Brides Magazine: Do Not Feed the Photogs!

kimmiinthemitten

Topping the list of worst advice by a publication has to be this article by Brides Magazine.

Which Vendors do you have to feed?

"As for other vendors, my general rule is that, if you're working just the wedding itself— five or six hours — feed yourself or pack a lunch to eat in the staff break area if you cannot survive the shift. A photographer, for example, should be taking pictures through the wedding dinner (with some breaks to let people unselfconsciously feed themselves without a camera in their faces). The DJ or band should be playing music the entire time (band breaks shouldn't be more than 15 minutes each, max... and there's no time for a real meal then)."

Man, I can't wait to see the pictures of Great Aunt Cora enjoying the German Potato Salad!

Man, I can't wait to see the pictures of Great Aunt Cora enjoying the German Potato Salad!

CharmedPam

My fear is someone taking a picture as I pile food into my mouth.  Not just on my wedding day.  Any day.

lovemesomemonster

What is wrong with people!? This is terrible advice! I even fed the second photog that left before dinner, we made sure she had a box meal to go.. When in doubt you should feed, that is my moto  because I love food!

thefanciestbeckler

kvruns

what do they mean "no time for a real meal" with only 15 min. H and I were at Qdoba the other night and no joke it took 6 minutes from the time we paid until H was done with his meal. He eats ridiculously fast but even that was insane for him.  He doesn't need 15 min!

thisismynickname2

Don't federal labor laws require a break after even like 3 or 4 hours a work? Even a 10-15 minute break? And that IS enough time to eat some chicken, potatoes and veg like the guests, or a boxed sandwich meal. Gimme a break. 

monkeysip

Who wants a hangry photographer or DJ working at their wedding?  I like my vendors happy...

It also cost so little in the grand scheme of things.  If you're paying a professional photographer or DJ, then it's probably safe to assume you're hosting at least a few dozen, if not hundreds of guests at your wedding.  Is paying for a few more going to kill your budget?

flantastic

Our photog had it in her contract that we needed to feed her and she needed a 15-20 minute break to eat, which we were obviously happy to do. I wonder who made that line item necessary...

thefanciestbeckler

monkeysip said:

Who wants a hangry photographer or DJ working at their wedding?  I like my vendors happy...

It also cost so little in the grand scheme of things.  If you're paying a professional photographer or DJ, then it's probably safe to assume you're hosting at least a few dozen, if not hundreds of guests at your wedding.  Is paying for a few more going to kill your budget?

Exactly... not feeding them is just asking for some horrible revenge photos or "whoops! you didn't want Thriller as your first dance song?" moments IMO.

ETA- not to mention it's incredibly rude to not feed your vendors!

thisismynickname2

I also must say I wrote a nastygram to Brides Magazine once. They glorified the PPD. Some speschul snoflake bride wrote a missive on how she and her husband eloped and didn't tell anyone-- lied to people in fact-- so they could have a trial marriage. Then they had their big (fake) ceremony when they were fully committed to each other. It was totes the right thing for them!!!
I told Brides they were utterly disgusting for printing that and of course, never got a response. 

badbnagdway

Why wouldn't you want to feed your vendors? Who wants hangry photogs and cater waiters wandering around? 

MyNameIsNot

thisismynickname said:

Don't federal labor laws require a break after even like 3 or 4 hours a work? Even a 10-15 minute break? And that IS enough time to eat some chicken, potatoes and veg like the guests, or a boxed sandwich meal. Gimme a break. 

Not federally. Most states require something like 30 minutes if you work more than 6 hours, but it only applies for true employees and usually only if you have >25 employees. Your photographer and other vendors are contractors and exempt anyway. 

But legal =/= not shitty. You feed them because you're a decent human being. 

Heffalump

One of my dearest friends works as an event photographer, and this is one reason why she does almost exclusively bar/bat mitvahs.  It is a looooooong day, and with all of her lighting, lenses, and whatever else she's hauling, I don't really think it's fair to expect her to haul some sandwiches around on top of it.

We just had pizza delivered in honor of the Super Bowl, and I think it took me about 6 minutes to eat my slice.  While Knotting.

MissKittyDanger

Jeez these people!

Our DJ opted out of the food but we said - a few times - that he was more than openly allowed to have some {we had a buffet} and our photographer did eat. She snapped a few candid shots of families interacting but if anyone was eating, she didn't keep the photo.