Tipping Photographer?

jessicaw13

What is the correct etiquette for tipping the photographer?  I have seen so much conflicting advice on here on what is the correct thing to do.  Tip or not tip?  Only if they don't own the business?  Before the wedding or after you get your photos?  Please help!  What did you do or are planning to do?  Thanks!

misssunshine17

I'm doing 20% after I get my photos, as long as I love them. There isn't a perfect number that works for everyone. I think not tipping business owners is crappy. Yes, the set their prices, but if they do a good job, they deserve a tip like anyone else. 

ETA: Tips are kind of a hot button with me. They are extra given for a job well done. I can't stand when waitresses do a completely shitty job but still think the 'deserve' 20+ percent. Just because it's customary, doesn't mean that every job needs a large tip of you're not satisfied. If they do great, by all means, reward them. 

cmelliott

IMO, tipping is only "required" when the person is getting paid on a tipping wage, such as waitress. I don't think anyone doing their job should get "extra" money. This is just my own opinion though. I'm not tipping my photographer because I'm paying them about 1500, plus giving them a meal (which I'm not holding against them, they deserve a lunch break too). I have tipped before for things that aren't on tipping wages but normally don't when someone's charging me a large amount.

mlg78

I'm waiting until after I receive the pictures.  If I'm blown away, he'll be tipped.  I've referred 5 friends of mine who have booked him for their own weddings in the last 9 months so he's gotten plenty of business from me already...so I may not tip at all.

melbelleup

I agree that it should be after the photos are received, though I kind of feel bad about that, but after the service is done, they can be tipped.

ETA: There is no way I'm tipping her 20% as 20% of what I'm paying is $400. noooo! But I might do $100-$200.

harper0813

We gave each of our photographers (co-owners of their business) $100 at the wedding, which is 10% of the bill. We are providing good reviews. In fact, three people we know already booked them because of us. So that felt better than giving them another tip.

emmyg65

Yeah, 20% of what I paid my photographer is $900, so hahahaha, no. She owns her own business and sets her prices. My understanding is that you don't tip business owners. I have left positive reviews on wedding sites and shared her name around my network. When we get the rest of our pictures in October, we're going to send her a gift certificate to a nice restaurant.

AllyIdo

I think I will tip the photographer on the wedding day. A lot of magic happens during the editing process. I want to make sure he does a great job!

WonderRed

We're getting a screaming deal from the gal who has done our family pictures over the last three years.   She has been second shooting weddings all summer and ours is her first solo shoot.  She is a phenomenal photographer  but is only charging us $700 for the whole day, plus an album,and all the digital files.  She could easily start charging $2000-2500, once she officially expands her business to regularly include weddings but at this point, she just wants to build her portfolio so we're getting one hell of a bargain.  We've already paid her in full but will probably give her an additional $300 tip the day of, because she'll deserve it.

itzMS

We didn't tip.

Our studio is a collaborative, so between the two photographers, the assistant, and the photo editor, we would've gone broke.

We did send a very nice thank you card after the wedding, as well as get published on a local blog to allow for some "Free" advertising for their business.

misssunshine17

I should have clarified, I am getting a fabulous deal, so 20% is $200. 

I would skip the gift cert to a restaurant and give cash. That's what she'll really want. 

OliveOilsMom

I "tipped" my photographer by ordering an album from her.  She owns her own business.  I tipped the second shooter and the assistant at the wedding.  I've also written great reviews for her everywhere and always mention her when people ask for recommendations. 

grumbledore

cmelliott said:

IMO, tipping is only "required" when the person is getting paid on a tipping wage, such as waitress. I don't think anyone doing their job should get "extra" money. This is just my own opinion though. I'm not tipping my photographer because I'm paying them about 1500, plus giving them a meal (which I'm not holding against them, they deserve a lunch break too). I have tipped before for things that aren't on tipping wages but normally don't when someone's charging me a large amount.

This.  However, if a vendor really goes above and beyond, I am all for tipping.  But my gut tells me to tip caterer/servers and hairdresser and everything else is gravy.  If someone is paying upwards of $1,500 for 5 hours of photography, I think it's insane to expect them to tip over that.  

TheJessi

My photographers are a massive chunk of my budget and we're using their business for video too, so 20% would be like $1500. No way. After we get our photo and video, we'll send them a nice gift and write good reviews.

misssunshine17

TheJessi said:

My photographers are a massive chunk of my budget and we're using their business for video too, so 20% would be like $1500. No way. After we get our photo and video, we'll send them a nice gift and write good reviews.

Why send a gift? They are a vendor. Give them cash. 

TheJessi

misssunshine17 said:

TheJessi said:

My photographers are a massive chunk of my budget and we're using their business for video too, so 20% would be like $1500. No way. After we get our photo and video, we'll send them a nice gift and write good reviews.

Why send a gift? They are a vendor. Give them cash. 

They're friends of ours

jessicaw13

Thanks for the advice everyone!  I think I'll wait until I get the pictures and most likely send a tip after that.