Tipping photogs for engagement session?

hansena3

Hi all, the FI and I are going to do our engagement session next month and I was wondering about tipping....am I correct in assuming that you tip for the engagement session as well as the actual wedding? What's the correct percentage (same as for wedding, or different)?

Loopyseven

We did not tip for our engagement session.  It was included in our wedding package, and we bought some pictures through her at the time.  We tipped well at the wedding.

amanda1611t

I am a photographer and honestly if a bride tipped me I would politely return it. . The price you are paying is what he wants for his time. He knows what to expect when he gets there. I think a tip is not needed.

mollyehren

Tipping a photographer really? I'm already paying more than enough and have no intent on tipping mine.

emarston1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tipping-photogs-engagement-session?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8e422477-8ef0-49a0-bb29-73a9177ae554Post:1a564cd8-38e2-413a-aa68-dc02efa02d00">Re: Tipping photogs for engagement session?</a>:
[QUOTE]Tipping a photographer really? I'm already paying more than enough and have no intent on tipping mine.
Posted by mollyehren[/QUOTE]
It's actually a legitimate question.  It's standard to tip your vendors no matter how much you are paying for their services.  The common exception is if they own their business.

ArynBaker

I chose not to tip my photographer for the e shoot. Honestly, I wanted to see how they turned out before giving a tip. I was already planning on tipping her for the wedding but the e pics were fantastic so she'll be getting a VERY good tip based on the work we've already received from her. 

lnm130

So if the photographer owns her company, a tip is not "required"? What is she brings an assistant (hubby)

Heavens7thstar

I am also a photographer. I would not except a tip from my clients. The only thing I request is to pass the word along about my business and recomend me as well as give me credit. 

hansena3

I'm glad to hear back from some photographers on this issue as well. Our engagement session is not part of our wedding package (that level of package was too expensive for us), so it is a separate item. I wanted to be sure about proper etiquette - the "tipping the vendors" rule was kind of what made me think I should tip my photogs for engagement photos, since it's kind of in the same realm as "wedding"?