From Wedding Disaster to Marketplace Mission: Why I Built BookMyShooter

The Day That Changed Everything

It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Instead, it became the day I realized how broken the photography marketplace really is.

Six months before my wedding, I found a photographer on Instagram. Her portfolio was stunning—exactly the candid, documentary style we wanted. We met for coffee, clicked immediately, and I paid a $1,500 deposit to secure our date.

Three weeks before the wedding, she stopped responding to my messages.

At first, I thought she was just busy. Then I got worried. Then I got angry. By the time I accepted she had ghosted us completely, it was too late to find a replacement photographer who wasn't already booked.

We had no photographer at our wedding. And we never got our deposit back.

The Research Phase: I Wasn't Alone

After the wedding, I couldn't let it go. I started researching and discovered this happens more often than you'd think:

• Photographers who take deposits and disappear
• Professionals who deliver subpar work that doesn't match their portfolio
• Last-minute cancellations with no backup plan
• Delayed photo delivery (6 months, 12 months, never)

I interviewed 100 people who had hired photographers in the past year. 37% had at least one significant problem.

Why Existing Solutions Fail

I looked at every photography marketplace and platform:

None of them solved the core problem: How do you find a trustworthy photographer without spending hours researching, while still having control over who you hire?

The Solution: Curated Choice + Real Protection

I spent the next year building what I wish had existed when I was planning my wedding:

1. Verified Photographers Only: Every photographer goes through our 5-step vetting process. No exceptions.
2. Curated Matching: We show you the Top 3 photographers who match your needs—not 300 options, not 1 forced choice.
3. Transparent Pricing: See real prices upfront. No "contact for quote" runaround.
4. Payment Protection: We hold payment in escrow until you receive your photos. If something goes wrong, you're protected.
5. Quality Guarantee: If your photographer doesn't show up or deliver as promised, we make it right—or you get your money back.

Why We're Being So Transparent

Most startups try to hide the fact that they're new. They use stock photos, fake testimonials, and inflated numbers to appear established.

We're doing the opposite.

Yes, we're new. Yes, we don't have thousands of reviews yet. But we're building this platform the right way:

• ✅ Real photographers (no fake profiles)
• ✅ Real verification (we show you our exact process)
• ✅ Real protection (backed by our guarantee)
• ✅ Real transparency (this blog post is proof)

The Road Ahead

We're launching with our "Founding 50" program—50 exceptional photographers who believe in what we're building and want to be part of it from day one.

If you're a client, you'll get 20% off your first booking as a thank you for trusting us early.

If you're a photographer, you'll get founding member status, reduced fees, and priority placement.

This isn't just a business for me. It's personal. I built BookMyShooter because I never want anyone to experience what I did on what should have been the happiest day of their life.