Elizabeth Messina is widely considered to be one of the top wedding photographers in the world. Her price reflects that, but for me photography and venue were my biggest priorities budget-wise and we made it work. Elizabeth was relatively flexible, especially considering her celeb photographer status, and we were able to work out a timeline and price that satisfied us both. Aside from the business stuff, Elizabeth is incredibly warm and so hilarious. I immediately felt like I was speaking to an old friend during our first phone conversation. You can tell she believes so strongly in the power of marriage and in the beauty of love. It's visible in her work but also in her way of communicating to you about your special day. I've given 4 out of 5 stars for responsiveness only because she's extremely busy, which means it may be necessary to follow up a few times before you get her on the phone. As a fellow creative, I also understand that artistic types can be a little less prompt than their peers when it comes to administrative tasks :) But it never tarnished the experience of working with her. I appreciated that she had the will and professionalism to keep my loud and unruly family focused during our photos. And when we were running late with cake cutting and dances, I appreciated that she came to speak with me and my parents directly before staying extra hours and charging us without our consent. Apparently some photographers do this and you're left with an unpleasant surprise when you get the final bill. Her time is precious and she knows it, but she also knows that her hourly fee is expensive, so it was greatly appreciated that she asked us whether or not we would like her to stay a little longer to capture those final important moments. Overall, Elizabeth is famous for a reason and her price reflects that, but her photography is true art and will stay with us for a lifetime!