Feeding the photographer

ang22ruth

Our photographer and assistant will be spending 8 hours with us. Are we supposed to feed them? Meaning do we need to add to meals on to our count to tell the reception venue for them? Please advise.

McRogol

YES!  Would you go to work for 8 hours and be okay if your boss didn't provide you with a lunch/dinner break?  Your photographer breaks and eats while your guests have dinner.  

misssunshine17

Hungry photographer= bad photos. 

Leells2017

Pretty sure you're supposed to make sure they have food, but I don't think it has to be the same as the meals for your guests. Like a sandwich or something? I mean with sides so it fills them up and all lol, but I just mean not the main meal.

JaxInBlue

Absolutely!  Check your contract with the photographer to see if they specify a certain type of meal or seating arrangement.  Our photographer wasn't specific and was a family friend so he sat at a regular table with people he knew and had a regular meal.  Sometime a venue will provide a different and discounted meal for vendors.

I would also check the contracts of anyone else you have hired for your reception, for example your DJ or DOC if you have one.

MobKaz

Any service provider spending time AT the reception would typically receive a meal.  In our case, that included our 2 photographers and the DJ.  You may actually not have a choice; often times such vendors include that stipulation in their contracts.

Many reception venues offer a reduced cost plate for the vendors.  Our vendor meals were almost half the cost less than those of our guests.

McRogol

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6a3372ca-9710-4318-b67a-4eba66e8517bPost:695bd932-0acc-4fd1-a3c9-e8a8036298b1">Re: Feeding the photographer</a>:
[QUOTE]Pretty sure you're supposed to make sure they have food, but I don't think it has to be the same as the meals for your guests. Like a sandwich or something? I mean with sides so it fills them up and all lol, but I just mean not the main meal.
Posted by Leells2017[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>As a wedding photographer, I have received the aformentioned "boxed lunch" it is typically gross lunch meat sandwhiches.  As a vegetarian, this often meant eating the chips or salad it came with and being hungry and annoyed through the remainder of the reception.  Please don't do that to your photographer.  As a PP mentioned, caterers charge a different cost for vendor meals, and it is usually the same food as your guests eat.  The reason your photographer typically eats while everyone else is having dinner is twofold:</div><div>1 - if they eat at another time, they're not taking photos of something</div><div>2 - photos of people eating are awkward...Would you want someone taking you picture while eating???</div>

STARMOON44

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6a3372ca-9710-4318-b67a-4eba66e8517bPost:9b780775-7ff1-42d1-8efa-f844d5f6eb34">Re: Feeding the photographer</a>:
[QUOTE]I As a wedding photographer, I have received the aformentioned "boxed lunch" it is typically gross lunch meat sandwhiches.  As a vegetarian, this often meant eating the chips or salad it came with and being hungry and annoyed through the remainder of the reception.  
Posted by McRogol[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Errr, sorry that happened and all, but put it in your contract and mention to the couple that you're a vegetarian?  Deli sandwiches are kinda standard American fare, and I'd be ticked if my photog was grumpy because they didn't manage to take care of their own needs.</div>

Jen4948

If you didn't put in your contract that you want a vegetarian meal, then I think you're stuck.  The couple can't read your mind, and it would be up to you to fulfill your own need if you won't eat the sandwiches.

OP, I think it is appropriate, even if it is not required by the photographer and/or not in the contract, to at least be willing to offer meals to your photographer and other working vendors at your wedding.  It doesn't mean you have to offer them the same meals as your guests, but they should be offered something reasonably substantial.

McRogol

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6a3372ca-9710-4318-b67a-4eba66e8517bPost:d34c1216-eafa-49a0-87e1-bf7912dcde2e">Re: Feeding the photographer</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Feeding the photographer : Errr, sorry that happened and all, but put it in your contract and mention to the couple that you're a vegetarian?  Deli sandwiches are kinda standard American fare, and I'd be ticked if my photog was grumpy because they didn't manage to take care of their own needs.
Posted by STARMOON44[/QUOTE]

<div>Despite clear communication, some brides turn out to not really care or think about their vendors as you can tell from the post I was replying to, and some catering companies only serve box lunches to all vendors.  Live and learn, so I bring snacks now.  Assuming all people are going to be graciuos hosts of the wedding was naive, and so you learn.  </div>

Leells2017

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6a3372ca-9710-4318-b67a-4eba66e8517bPost:9b780775-7ff1-42d1-8efa-f844d5f6eb34">Re: Feeding the photographer</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Feeding the photographer : As a wedding photographer, I have received the aformentioned "boxed lunch" it is typically gross lunch meat sandwhiches.  As a vegetarian, this often meant eating the chips or salad it came with and being hungry and annoyed through the remainder of the reception.  Please don't do that to your photographer.  As a PP mentioned, caterers charge a different cost for vendor meals, and it is usually the same food as your guests eat.  The reason your photographer typically eats while everyone else is having dinner is twofold: 1 - if they eat at another time, they're not taking photos of something 2 - photos of people eating are awkward...Would you want someone taking you picture while eating???
Posted by McRogol[/QUOTE]

