Some Reasons Why Our Brides Think We’re the BEST

I asked some of our recent brides why they chose us.

Here are three responses we’ve just received. I’ve removed the names of the other photographers, so as not to have any hurt feelings.

Hi Arthur!

Of course we’d be happy to tell you about how it came to be that we picked you!

To start the top 5 things that were important to us were:

1.  Personality and rapport with the photographer

2.  Quality of photos–capturing the beauty of the day, creativity, lighting, style

3.  Competitive pricing-

4.  Flexibility to shoot at my parents house, Church and Fed Hill

5.  Reputable in the business

I found your ad in a Baltimore bride mag.  Your ad kind of “spoke” to me b/c it was a photojournalistic type of shot and it had the sophisticated elegance that I personally was looking for in a wedding photo.  @#$% Weddings #$%^ @#$% was the other photographer which had a fantastic ad that had the same appeal to me.  We called around to a few photographers that were mentioned on The Knot website but in all they did not have as much experience in the biz as the two of you did.  I was not comfortable with the fact that they did not have a studio and would have to meet me in a Starbucks.  We wanted to someone who had built a reputable business and had their own space to share with patrons.

We visited with just you and X#$–we met you first.  Both of you have very different personalities-one more reserved with a quiet demeanor and the other in one word -jubilant!  I think we know which one you are )  Meeting with you face to face at the studio “sold” us.  No one could compare b/c we knew that your personality would be the key to capturing the best pictures.

We met @#$ at his home, which was okay, but he had 2 cats that wanted to join us at the dining table…Jay is allergic and we couldn’t imagine going back to meet with him if we wanted to.

From a package perspective you were more competitive b/c you provided us with a lower parents album price, along with the high res DVD of our photos that we believe was a reasonable price.  There was a few hundred dollars between you both.  To be honest if you were a few hundred dollars extra we were okay with that b/c we had cut corners in other areas of our budget.

I hope this (long winded) response helps you.  In all Arthur, it was the studio, style of photo, flexibility with shaping a package that works for us and your personality that sold us.

Talk to you soon!

Annie

Arthur,

From the initial stages of our wedding planning, Greg and I knew we had to invest time and effort into finding a good photographer- preferably someone who knew Baltimore well, who produced impeccable work, and who was professional (and enthusiastic) the day of and the days before our big day.  But a good photographer is hard to find, especially against other significant wedding costs.  Friends who were also planning a Baltimore wedding highly recommended turning to you for support and guidance.  Without question, it was one of the best decisions we made.

After meeting you and your staff and seeing samples of your work, Greg and I felt like we had hit the jackpot.  (Literally, we got in the car after that first meeting and I turned to Greg and said, “I’m sold!”)  The caliber of your portfolio outshone that of other photographers in the area we viewed.  I also respect and admire the fact that you stick to doing weddings only, instead of extending yourself in other arenas.  This fact alone made me feel like you really cared about the bride and groom, and the whole wedding experience.  You are (hands down) the BEST there is.

I know this for many reasons, the most important being the fact that my wedding photographs turned out impeccable under your care- and this is important because it rained heavily on my wedding day.  There was no room to take outdoor photos at my parents house, but you were able to capture the moments I had inside so eloquently and in such a beautiful manner- that I can’t imagine having anything but!  You also carefully pulled Greg and I outdoors when the weather turned in our favor, and were able to take exceptional outdoor photos at the Evergreen.

The reasons why you ARE the best:

1. Reasonably priced- worth every penny.  People kept saying booking a good photographer is key, and of course I agree with them.

2. Made all guests (family/friends/wedding party) feel at ease.

3. Despite rain, you were able to find the best areas at my parents house, the church, and the Evergreen (with sunlight and without).

4. Your “formal” photos were quick and efficient; and while they are important shots, you were able to get us out the door in half an hour.  Most weddings I’ve attended include the bride, groom, and wedding party missing their own time to shine because of hour(s) long (unnecessary) photographs.  Thank you for not letting this happen!!

I have name-dropped you to ALL of my friends (yes, ALL friends- even the single ones)- and now you’re on their list!

WE LOVE YOU and are forever grateful.  Thank you for all you did and have done- we really appreciate it.

Love, Jen & Greg

Hi Arthur,

First of all, I just really liked your personality (energetic, professional, but also relaxed) and your approach to your work (you really seemed to love what you do, and I liked that), and I liked your work and the fact that your were sort of a known entity since Leigh Anne had worked with you already.  You were definitely on the higher end price-wise of photographers that I was looking at, but I decided that I liked you enough that I was willing to pay for it.  And I also figured that pictures were what I was going to have once the wedding day was over, so it was important to me that I could trust that I would have good ones.

