To all future brides in the DC area: if you're type A, like me, you're probably checking out dozens of photographers for your upcoming wedding. You've probably looked at so many portfolios that you can't even remember one from the next. Do yourselves a favor now: stop. Look no further. Book this guy as fast as you possibly can, and do it NOW, before he wakes up and realizes how much he is UNDERcharging his clients.
Sound a little over the top? Well, believe it. My husband and I recently hired Chris for our wedding reception, and I'm now his biggest fan. We just got our wedding photos back from him last week, and they are simply, beautifully, STUNNING. I can't say enough about how glad I am that we went with him for our big day. His intimate style and perspective is heads and shoulders above so many other portfolios I looked at, by photographers who charged double (or more!) what he did.
Confession time: I told Chris that he ought to charge more money, even though I know, as a recent bride, how quickly the wedding bills start to pile up and am sympathetic to couples who are footing the bill for their nuptials, as we did. But you know what? You're not actually going to remember, or care, about the table arrangements as much as you think you will. Or the favors. Or the stationary. Or a whole lot of other elements that seem really important to you right now. You're going to care about the memories you made that day - the laughter, the love, the joy you share with your loved ones. But there will be too many memories to hold onto, and you need someone to whom you can entrust the monumental responsibility of capturing all of those memories for you to revisit in the years to come. THAT'S worth a lot of money. And Chris is worth much more than he's currently charging. I would have happily paid twice the price I paid him for the photos we got. Ladies, scoop him up while he's still affordable - it will be the best money you spend on your wedding.