Quote: Originally Posted by hockeymom97 What if you see pics by other photographers that you like? Would a photographer be offended if you were showing them someone else's work as an idea or inspiration? Absolutely not!! I certainly wouldn't be offended!! In fact, I would totally recommend doing that!
What you need to watch out for, though, is if you see a style that you love online but you have hired a photographer with a completely different aesthetic...you may not end up with the photographs you were hoping for.
A few things could happen (assuming the photographer you hired doesn't specialize in the style you have found):
1. They may do wonderfully and give you absolutely what you've hoped for.
2. They may feel pressured into shooting the way you want them to, and not the way their personal artist's eye tells them to.
3. They may just have to explain to you that they don't think they will be able to give you what you want.
Number 1 is awesome but lucky.
Number 2 is kinda sucky. lol.
and Number 3 is a responsible photographer.
I guess a good idea before EVER hiring your wedding photographer is to get online to various blogs, look through wedding articles at the pictures, and...well, pretty much any photography you see. It doesn't have to be wedding related at all!! Find the style of images that you really, really love and then do some research to find the photographer that will give you that look. That way, you don't have to present them with a list or images that they might not feel comfortable emulating.
If you find photographers on the interweb that you love, just throw their names into the forums here on BDW!
I spend a few hours a week just looking through other photographer's blogs and portfolios, and I am betting most of the other professionals on here do the same. Recommendations for your personal style out the wazoo!! lol.
(I know that got a bit lengthy...sorry about that!! It was a great question, though...)