Carrie Richards was a great choice as my wedding photographer. My sister had been to a couple of weddings that Carrie photographed and raved about the photos so when it came time for me to choose a photographer, I decided to meet with her. After reviewing her work, I was a little concerned that her focus was more on outdoor weddings since so much of her portfolio consisted of beautiful, natural settings, but after speaking with her, I felt like she would be able to capture what I wanted. I let her know that I was having a more traditional hotel wedding in San Francisco and my taste is very classic and reserved. She absolutely listened to what I told her. She took good notes and made sure I got the shots I wanted.
Another thing I loved about Carrie was her responsiveness. She was great by email (my preferred method of communication, especially when planning a wedding). She responded quickly and was very thorough. I was also impressed by her organization - she had her materials neatly and professionally packaged and she was flexible to make sure I got everything I wanted. I never felt like I had to track her down - she kept in communication and always made herself available to answer questions.
On the day of our wedding, she arrived early to scope out the best places to take pictures. She looked at lighting and whether the sprinklers had gone and places big enough for the entire bridal party, etc. She (and her assistant) was the type of photographer who was everywhere at the wedding but guests didn't really notice her. This is exactly what you want in a photographer.
Her prints are pretty pricey but I think that is the case with all good photographers. I will say that she is great at retouching since a couple of the photos she took had a random waiter in the background or a door that I wanted removed - I let her know and she made them disappear! It's really important to have a photographer who not only takes great pictures but also knows how to manipulate them afterwards.
I am aware that I was a somewhat high maintenance bride (very type A personality and really wanted to be in control of every aspect of my wedding) but Carrie never seemed to mind. She listened to what I wanted, lent her professional opinion when warranted, and never made me feel like the crazy bride I was. I really appreciated that about her! She is cool, calm, and professional and I would recommend her to others. read more