So I've been omitting critical information from this blog for months and months. I mentioned Terra in my initial photography post, but never returned to discuss how my photographer-search was progressing. In a nutshell, after our first phone conversation, Terra and I continued to email quite frequently. Terra emailed brand new shots and slideshows directly to me along with get-to-know you type information. I had a few questions for her, plenty of compliments and gradually our emails transformed from courteous future client/vendor exchanges to friendly fan/appreciative photog notes to downright personal emails between wedding aficionados. Of course I took advantage of her sincere efforts and tried to get as much information from her as possible. She started to read my blog, I kept up with hers and since March we've emailed several times per week.
While most of our emails revolve around her work and the wedding world, it was clear from the beginning that Terra was not trying to hard-sell me. In fact she wrote to me as if I were a colleague, or friend. She has been super supportive of my dieting efforts, of the bar exam and just about everything else I fill her in on. It has been so fun getting to know her!
Admittedly, I actively shopped for other photograhers, just in case Terra was swooped up by another October 2009 bride, but in all honesty no one compared to her and I would have been heart broken if we were prevented from hiring her. My photography wish list was this:
1. Natural, consistent talent with a true understanding of lighting.
2. Northern-California based.
3. 8+hour package with album within our budget
4. Not too edgy while not too traditional. Someone who can do a little of both.
5. Personable, happy to be a photographer!
She's 5 for 5 people! So after six-plus months of long, information-filled emails we finally met for a brunch date during my weekend trip to San Francisco. Terra was just as delightful as I had imagined, despite the fact that she had just shot back to back weddings on Friday and Saturday (yes she is a crazy woman!). We talked and talked (I was slightly hung-over from MOH's birthday the night before--sorry Terra!). It was so lovely, and there was never any doubt that she would be the perfect fit for us. Laid back yet driven, bubbly and sure of herself.
Finding a photographer was so much harder than I could have imagined. I had to really look at DF and I as a couple and find someone who would be capable of capturing the true "us". We are far from models and DF is not a "picture person" but I know that Terra knows exactly how to handle couples like us--in fact she's told me exactly how she's handled couples like us! And has even shown me visual examples. Have I mentioned how lucky I feel to have found her?
