Photographer Dilemma

ColinNikki

Ok, I need advice. I found a photographer who's work I absolutely love. She is a little more expensive than I had hoped but her photos are amazing. Here's the issue. She does not have an assistant. I don't know if this is a deal breaker or not. Here are my 2 main concerns with no assistant. 1-I had really wanted someone to be with the bridal party while they get ready for the wedding and someone to be with the groomsmen as they go golfing and get ready. I guess I had envisioned some nice golf course action shots or something. 2-What happens if the photographer gets sick or god forbid has a death in the family or something? Not to sound selfish, but I would be stuck with no photographer. Does anyone have any advice?

waltzingmatilda13

1. You have to decide for yourself how important it is to have 2 photographers. You could try asking your photographer and tell them how much you want to work with them, but you really wanted shots of both the girls and the guys on the day of and see if they work with someone some times that could fill that role.

2. It should be stated somewhere in your contract with the photographer that in the event they can't come for whatever reason (illness, family emergency, etc.) they will find a replacement photographer for you that is of the same quality work.

HKD817

It is a chance you will have to take, and that goes for any vendor you use. They could go out of business tomorrow for all you know. If you decide to use their services for the wedding you will just have to trust that they do what they are promising. The only reason why I would say no to a photographer without an assistant is because sometimes having that extra camera angle can give you a shot that you normally wouldn't have had.

shaydenise

My personal opinion is that I wouldn't book a photographer that was a one man show, but you have to decide if that's something that's important to you.  Another thing to think about - you said she is more expensive than you really would have liked.  Is she more expensive than other photographers in the area that work as a team?

And as for them getting sick or something, there should be something in the contract in regards to that, if there isn't then I would not book that particular photographer.

lalap69

Make an appointment to meet with her and discuss your concerns.  She may offer a second photographer for extra money or be able to explain what the contract will stipulate in the event that she's unable to make the wedding.

aepeit1

I think it also depends on the size of your wedding. If it is a smaller (less then 100) sized wedding having two photographers running around is just to much. It can be very distracting expecially during the ceremony and first dance. If you are having large wedding It can be must have, so you end up with pictures from the whole party. Its a hard decision and sometimes having an assistent can increase the price by 1/4.  Good luck!

Soon2BeMrsTing

Ours didn't bring an assistant (she said she would for a larger wedding- we had 125).  We are thrilled with what we got!

ColinNikki

Thanks for all of the advice! I decided to go with the photographer that I love and I'm very lucky to have some great friends who offerred to use their photography expertise to get some photos for us from different perspectives.