Our photographer was one of the first vendors we hired after getting engaged in May. We paid the usual 50% deposit in July for our June 2021 wedding and signed the contract for engagement photos and our wedding. I reached out for the first time since signing the contract a few months later in order to schedule the shoot and they called me immediately to schedule the date, which was great! They said they would email me their little packet for picking out outfits and venues after the call. It didn't come so I texted them to remind them a few days later and they sent it, no biggie. They then called me saying they were double booked and moved our engagement shoot date (which ended up working better for us out so I didn't think anything of it). We took our photos this last Saturday and they were lovely in person. They said they would send us proofs within 24 hours (per contract) but all day Sunday and nothing came. I texted them on Tuesday (their preferred method of communication), nothing. I emailed her today and finally got a text later this evening saying they sent the email on Sunday (even though I constantly monitor my email for work -- including junk folder because my work's server sends anything not from our company to junk) and they are sorry, they've just been "super popular this week" (yes, quoted). I confirmed my email, even though they didn't have a problem emailing me the contract, payment link, engagement photo packet, and all of our original contact emails. Anyways, they said they would send it as soon as they got home. It's been a few hours and they have been active on their personal social media accounts, but I haven't heard back. They also haven't posted anything since May on their professional account. I find it odd that they were super responsive at first but now they can't stop using the excuse that they are extremely busy and booked (once when having to reschedule engagement photos, at the engagement photo session, and then when making an excuse as to why they haven't been responding) but there is no proof on their professional Instagram (they are the sole photographer in their business so shouldn't they want to post more of their work, especially if they're incredibly busy?).
I've got a gut feeling that this isn't going to end well, but these things don't necessarily raise a huge red flag, more like an orange flag LOL. At this point, I am far enough away from our date that I could probably find a new photographer, but I am not sure if these little instances are enough to warrant that yet? I'd rather find out now though and not for our actual wedding photos because excellent photos were a top priority for both my fiance and me. Am I being bridezilla or is this a little sketchy?
