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If you use a friend as your photographer...

kenishiaskenishias
10 Comments
in Wedding Photography and Videography Forum
Hi Ladies,

I've been having conversations with recent brides about their weddings, and I began to hear a trend.  The ones who used a friend were disappointed by the pictures.

It wasn't an issue of quality, but of the shots that were taken.  There were very few pictures of the grooms' families (the photographers were friends of the brides).   The photographers tended to take pictures of people they were familiar with.  Special people in the audience (aunts, uncles, cousins, old friends) were not shot.  Since they can't go back and take those candid shots again, they were left wishing they hired a stranger.

So, if you are thinking of using a friend, make sure to have a conversation with them about getting pictures of everyone.  If there's a chance to introduce them early to people they will see at the wedding, do so. 

I just wanted to put it out there....
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Re: If you use a friend as your photographer...

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]
    100 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    ditto to this...i have heard too many stories from people who were thinking about hiring us and backed out because some cousin just bought a new fancy camera and is taking pictures that look nice. when it comes down to it, they just do not know weddings. they often come back and ask to do a shoot or just say they regret the decision they make and we tell them, sorry, we can not reply your wedding for you.

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  • raspberrytartraspberrytart
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My fiance and I have photographed a few weddings, so when my cousin was getting married, he and his fiancee asked us to do the photography for them. (The wedding was last week, so we haven't even given the photos to them yet.)

    I will plainly admit that I think we got more shots of my cousin's family (particularly the adorable children) than his fiancee's family.  However, it wasn't a matter of us being more comfortable shooting the people we knew.  I think it was a matter of my family being more comfortable with *us*.  My relatives would grab *us* for photos, smile, mug it up and be silly, etc.  It was very rare for anyone in the other family to do this.  Mostly the members in other family would ignore us, turn their heads, and ask us to delete photographs.  The bride's niece, who was the flower girl, would run and hide when she saw us (whether we were looking her way or not), and once had a tantrum when I asked her to pose for a photo.  Why would a photographer waste time with people like that?  It's not fun for anyone and makes the person with the camera look like a bad guy.

    Granted, this is the first wedding I've shot for family, so maybe this is an exception. If it had been a stranger shooting, it's hard to say how the photos would have been.  Maybe the same reaction would have been had from both sides of the family (quite likely).  However, it's the contrast in the shots of the two families that will make things a little more obvious.  I just know that my cousin and his new wife are probably going to wonder why I have so many cute photos of the ring bearer and only one mediocre photo of the flower girl.


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  • angybanezangybanez member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Being a bride who couldn't take pictures of my wedding as my own photographer (haha) me the photographer I did hire worked on a shot list to ensure everyone was covered. Granted the shot list is just a guideline, but it helps the photographer know what key people to get. Anyone that's not on that shot list the photographer understood from our conversation that we wanted everyone from every table so that way they have a professional photograph taken of them during our destination wedding. When I do weddings or events I do get both sides since I'm not familiar with anyone other than what my "guide" tell me who is who. In terms of events where I do know the people attending, i make sure to include everyone since this is not my event, it's my client's event. Communicating with your phtoographer is key! Ensure they know what you want, your vision, and go through shot list of people and details to ensure you are not dissapointed with your photographs!
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    updated 9/27/11
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  • davisphotosdavisphotos
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I photographed my sister in law's wedding this spring, and I did have to put in extra effort to make sure I covered my brother in law's side of the family as well. I managed to do a good job of getting both sides by switching into full on wedding photographer mode, rather than family snapshot mode, but it did require concious effort to not skew my coverage towards the side of the family that I know.
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