I’m having second thoughts about photographer

Ugh, he sounds like someone I wouldn't want to work with either. Admittedly, I am super particular and seem to have been going with my gut quite a bit when making vendor decisions. So far, it hasn't led me astray.

I will say that I don't think it was necessarily a red flag or anything on your part to only communicate via email before hiring. I've done that with several vendors myself, and I still feel like I've gotten a good sense of the person's 'vibe' that way. How you communicate via email says a lot about you, and for me anyway, that's going to be my primary method of contact throughout the planning process.

With photographers, I think there's a line between offering professional guidance and being overbearing. Photographers should be flexible and excited about trying new locations -- not shooting themselves in the foot by basically saying they can only do good work at X location. If they have valid concerns about a particular spot and are able to articulate them, that's fine, but it doesn't sound like that's what he's doing. What does he do when he shoots a wedding at a new place? Tell people they'll come out horrible because he's not familiar with the venue?

We have our engagement pictures coming up on Friday, November 1st. My photographer gave us a guide on what to wear and such as prep and was very open to our location ideas (we'll be doing them in a local national park). Her philosophy is to tell a story about the couple -- not the other way around.

I'm not sure what exactly I'd do in your situation. When are you supposed to be having your engagement shoot?

Have you met him in person at all? Email tones can easily be misconstrued. If you’re already getting bad vibes, though, I would meet with them ASAP and look over your contract and how cancellations work. You’ll def lose your deposit. You want a photographer that you enjoy being around, this is advice I have been given by numerous people. They will be with you throughout your entire day, and it’s important you feel comfortable with them. I emailed a photographer and had a phone conversation with him, both of which seemed wonderful, but when FH and I met him in person, I did not vibe with him at all. As soon as we got in the car, I said, “his photos are amazing but I don’t wan’t him around me on my wedding day.” My photographer has never shot at our venue, but will scope it out beforehand to familiarize himself with it. I feel like your person should have at least offered to do this since you wanted your engagement shoot at a particular location. You are paying him for services, he should take into consideration what you want, and not patronize you since “brides know nothing about photography” (my take on his response). There’s also a polite way of saying things like that if he really didn’t think the images would come out good. Sounds like he just doesn’t want to learn a new location. Like I said, meet with him, and if you really don’t vibe, see what it’ll cost you to back out. Good luck!