“Oliver was truly the "diamond in the rough" we were looking for, being that we had a fairly short timeline from engagement to marriage, and a small budget. I don't even recall exactly how I found Oliver (I think maybe from a Facebook group for budget photography?), but my husband and I were so glad we did. From the moment we reached out to him, he was thorough, communicative, and very curious about our story in an attempt to try to get to know us. This really paid off when we met him and his wife at the engagement photo shoot (which, mind you, was provided at a discount around the July 4th holiday; we hadn't even intended to get any!). Both Oliver and his wife Allie were super fun, personable, and VERY creative when it came to shots. They were good teachers and made the whole "could have been super awkward" session into something memorable and enjoyable.
Once we were booked and ready to set all the dates, Oliver also was extremely conscientious about the timing, the coordination, and making sure he knew when to be where. We were married in an Orthodox church, which for many people, from a visual standpoint, is foreign territory, but I felt he showed wonderful commitment to his craft by spending time in the choir loft before the service and "scoping things out" to make sure he didn't miss any details on the iconostasis, at the altar, or around the stained glass.
Unfortunately it rained on our wedding day, so instead of being able to take bright and sunny outdoor shots as we had hoped, we had to improvise a little and make the best in a rainy afternoon at the gazebo alongside the reception hall. Even with the gray lighting I felt Oliver did some of his best work in capturing our tiny wedding party of three under that gazebo. The personalities of everyone in those photos in particular really shined, and they are some of our favorites from the event.
Memorable moments were all covered at the reception, and this is where I think his skills shone through - lots of candid shots, so many group photos, and a lot of things were captured that I as the bride was always too preoccupied to see.
Not ONCE throughout the entire crazy day did I see Oliver get rattled or even so much as perturbed. He is truly Mr. Calm Cool and Collected, which worked wonders for a bride like me who was very nervous things would go wrong! His reassurance, strong communication, and organization were just another added value. Though I and my husband both are pretty "no frills" and practical people, he made thoughtful suggestions along the process from consultation to wedding day, making sure I wasn't missing out on any shots I might want to see later. He truly was very thoughtful and wanted to make sure we got our money's worth. We certainly did!
All in all, if you are looking for a very affordable (I dare say charging under his worth) photographer who will treat you with care, timeliness, and work masterfully and responsibly, then Oliver is your man. Thank you for everything you did to make our wedding day amazing!”
