I am by no means a “fancy photographer,” but I love beautiful photos. I’m a point-and-shoot girl, but I manage to turn out some pretty shots. Sailing has made me even more ambitious with my photo-taking (oceans! skies! sunlight!), and we have some of my work blown up and printed on big canvases in our house. I took this one a couple of summers ago on Long Island Sound:
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Photo by Miss Cauldron – Long Island Sound, September 2010
Due to my love of photos, I was really excited to book a photographer who could capture all the moments at our wedding—it was one of the first things I started working on after we locked in a venue.
I relied heavily on the internet when searching for photographers: Google search, wedding blogs, and wedding vendor reviews were my initial stops. I quickly found one of the best things to do was to scroll through photos on Style Me Pretty: Texas and check out the photo credits for the ones I liked the most. I knew I didn’t want anything too trendy—some of the current vintage-y washes and heavily edited shots were just not for me. At the same time, I didn’t want anything too stiff and formal—natural, fun, relaxed, and pretty seemed to be the mood I was liking the best. Capturing tangible emotion in the frame was really important to me too. And the detail shots had to be creative, not just flat.
Photo by Sweet Caroline Photography
Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by The Nichols
Photo by Jessica Barfield
Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Two Pair Photography
Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Urban Grey
Image from Style Me Pretty / Photo by Amelia Tarbet
I also noticed that I was really liking photos from husband-and-wife photo teams. I’m not sure why, but several married-couple vendors hit my top-ten list.
For the photographers whose blogs and websites showed me what I liked, I reached out via email to find out more about their availability and costs. After hearing back, I scheduled phone calls with the photographers who said they were available and within my budget, and I drafted a list of questions for each one. I spent a week of evenings on the phone with six different photographers, and for ones that were definite possibilities, I asked them to send me a link to a full wedding proof site, so I could see aaaaall of the photos they took at an event, not just the super-special ones on their blogs. Taking a look at full sets of photos really helped narrow things down!
I had a couple of possibilities after that week of phone interviews, but there was one thing nagging me—I just hadn’t felt like I “clicked” with any of the photographers as well as I felt I should. (Anyone else think hiring vendors from afar is like having a phone call before a blind date?!)
Then one of the photographers on my list who actually wasn’t available for our date, Jessica Barfield, sent me a very sweet note back recommending yet another husband-and-wife team, Sara and Rocky. I took a look at their website and concluded that yes, they fit the bill.
Photo by Sara and Rocky Photography
So, I sent them an email, and—bummer! They weren’t available on our date, either. But they also sent back a great and very personable email, and they recommended some friends of theirs, Lindsey & Beto…another husband-and-wife team who had a similar approach and style.
Feeling somewhat optimistic about this chain letter of recommendations, I checked out Lindsey and Beto’s website and blog, and they definitely passed the litmus test.
Photo by Lindsey & Beto
Photo by Lindsey & Beto
Photo by Lindsey & Beto
Photos by Lindsey & Beto
I dashed off a note and got a fun email back from Lindsey saying they were available—hooray! When we did get on the phone to chat, she and I hit it off immediately. Plus, she grew up about 20 minutes from where Mr. C grew up in Michigan. Random! At the end of our chat, I asked for links to a couple of their full proofing sites, and I loved 95% of their shots.
Photo by Lindsey & Beto
It was clear to me that she and Beto were going to be our wedding photographers, and I booked them shortly afterward. Yay! One more (very important!) vendor checked off the list.
Was photography a big deal for you? How did you find your photographer?
I am familiar with/really like a lot of those that you listed – especially Jess Barfield and Sara & Rocky! It looks like you made a great choice, though! I’m looking forward to seeing all of your pretty recaps 
so many choices- they’re all so beautiful! I don’t know what it is about hubby/wife teams but were looking at booking one also!
Photography is tough! You want good pictures to capture your day but it seems like the photography budget can seem like 50-75% of the budget! Congrats on finding one that you liked.
My MOH found our photographers and she is paying for it as part of our wedding gift. Whew!! Lovely to have something crossed off your list!
A photographer was important to me. I started the process by eliminating a bunch in my area. Either I had noticed them too much at friends weddings or they were pushy etc. Then I knew I wanted a 2nd shooter. I fell in love with my photographer at a friends wedding and while I looked at many other places and contracted a few other photographers, I was so happy when it worked out with them.
Husband and wife team. Young. I hit it off with the wife on the phone and the 2 of them when we met up in person.
What a chase, but the photographers you chose have beautiful photos!
Oh wow, must have been fate! Photographer is immensely important to me, one of the most important factors in fact! The way I chose a photographer was also google search around the area. I found one I fell in love with and clicked with her even through email, when we met in person we really did click! I do believe she understands the vision of the day well and I can’t wait to have her as a part of our wedding!
I don’t know if I would have had the patience you did to check out photographers. But, I’m really impressed with your [1] photography (that picture of the Long Island Sound is BEAUTIFUL), [2] dedication to researching the photography styles of all of your potential photographers, [3] confidence in each photographer’s recommendations of one another. Go Miss Cauldron!
PS – Do you mind if I ask what kind of camera you use?
@Miss Coach: Oh my gosh, I can’t even think about recaps yet! Eek!
@Alleycat: Thanks! I hope so!
@BeckyS0: They have a certain appeal, don’t they?
@MrsDTMajor: What a wonderful and generous gift from your MOH – you can’t put a price on capturing those memories.
@DEBeachGirl: How great that you have already seen how your photographers work on the day of – that’s awesome!
@Miss Fairy: Thanks! I think they are really talented.
@Jacofblues: Sounds similar to my search – so glad you found someone you clicked with.
@priyathescientist: Thanks! I had a great time talking with all of them – so fun to hear how they pitch their work and what they really enjoy about their jobs. (Also, I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3. That photo came straight off the camera; no editing.)
I love your photographers’ style, obviously the recommendations were spot on!
We also booked a team for our wedding — they’re not married, but they’ve been together for 5 years! They were fabulous!
I took the easy way out and asked for the contact info of the photographer from my friend’s wedding last year. I saw the photographer and her second shooter (her mom) at the wedding, and saw the pics after, and they were mindblowing. To boot, she does this as a side business, so she’s super cheap. I liked that she wrote me back right away when I emailed and that she is my age, so I feel comfortable she will have similar tastes. Plus, her photos are to die for, so I feel like I have nothing to lose. I’m definitely too lazy to do all the interviewing that you and some other bees have done!
Sara and Rocky were my photographers! I am glad that they gave you a great recommendation! I am sure they will be awesome!
Miss Cauldron, New York City/Austin Age and Occupation: 33, Human Resources Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Technology Engagement Date: October 8, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: Pecan Grove at the Salt Lick About Me: I grew up in the Lone Star State, but moved to NYC after college to get a taste of the Big Apple, and never left. I love baking, yoga, Mr. C, and sunshine (not necessarily in that order)! Mr. C and I met on Match.com back in 2007, and our second date was at a Texas barbecue restaurant in Manhattan. It’s only fitting that after almost five years together, we are getting married at an iconic Texas barbecue joint. (Shiner Bock and brisket, anyone?) I’m proud of the life we have built together around our love for each other, Mr. C’s crazy dog Bosley, and fun sailing adventures on our boat, and I’m looking forward to celebrating our marriage at one seriously awesome party in September.
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