What are you thoughts if someone said this to you...

First I'll say that I shoot RAW + JPG, always have, always will. Sometimes I'm under time restrictions and I don't have the time to process the RAW images.

I'd be highly suspect of a wedding photog who only shoots JPGs. For weddings I would think shooting RAW is essential, particularly in most situations where flash can't be used, you simply cannot PP JPGs like you can RAW particularly with exposure and WB.

The fact that you've asked the question here, and there are a few alarm bells ringing on this mob, I'd steer clear of them. You'd feel pretty silly going ahead with them if there's a problem. Make sure you feel comfortable with your wedding photos - it's a one time (sometimes) event and you want these photos to be right. Not worth the risk. It's not just about RAW vs JPG, there's other alarm bells in there as well, isn't there.

Mathiau wrote in post #12009158
The other reason i ask is a friend went to her best friends wedding and had this same photographer and gave a horrible review about them, that they do not talk to you about anything, they do not listen to what you may want, they said they wanted no sepia toned images and yet they did a bunch, the persons work is phenomenal, i wont deny that, but if someone is arrogant and inconsiderate, i wont deal with them

Thoughts?

The issue of RAW vs. JPG aside (it is when the photographer screws the pooch that flexibility of RAW is an advantage, but if the photograph can guarantee they will not engage in such behavior...)

That quoted comment makes it apparent that the 'satisfy the customer' is the attitude which is missing this particular photographer. Some would call him a jackass, I call him stupid and arrogant fool. It is one thing to talk to a customer and tell they why it is not good to do exactly what was requested. It is arrogant to simply ignore the request. The customer is not always right, but you don't simply ignore them, and you certainly do not shove something not desired down their throats (I'd call him an a55hole for that one!)

Heh! That's a good one, Wilt -- "a55hole"!

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #12010157
In reference to choosing his own best pictures...it depends what he means. If I were to shoot a wedding you bet I would delete a lot of the pictures that had no merit or did not turn out well...

Now if he means that he's going to pick a handful of favorites and give you those...then that would irritate me...but I think he meant that they will delete images that did not turn out like they intended.

No, he means he chooses the ones you get it turns out speaking more to the friend , you don't choose any of them.

tim wrote in post #12010354
A perfect shot jpeg is as good as a raw. Unfortunately none of the 150,000 wedding photos i've ever taken has been perfect, and raw images are much easier to process than jpeg.

Their English is a little suspect.

as noted he is Costa Rican, apparently the "best" in Costa Rica, but i am thinking otherwise, i can send anyone his website in PM if they like.

drdiesel1 wrote in post #12010451
All my keepers are proofed by my clients and they pick what they want
I give my clients every opportunity to suggest images they want or would like to have. I do not let friends or relatives interfere with the days shooting processes. Only the Bride and Groom control other than pre-planned images.

Self appointed drunks, relatives and other family members need to understand their place during this time.

I always shoot RAW for the sake of the uncontrolled situations, that might otherwise cause the loss of a really great moment. I don't care how professional someone makes themselves out to be, they can't control everything, all the time.

Good points, why i have asked every photographer if they shoot RAW and most have said no..... surprised me, the other i spoke to were very open about picking pictures, choosing ones we like, where to take them et cetera, this other one didn't seem overly interested, just "trust my experience"

tzalman wrote in post #12011749
Since there is no such thing as a jpg without compression, that would already make me suspect that they know somewhat less than they want you to believe.

I am thinking this myself, sure they have the experience, but i think to some level, people see his images compared to what hey have seen from others and are blown away, it is like people who see some of mine and get blown away, meanwhile i do know better is out there, i wont deny he takes some phenomenal images, but...

bohdank wrote in post #12014447
I can understand why a photog would cull the shots, the bad, the looks-like-the-other-one, etc.

They don't want to show their less than good work and also not to overwhelm the couple with 500 pictures to have to select from. I get bored going through my shoot pictures after about 100 shots, be they good or bad.

Also, often, a half decent capture can be transformed into an excellent image in post. The client would never see that if they wanted all the images. No photog is going to edit hundreds of images to any great extent.

You hire a photog based on their past work. You are also paying for their judgment.

For sure, i understand, but for them to choose the pictures you get, period, when paying about $2k US is not right, i do hire based on experience, why i was ready to hire this guy on the spot, until i heard the bad review and talked over email with them.

tim wrote in post #12015062
Communication is as important as the quality of photos. If English isn't the first language then of course you take that into account. I don't even know what language they speak in Costa Rica, but whatever it is they speak English better than I speak their language!

Spanish in CR, he has good English in his emails for being native Spanish speaker, but from the bad review, it doesn't seem like it is a lost in translation thing, it just seems to be how they are.


The good news is i had spoken to another photographer at a wedding expo and i am now going with him, he is far far more friendly and actually seems excited to do the job, his images are great, io was iffy before because they seemed to be one who had 1 great shot, 1 bad shot,1 great one bad.

the good news is he is completely flexible! he said he can shoot with raw+jpg as well as he provides all the images we want and we choose them, real happy i am choosing this guy instead of the other person, i think his success has gone to his head.

New photographer http://ricardoesquivel​.com/ , his attitude alone would get me to hire him even if his picture were really bad..lol but luckily they aren\t. (i at least like them and the fiance loved them as well)

I they speak Spanish in Costa Rica. I would tend to think a happy charming people person should be your choice for a wedding photographer. Arrogant narcissistic prick, leave that to the paparazzi.

haha, yup, exactly my thoughts, and i am sure i will recommend this photographer to everyone I know, and since i know many people in CR, especially foreigners, this could be some good buisness coming his way.

Anyone want to give me some input on his work?

http://ricardoesquivel​.com/

I looked at his site. He looks like he has the basics down (exposure, focus, etc). Some of his shots aren't the most artistically appealling IMO. He needs work on refining his style.

He's definitely a competent Tico... He seems to favor a lot of harsh lighting (looks like direct, full-on speedlite in many) but his natural light stuff is nice. Some iffy choices in post-processing every now and then, but overall pretty good.

It's not a miracle of wedding photography, but I'd say his work is slightly above-par. Could be a good value, depending on the cost.