For Paiz - My feelings on Gray Studios (very long...sorry!)
I used Gray for my wedding last year. On the whole, I would say they were very helpful, very responsive and very accommodating, since my husband and I were planning long distance. Their studio is filled with incredibly breath-taking photos.
We recently ordered our albums and portraits, and our photographer (Prosper) was an amazing help regarding the layout, and also told me that I was missing some shots of myself prior to the ceremony. I really look forward to seeing the album proof over the summer.
We also have so many exceptional photos that didn't make the album. Our video turned out amazing, but I still ended up slightly disappointed with some details in the end.
On the day of the wedding, Prosper was polite, patient and very good - although, I felt that he lacked creativity and attention to detail with some shots. However, I have heard amazing things about Stephen and Michael, so you might want to ask if they are available for your date.
My advice is to make your expectations regarding style and results are very clear. Make a list of 'must have' photos, and have your MOH or best man check in with the photographer throughout the day to ensure that no shot is missed.
Also, make sure they instruct your videographer properly (if you use them for video also). I was very annoyed b/c we provided written instructions ahead of time (on our contract) regarding family and bridal party interviews, and the videographer kept asking me what I wanted on the day of the wedding. I could not remember, nor did I care to be bothered thinking about these details (which I had already covered) on my wedding day! Consequently, we do not have any interviews on our tape...not that this is so important (but it would be nice years from now to listen to everyone's wishes for our marriage).
Gray will tell you that they never spend money on advertising - all of their business, for over 40 years, is through referral and word-of-mouth. That is an impressive claim, but my feeling is that not all of their photographers produce the same results - they all have different styles.
My opinion is that no studio is perfect, and every photographer will either miss some shots or take them out of focus on the wedding day. Everything happens so fast.
One thing I will say that is good about Gray - none of my proofs were out of focus. Every single shot, whether they were posed or spontaneous, were crisp and clear. Some other photographers, who guarantee high numbers of proofs, take their pictures faster and don't have time to focus every shot.
Quality is definitely better than quantity!
Good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions!
