Wedding Pictures - Help Me Choose!

Okay, so here's the deal....I'm trying to pick 2 pictures to print as 11 x 14's for a picture ledge that we've just installed in our Dining Room. I've chosen two color photos and two black and white's. Our Dining Room looks something like this:

So we're working with a deep purple wall under the chair rail, a creamy off-white above the chair rail, champagne-ish/gold and black flocked damask curtains, a black table, white chairs and a dark walnut buffet with gold hardware. The picture ledge is black and is on the opposite wall that you can't see here. (oh, and btw, that cheapo looking standard builder's chandelier will eventually be replaced by a black crystal chandelier)

So.....Option 1:

And Option 2: 

So, cast your votes! Option 1 or Option 2...which would you pick?! ......HELP!! :)

xo,

the indecisive wife

big BIG News!!!!!!!

WE HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHER!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited and so relieved to say that :) So...who did we book?? McLellan Studio from Franklin, TN (right outside of Nashville). Their work is amazing and I'm so excited that they will be our photographers! These guys only book 15 weddings a year so I'm so glad that we were able to book them. So, enough about the details...let's get to some of the images!!

These pictures are all from a wedding they did last September. All images are owned and copyrighted by McLellan Studio.

Photography and BM dresses...can you tell that's what has been on my mind?!?

And this one is about Photography. 

So, a few weeks back i posted some pictures from some photographers that i'm considering. I now have some updates and additions to that post. Zoeiac Images is not available for our date and Arden hasn't gotten back to me (it's okay, i only sent one email...i'm not devastated or

 anything) but i found another photographer that i'm really loving. It's W. Scott Chester Photography from Atlanta, GA. They really seem to have a perfect balance of artistic, detail and [somewhat] traditional photos. I love the color balance and - one of my favorite aspects - the pictures have great lighting, used in interesting ways. Another awesome thing about them is that when i asked to see a full wedding gallery they gave me links to 5 different weddings! Now, on a side note...Let me just say that I've learned to ask for this very important piece of information from photographers because when you're looking through someone's portfolio it doesn't necessarily give you the best depiction of their work. The portfolio, of course, is their creme de la'creme of photos and not always their "typical" work. So it's always best to ask if you can see a full wedding they've shot - this way it REALLY gives you an idea of the kind of photographer they are. What shots they choose, the different angles they take, how they use the lighting in their photos, the different ways they edit and process the images, and their breadth of coverage. Well, W. Scott Chester Photography was obviously confident enough in their work to show me not just 1 full wedding gallery (as many photographers that i've spoken with have), but they showed me 5 different wedding galleries! And i have to say that i was VERY impressed and i can certainly understand (and agree) with their confidence! 

So, without further ado...here's a few pictures for your viewing pleasure...

all images are owned and copyrighted by W. Scott Chester Photography

Pretty great right? So you're probably wondering why i'm writing about this instead of immediately hiring them....well, their fees are at the very top of my price bracket....then with the addition of their travel fees it pushes it over the edge. So boo-hoo once again! I'm hoping maybe something could possibly (in a fairytale land) come through with it...but i'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. 

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Negotiating Tips?!? :)

Photographer WANTED

Now taking applications for a Wedding Photographer!!

Seriously though, photography is an extremely high priority for me as far as wedding vendors go. It's like #2 on the list of importance - right behind the wedding venue (which only took Mark and I 4 months to decide on and then book...). I've been looking around on different websites for photographers and I actually found one that I really really love - problem is, I fell in love before I looked at the price tag. Don't you hate it when that happens?!?! I mean I'm willing to dedicate a good 15% of my budget to a kick ass photographer, but to my surprise they wanted much more than that! More like at least 30% of the budget and my first born child! Okay, maybe not the child...but a whole heck of a lot of money! The photographer's work that i fell in love with? It's A Bryan Photo , only the MOST EXPENSIVE photographer in Birmingham. Of course!! That's my luck. But their work really is amazing....too bad their prices START at $6K. Dang it. So...I'm trying to move on and find someone else's work that love (ho-hum)....

I'm considering: Kim Box Photography, Arden Photography, and I did really like Our Labor Of Love Photography (from ATL) but I think they are going to be bit of my range as well. Also, I already checked into Tim Will Photography (from ATL) and he is already booked for our wedding date. I want our wedding photography to be more of a fine art photojournalistic style. I mean I do want SOME of the traditional posed shots - such as with family and all. But I want our photography to tell the story of the day and most importantly capture the emotion and joy. Those - to me - make the best pictures. I want someone who is seasoned, but not burned out on it - you know? Cause someone who knows what they're doing and loves what they're doing is going to do the best work, I think. 

So...this is where you guys come in (I hope!).... does anyone know of a GREAT wedding photographer? As long as they are within about 3 hours of Birmingham then that would probably work...so ATL, Nashville, Montgomery...are all options. OR  even outside of that vicinity as long as they don't charge *too* much for traveling fees. 

HELP?!?