This is for Nick, who shot our 220-person Hindu wedding and Western reception. Nick is the type of guy that my husband and I would attempt to invite out for beers constantly if we lived in SD. He was funny, relaxed, competent, and left us with ...a mix of beautiful traditional photos, photojournalistic candids, and unique visually stunning images. His photos had that visceral effect I was hoping for when I looked through them - they made me laugh, cry, and left me in awe. This is not just a routine job for him - he has brilliant ideas for cool shots and chases them instead of just settling for the boring stuff.
Photography was the biggest thing I cared about when it came to my wedding, being a longtime hobbyist. I vetted 50+ photographers in the SD area, based on portfolios, reviews, and full galleries. I spent a lot of time picking out ABM. From my research, I can definitely say they charge a very fair price for the quality and attention you get.
Highlights:
* got us 1,400 photos less than 4 weeks after our wedding (contractually he has up to 7)
* addressed all my concerns and million questions before the wedding via email and meetings
* reviewed my (long) Pinterest boards so he had the best idea of what I love in photography
* had plenty of opportunities to charge us more but never took them
* flexible with his time to meet our needs
* scoped out our venue & nearby trails for romantics beforehand
* needed no guidance on the day of, even though our wedding wasn't typical (half the day was in in Sanskrit - no one understands this language)
* efficiently handled group shot chaos
* made us comfortable during romantic shots (I am pretty awkward when being photographed) - his guidance was on point but never bossy
* crazy hardworking - never seemed to need a break, was EVERYWHERE - belly-down on the floor, setting up lights, jumping on chairs
* impressed our parents & guests to the point they all commended us for choosing him (without even seeing his photos!)
My tips to people looking for a photographer and interested in ABM: if you like their highlights, just go with them. If you have any concerns on their packages, talk to them - they can be flexible. Give them input on what shots you like. Don't be scared he'll try to weasel your money - he will give you honest opinions (e.g. we were worried we needed a 2nd shooter and he said he could handle it alone - and he did). And on your wedding day/session with them, laugh a lot! He will be there to capture that, and it'll make your partner insanely happy to see you so happy.