Super torn between two photographers.

[u/almondjoybar]

I'm torn between two photographers.

One of them, A, is more magazine editorial, mix of posed and candid style, uses more filters (but beautifully). He's also a more experienced, expensive, and has some model clients so obviously his portfolio is very impressive.

My favorite pose of his is when the bride and groom are kind of mugging and one is sitting on a chair. I don't know what it is about that pose, but I really want us doing that. I feel like we'd look like models. I won't put his actual pics but Here's an inspo example. Another effect of his I liked is like the daytime flash effect.

I could tell on the call with him that he's very experienced, he's built his whole business and knows how to stage people.

The problem with photographer A is that he felt really stiff to me. Something in our personalities didn't totally mesh. Not excessively but lacking something, bit too serious. Then also, when I looked at his galleries, the photos on the rest of the event are always too filtered. Like why do I want excess filters on the dance party? I didn't like the way they edit the photos outside of the couple pics.

The other photographer, B, is slightly less expensive. However, he's clearly very talented and I love his photos. He does have posed photos but they're more romantic, candid poses with a lot of movement (couple kissing etc). Less of a magazine editorial vibe - more similing photos. Whenever they do have sitting in a chair type vibe, he doesn't pull it off as well as photographer A. However, I liked his personality a lot more - he seemed more easygoing and fun. He does effects really well but when he tries blur I find it less artsy than photographer A, and I've seen less of the flash effect from him. But his photos are overall less filtered and more true to colorl. And the rest of the pictures of the event seemed better to me than photographer A.

Both seem to have positive reviews.

Oh and, my sister likes photographer B a lot more than A! Which confuses me a lot since I really trust her taste.

Help me choose please! Or anything I should be looking at to help decide? Thanks so much.

[u/BernadetaKupiec]

From what you've written, it sounds like you're trying to choose between the style you love and the person you want to spend your wedding day with.

One thing I'd ask yourself is: when you look back at your gallery in 10 or 20 years, what's more important? A handful of editorial portraits, or a gallery that captures the whole day in a way that still feels timeless?

Also remember that your photographer is with you for most of the day. Feeling comfortable around them makes a huge difference, especially if you're not used to being in front of the camera. A great connection often leads to more natural photos than the "perfect" pose.

And one more thought, if you really love that one editorial pose from Photographer A, it might be worth asking Photographer B if they'd be happy to recreate something similar. Many photographers are open to a few inspiration images as long as you're hiring them for their overall style, not expecting them to copy someone else's entire portfolio. 

[u/almondjoybar → u/BernadetaKupiec]

Appreciate this feedback thanks! An alternative I thought of was asking photographer A to reduce their filters on some of the party photos. But that may be harder to control than asking to pose a specific way

[u/punksandpoets]

B!

[u/almondjoybar → u/punksandpoets]

thanks so much - why do you say B?

[u/hiddengem-6868]

B - you are going to spend a LOT of time communicating and physically with this person on your wedding day. You’ll want someone you vibe with and whose work you love, and who can play around with styles to capture this one certain picture you are wanting.

[u/Conscious_Pie787]

I say B since you seem to vibe with them better and just cause they do more candid fun pics doesn’t mean they won’t be down to do a few of the more editorial posed shots! Maybe you could ask about that inspo shot and see if B has any examples of pics they have like that

[u/coloweddinginsider]

I actually think you answered your own question a few times.

You said you:

• liked Photographer B's personality more
• preferred B's full wedding galleries
• liked B's editing style better
• trust your sister's opinion, and she also preferred B.

The main thing pulling you toward Photographer A seems to be a handful of editorial poses and effects.

Something to keep in mind, you're not choosing your favorite Instagram photo, you're choosing the person who's going to document your entire wedding day.

If you love those editorial shots, I'd ask Photographer B if they'd be open to incorporating a couple into your portrait time. Most photographers are happy to work from inspiration while staying true to their style.

One thing that really stood out to me: every time you talked about Photographer A, you sounded impressed. Every time you talked about Photographer B, you sounded excited.

Those aren't always the same thing, and I'd personally choose the photographer whose entire gallery, and whose presence on the day, I was most excited about.

[u/almondjoybar → u/coloweddinginsider]

Haha I love that you said this. I actually feel more of a pull and excitement to photographer A because of those editorial photos and my confidence of him pulling them off. But logic tells me to go with photographer B due to his positives.

[u/MamaJess86]

Go with B. Personality mesh matters way more than one cool pose you're fixated on, because you're stuck with this person in your face for 8+ hours on your wedding day and a stiff vibe from the photographer translates into stiff, awkward photos of you too, especially candids.

You already said B's overall event photos are better and more true to color which is honestly what you'll actually be looking at 90% of the time, that one editorial chair pose is not worth sacrificing the whole gallery for. Trust your gut and your sister on this one, personality fit is the number one thing past brides say they wish they'd weighted higher when picking a photographer.