Photographer just canceled last minute!

I find it ironic people advise her to hire another amateur, when that is clearly the problem to all the problems I read about. I agree get recommendations.

Our DJ backed out about a month ago. Along with trying to contact people on my own, I asked my other vendors for recommendations and it was one of those that worked out.

Jay, I hear what you're saying, and if she had ten months to go, I would tell her to find a real pro and spend the money to pay him/her. I'm only suggesting she go the amateur route because the pros are likely booked for September. I'm assuming she didn't hire a pro to begin with and that's why she's in the situation she's in (a real pro would fix this -- no medical issue or surgery would cause a pro to dump a wedding without a qualified sub). For a bride in the planning stages, I would NEVER suggest she hire a newbie or amateur. I wouldn't suggest CL or Thumbtack. But now? She has no choice but to go back to the pool she was fishing in the first time around -- which, I presume, was the amateur pool. It's the same thing I'd tell a bride who hired a hobbyist florist last year and now finds herself without a florist four weeks before her wedding. The pros are booked in September (and what professional photographer is going to do a full wedding for $400?). Is it ideal? Hell no. But her options are very limited with four weeks to go and $400 to spend.

I agree that you can find a pro on Thumbtack, Gigmasters, and Last Minute Wed (which actually will help to keep that price point down because you'll actually save money with them by finding a vendor closer to your date)