfish: agreed the website design is very off putting…
Post # 16

Member
923 posts
Busy bee
I like your photographer better. I’m curious as to why your planner says you should go with the one she suggested. Is it because you can get a deal through her? Does she just like her work?
Overall, picking over the internet is all any of us really do. That’s how I found my fav photographer. Then once I saw her samples in person and met her I fell even more in love with her work. Don’t forget, you can always call potential vendors and get any answers to q’s you might have. See if they will set up a phone call between you and some of their previous clients. Look them up on google and see what people have said about them.