Photographer etiquette question

Re: Photographer etiquette question

• KittyKaty20 member

  

  December 2013

  I would approach it a little differently- ask her if she can recommend a photographer who meets your standards/suits your style. You could mention how much you love her work, and see what she says from there.

  Ask your mother what she thinks.

  

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• chibiyui member

  

  December 2013

  Have you looked into students at the art school? Often times student work is still very good and their prices are lower cause they are building their portfolios/contacts.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

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• jdluvr06 member

  

  December 2013

  @KittKaty20 That is a good idea.

   

  @chibiyui that is the first thing we tried. Unfortunately our wedding falls the weekend before their summer semester finales and while I'm sure some of them would still be willing I'm not going to interfere when they should be preparing.

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• huskypuppy14 member

  

  December 2013

  I don't think you should straight up ask her; she might feel put on the spot. I think Kitty has a great idea. I actually had the opposite problem, a friend wanted to photograph our wedding.  We declined, saying we would prefer if he were a guest, because being a photographer is a lot of work, and you don't get to enjoy the ceremony or the reception.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• Ven&Radio member

  

  December 2013

  Can you afford to pay this person their going rate?  If so, I don't see a problem with asking.  She may be a friend of the family, but she deserves to be fully compensated for any work she does for you.  If she offers you a discount, great!  But don't go in expecting to get a deal.
  
  I also like the suggestion of approaching her for suggestions and seeing how it goes from there (especially if you don't have the budget to compensate her fully).  She also may prefer to attend the wedding as a guest so she can relax and enjoy herself.
  

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• Viczaesar member

  

  December 2013

  
  

  jdluvr06 said:

  One of my mom's best friends is a photographer. As of right now she is on the guest list. I've sent out save the dates but not the invitations. Would it still be ok if we asked her to be the photographer? We've been looking for one but we can't find one we feel is good enough in our price range. To be fair this is something I'm a little pickier about because my mom used to work at an art school (that is where she met her friend the photographer) and I've gotten used to seeing higher quality work. We know that this friend has the talent and skill we are looking for (even though she typically doesn't do weddings, she only does wedding for people she knows). Do you guys think it would be rude to ask her even though we've already sent her a save the date?

  Do you want to hire her for her usual rate?  If not, then no, you shouldn't ask her to photograph your wedding.  PP's suggestion to ask her for recommendations of photographers within your budget is a good idea.
  

  
  
  
  

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• jdluvr06 member

  

  December 2013

  She usually doesn't do weddings or any event for that matter because she is an artist, not a commercial photographer and when she agrees to it is only for people she knows and she negotiates a price based on the person's budget. I do plan on paying her.

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• JoanE2012 member

  

  December 2013

  jdluvr06 said:

  One of my mom's best friends is a photographer. As of right now she is on the guest list. I've sent out save the dates but not the invitations. Would it still be ok if we asked her to be the photographer? We've been looking for one but we can't find one we feel is good enough in our price range. To be fair this is something I'm a little pickier about because my mom used to work at an art school (that is where she met her friend the photographer) and I've gotten used to seeing higher quality work. We know that this friend has the talent and skill we are looking for (even though she typically doesn't do weddings, she only does wedding for people she knows). Do you guys think it would be rude to ask her even though we've already sent her a save the date?

  If you sent her a save the date, I would not ask her to be your photographer.  Once you do that, she will no longer be able to enjoy the wedding as a guest, she will be working.  I would feel very bad having someone that I wanted as a guest work my wedding.  

  
  

  Find someone else.  Let them enjoy the wedding.  Perhaps she'll have a recommendation.  

  
  

  
  

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• jdluvr06 member

  

  December 2013 edited December 2013

  Update: I asked her for recommendations tonight and she said she didn't really have any. In her opinion the only half way decent wedding photographers in our area are out of the average person's price range. She did hint that she wouldn't want to do it but she did give us a suggestion that we are considering. ETA: I admit that I was grasping at straws hoping that she would do it. I know that she hates to photograph weddings. She did it to work her way through college and said she dealt with so many bridezillas that once her student loans were paid off she was done.

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• jdluvr06 member

  

  December 2013

  So we've been thinking a lot about this and we're going to give it another month and if we can't find a photographer we like then we might not hire one.

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• melbelleup member

  

  December 2013

  jdluvr06 said:

  So we've been thinking a lot about this and we're going to give it another month and if we can't find a photographer we like then we might not hire one.

  I think you'd be very upset if you don't hire one. I'd try and go with the best one in your budget. Photos last forever and everyone wants to have their wedding memories.
  

  

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• jdluvr06 member

  

  December 2013

  melbelleup said:

  jdluvr06 said:

  So we've been thinking a lot about this and we're going to give it another month and if we can't find a photographer we like then we might not hire one.

  I think you'd be very upset if you don't hire one. I'd try and go with the best one in your budget. Photos last forever and everyone wants to have their wedding memories.
  

  
  The rest of my post got cut off before and I didn't realize it. We're thinking of doing what my photographer friend suggested. She said she were snap a few pictures of the WP and me and the FI before the ceremony and that during the reception we should set cameras on the table and let people take pictures if they want. I've never been a fan of the super staged wedding photos and honestly I would rather do something like that then spend a couple thousand dollars on pictures that I'm not happy with.

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• rehtaeh41 member

  

  December 2013

  Stefanie Kapra Photography is amazing, call her!  She took a ton of photos (film and digital) and although my husband and I really hate getting our pictures taken, she made us feel relaxed, we had a great time and the photos turned out fantastic.  Stefanie is the sweetest person and she is extremely talented.  Worth every single penny.

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• smalfrie19 member

  

  December 2013

  rehtaeh41 said:

  Stefanie Kapra Photography is amazing, call her!  She took a ton of photos (film and digital) and although my husband and I really hate getting our pictures taken, she made us feel relaxed, we had a great time and the photos turned out fantastic.  Stefanie is the sweetest person and she is extremely talented.  Worth every single penny.

  @KnotPorscha vendor?

  
   

  

  
  

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• majesty318 member

  

  December 2013

  jdluvr06, where are you located? If you didn't try your local board already for photog recs, maybe check that out... if you want a limited package and not the 12 hours coverage/ 2 photographers/ fancy album stuff, the prices come way down. I was crazy looking for photographers. I researched like 30 and we visited 6.

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• KittyKaty20 member

  

  January 2014

  You could also look into one of those apps/sites that let people take pictures with their phones/cameras and it'll upload to one site that the couple can access.

  

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• Kauris member

  

  January 2014

  This might be moot, because you posted in Dec., but here I go anyway...

  I found an amazing photographer, emailed her, she was WAY out of my range, so I asked if she knew anyone in my price range. She sent me four that were awesome, available and affordable. Maybe ask one of the photographers out of your price range if they know anyone. They seem to have a good network where I am. Good luck!

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