<div>Sorry <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-embarassed.gif" border="0" alt="Embarassed" title="Embarassed" />. I'm not engaged yet so I haven't really done the research. Didn't mean to offend!</div>

Vandelay007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6a3372ca-9710-4318-b67a-4eba66e8517bPost:d530cd76-7e92-4122-a57f-2b20ce72c0f5">Re: Feeding the photographer</a>:
[QUOTE]YES!  Would you go to work for 8 hours and be okay if your boss didn't provide you with a lunch/dinner break?  Your photographer breaks and eats while your guests have dinner.  
Posted by McRogol[/QUOTE]

<div>Well, yes! Actually I am okay with going to work for 8 hours and not being fed by my boss. I don't know anyone who gets fed by their boss. When I go to work, I pack my own lunch.</div><div>
</div><div>With that being said, I think it's nice to offer dinner to your photographer, DJ, event coordinator and any other vendors working at your wedding IF possible. It's the polite thing to do. But I don't think those vendors should expect to be fed. If they weren't invited to sit down to the catered dinner, than they should plan accordingly and pack their own lunch and eat it at an agreed upon time (during dinner time would be best). That's what most of us do when we go to work, isn't it?</div><div>
</div>

ang22ruth

Thanks everyone. We are feeding the photographers and DJs same was what we are eating .

lyndausvi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:6a3372ca-9710-4318-b67a-4eba66e8517bPost:46b9bf18-e3a4-4631-830e-a57924fddcd6">Re: Feeding the photographer</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Feeding the photographer : <strong> Well, yes! Actually I am okay with going to work for 8 hours and not being fed by my boss. I don't know anyone who gets fed by their boss. When I go to work, I pack my own lunch.</strong> With that being said, I think it's nice to offer dinner to your photographer, DJ, event coordinator and any other vendors working at your wedding IF possible. It's the polite thing to do. But I don't think those vendors should expect to be fed. If they weren't invited to sit down to the catered dinner, than they should plan accordingly and pack their own lunch and eat it at an agreed upon time (during dinner time would be best). <strong>That's what most of us do when we go to work, isn't it?</strong>
Posted by Vandelay007[/QUOTE]

If you work a standard 9-5 desk job then I'm sure you can do that.  

Photographer has to travel from place to place taking pictures of you for your wedding.  Just bringing a packed lunch is not always possible.  They might not have refrigeration.  Most venues do NOT allow outside food.  That would include the photographer.   So they might not even be able to bring their own food anyway.  Now I guess they could eat outside in the heat or cold depending on the season, but then you risk them not being there to grab a shot.


FYI - every hotel chain I've worked for provided free meals to their employees.   A lot of restaurants I worked at also provided meals.   It's not unheard of for employers to provide meals for their staff.  Depending on the business it's more productive for them to do that way.

Vandelay007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6a3372ca-9710-4318-b67a-4eba66e8517bPost:8fbf29a8-b570-4ab1-bcd7-6a6d95b85fc5">Re: Feeding the photographer</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Feeding the photographer : If you work a standard 9-5 desk job then I'm sure you can do that.   Photographer has to travel from place to place taking pictures of you for your wedding.  Just bringing a packed lunch is not always possible.  They might not have refrigeration.  Most venues do NOT allow outside food.  That would include the photographer.   So they might not even be able to bring their own food anyway.  Now I guess they could eat outside in the heat or cold depending on the season, but then you risk them not being there to grab a shot. FYI - every hotel chain I've worked for provided free meals to their employees.   A lot of restaurants I worked at also provided meals.   It's not unheard of for employers to provide meals for their staff.  Depending on the business it's more productive for them to do that way.
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]

<div>Don't get me wrong... from a host's point of view, I think it's a nice gesture to provide food to vendors. When I host my wedding, I will be providing meals no question about it. But from the vendors point of view, they should not EXPECT to be fed (they are, after all getting paid a large amount of money and should be happy that they were hired). The only way they should expect to be fed is if (as others stated) they put it in their contract so the bride and groom can perhaps factor it in as an added fee to having that vendor. Not all caterers provide discounts to vendor meals.</div><div>
</div><div>Yes, there are reasons why it's more convinient to the photographer to be included in the same meal as the guests. But, there's also reasons why it might not be convinient (or possible) for the bride and groom. Such as, tight budgets (paying for a plate for every vendor sure does add up), or very very limited seating. In which case, it's up to the bride and groom to arrange an appropriate place (staff room? side room?) where the vendor can eat, an appropriate time they can eat (so they're not starving or going hours without a break) and a fridge or an appropriate spot where they can store their lunch. That's the norm for most employees.</div><div>
</div><div>I guess it just rubs me the wrong way that the photographer who posted above seems to expect the same meal as guests and seems to resent the brides and grooms who don't provide it, and even turns his/her nose up at a sandwhich that they did provide. Either put it in your contract that you expect the same meal as guests, or pack your own lunch and be grateful when/if you're invited to eat with the guests.</div>