Here were my experiences with other photographers I was considering:

$%^$% Pictures: convenient because they are a national company, so I was able to meet with a rep up in Boston and not have to cram in a meeting on a trip to Baltimore.  But, you explain to the rep what kind of photographer you’re looking for and then you get matched with one, and although you get to see the photographer’s work and can reject the person if you don’t like their work, you don’t get to meet the person until the day of your wedding … I didn’t want to take that chance (although they would have been cheaper – at most ~$3000)

#$%^s Photography: I really liked his work, although Joe @#$% seemed a little more subdued than you … I liked how much energy you had; prices were slightly cheaper but about comparable I think

#$%^ Photography: I liked their work a lot, but like with @#$% I wouldn’t get to meet the photographer until the day of my wedding, which I didn’t like; they had some slightly more weird shots than the ones you showed me – e.g. with weird angles and with the people doing weird things, which I didn’t love; they were as expensive as you or more so (depending on which photographer I would chose)

Someone else (can’t remember who) who cost less (~2500), but I could really tell the difference in the quality of their work compared to yours – their shots seemed much more posed and lifeless, and not as crisp … visiting them made me more confident that it was worth spending money on good photography

@#$% – she was more loosy-goosy about things (didn’t seem to care if I liked her work or not, etc.), and liked to convert photos into paintings, which isn’t really what I’m into … she didn’t seem to have the attitude I was looking for in a photographer; though she was less expensive

I hope that was helpful to you!  Hope you don’t mind that I was brutally honest 🙂

I hear Miles is using you for her wedding — very exciting.  All the best,

Becca

Anne and Jay at the Rennnaisance Harborplace Hotel

This wedding, in my humble opinion, really shows what great wedding photojournalism combined with excellent wedding portraiture can aspire to. Capturing the range of emotions and beauty in the images that unfold on wedding day is a skill that cannot be taught, but must be done instinctively. Few people realize what a highly intuitive art form wedding photojournalism is..

Anne dressed at her parent’s house. Her dress, by Maggie Sotterro, was from Juliet’s Bridals.

The bride and her nephew.

All family members are important, even the furry ones!

The ballroom at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel was magnificent that night. The floral arrangements by My Flower Box complimented and enhanced the decor. Edward Good, Event Manager at The Renaissance, made sure that everything went according to plan. Because of his ministrations, the reception went off perfectly.

Elizabeth and Joshua

Chase Court, a great little venue in the heart of the city. David Egan has lovingly added his vision to this former rectory, transforming it into a supremely romantic and architectural gem for weddings and receptions.

Elizabeth or ‘EJ’ as her friends called her, was a woman who knew what she wanted and put her personality and creativity into all aspects of the wedding. She even designed her own bouquet!

An actress and vocalist, EJ was very much at ease in front of the camera, and you can see the results below.

Rebecca and Stas

Rebecca (aka ‘Becca), dressed at the Baltimore Country Club where the reception was also held. The bride wore Vera Wang and the bridesmaids dresses were by Coren Moore.

We look for details in our wedding coverage, every moment becomes cherished part of our client’s history and should be captured for eternity.

The grounds surrounding the club have magnificent gardens and mature trees not to mention turn of the century architecture. Great backgrounds!

The flowers were from Radebaugh’s,  a fourth generation family owned business.

This image shows how important trust and confidence in our abilities is for our clients. We didn’t ‘force’ this image – ‘Becca gave it to us.

A supremely ‘journalistic’ moment. One tenth of a second late, and it is gone.

Katie and Brian

Katie, dressing at her parent’s house as mom looks in. Her wedding gown, from Gamberdella’s, was by Peter Langer.

Lots of children at this wedding which always adds more fun (if unpredictable).

Katie is a varsity basketball coach at a prep school and decided to shoot a few hoops with her sister.

Hair design for Katie was by Kelly Geipe and the make-up by Jen Seidel- Walsh.

Our bride, fun, irreverent and gorgeous.

Two talented wedding photographers are essential for truly excellent wedding photojournalism. Both myself and my long time associate, Philip J. Weber, have our own teams. This allows us to capture key moments from two entirely unique perspectives, not to mention having the added reassurance of double coverage in case of equipment glitches.

The little guy made it all the way down the aisle at The Baltimore Basilica. It is a very long aisle. He deserves ice cream.

We capture the grandeur and majesty of wedding ceremonies as they unfold, utilizing the architecture and setting to it’s best advantage. Totally circumspect and  understanding that it is a religious ceremony and not our personal photo op, we’ve earned the trust and respect of scores of clergy from all faiths and denominations. Oftentimes they’ll give us special ‘dispensation’ to go where other, less circumspect, photographers aren’t allowed,  knowing that we’ll disappear during the ceremony.

On location: Mount Vernon

A classic example of the advantage of having two photographers. While I was documenting the bride and her bridesmaids, my second captured this image of the boys.

Next location: Inner Harbor. Check out that sky!

The reception was at one of Baltimore’s most beloved and well know locations, The Radisson Lord Baltimore. Ann Arnette, wedding coordinator extraordinaire for the hotel, facilitated our creating great images there with her hands -on expertise.

Table cloths by Gala Cloths, and music provided by the best d.j. in the ‘biz, Carl Junior, owner of Classic Disc Jockeys.