I chose Chevy Smith Photography because he does great work and I received personal referrals. I felt he had an artistic eye and I was impressed! I interviewed 3 other photographers who were rated high for weddings that also had experience shooting at my venues.
I did not realize how important it was to select a wedding photographer. Chevy, is a Studio/location photographer even though he has shot weddings. HE IS NOT A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER!! His work is reflective of a controlled environment. Weddings are not!
Weddings have so many components to consider throughout the day. A wedding photographer will be able to manage and adapt. A wedding photographer has the capacity to handle changing situations with finesse and professionalism, as the day often don't go as planned. He assured me he could and would do a great job because he had done over 40 weddings.
Cincinnati was a destination wedding for us. I had a weekend of events planned. I'd contracted/prepaid him for my bridal shower/bachelorette party, wedding day events from early morning until the end of the reception and photo booth.
I thought I made the right choice. You do not want someone you have to coach throughout your big day because you are bound to forget about what photos are important from moment to moment.
He is very unprofessional. He was contracted to arrive at 8pm. He arrived disheveled after 10pm. We planned a location photoshoot prior to the bachelorette party. This didn't happen because he was late to the shower. We stayed to take some pics since I'd already paid him. The result I received photos of the room w/ guest and photos of my bridesmaids that looked like an afterthought. In addition he failed to ensure we looked picture perfect. Every photo I released, I had to edit and I am not a professional. The bridal shower pics would've been okay if we'd taken them ourselves, they were horrible for a paid photographer because some details could not be edited.
I was extremely disappointed! Not only was he late, he engaged into a loud verbal argument with one of my guests for expressing how his extreme tardiness had ruined the plans on my wedding weekend. One of my bridesmaids and I had to diffused the argument.
He was at least on time on the wedding day. His ONE JOB: to capture the special moments of the day, throughout the day. He failed to get the standard shots one would want on their wedding day. He failed to consider lighting and composition. We got married at St. Aloysius one of the cities top wedding venues. He failed to capture the true essence of the chapel and photos of my mom & I.
In addition, NOT ONE of me by myself. I was the first to arrive 2 hour prior. I wore a custom Sara Gabriel cathedral veil meticulously crafted with Swarovski crystals, I was assured that the second photographer would capture the ariel shots of the venue to include my entire dress coming down the aisle. (Not one full shot taken.) I wore an handcrafted customized tiara by Thomas Knoll and a glamorous Stella York gown. Both failed to shoot any of the details.
I made it clear prior to contracting him how important it was for him to take control and get the shots we discussed. A real wedding photographer would be sure to capture pictures of the bride, the gown, down to every detail. In addition to understand who the key players were so that they could get the correct shots. He claimed to understand these things.
On location at Devou Park, he was not prepared with the proper lighting for the evening. He did not do the advance for where we would stand even though he arrived before the wedding party. The location is my favorite place and one of the most iconic places to take wedding photos in the city and he failed to capture the iconic photos I anticipated. He said audibly in my hearing "dang I brought the wrong camera." Wow!!!
Chevy was heard complaining about following my husband & I around the reception as we greeted our guest! I didn't hear about this until later thankfully.
While I was impressed with the photo booth, he used the wrong hashtag. I gave it to him when I hired him, it was on a banner at the reception AND it was on the program. How did he get it wrong? He used a different hashtag & spelled my new last name wrong. I didn't notice until after the wedding but my husband did of course because it's his last name!
I've yet to receive my album. He was unresponsive for 4 months until he was tagged on a FB post looking for photographers; where I saw the tag and told a friend not to use him because of his lack of professionalism. Someone else agreed. Chevy chimed in and attacked that person's character, appearance and said she'd never be married. (She'd recently lost her husband to cancer btw). Yes this happened; on a post about his professionalism. Another month went by, he refunded $150 for my wedding album instead of delivering.
Needless to say I would NEVER recommend Chevy Smith Photography for any reason. read more