Need photographer advice

Re: Need photographer advice

• lurkergirl member

  

  January 2015

  Can you do an option 3? Go ahead and book someone new, but let her find them? She probably knows more people and obviously knows your budget already. I'm not sure I would want to make a sleepy new mom power through a whole wedding.

  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

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• lovemyrunner member

  

  January 2015

  @lurkergirl, yeah that's kind of option #1, if she's not able to shoot, she'll help us find a replacement while still using her same second shooter.  She has 3 other photographers that typically work as second shooters for her, so I know there are a few options.  I trust her to be honest with herself and with me about whether she's able to take this on after the birth.
  

  
  
  

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• Fran1985 member

  

  January 2015

  I'm having weird deja vu with this question- I swear someone had almost the exact same dilemma a few months ago. I will see if I can find it. I think its probably better to find a replacement unfortunately
  

  
  
  

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• huskypuppy14 member

  

  January 2015

  Fran1985 said:

  I'm having weird deja vu with this question- I swear someone had almost the exact same dilemma a few months ago. I will see if I can find it. I think its probably better to find a replacement unfortunately
  

  Me too. I know this was a question maybe 6 or more months ago?

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• larrygaga member

  

  January 2015 edited January 2015

  I would say it's better to find a replacement. 

  
  

  
  

  EDIT: Actually, I was just thinking about pregnancy/moms who also want to have a career. How many people won't give them a chance because they might be too tired, unreliable or busy. I hate how women have to choose between mom and career.  I would get option 1 in a contract form. If everything goes horribly wrong, you will still have one photographer (which is what most people have) and you tried to progress this society. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• blabla89 member

  

  January 2015

  Is there any way she could show you the photographers she might call on if she's not available? Maybe looking at their portfolio would ease your mind a bit?
  

  

  
  
  

  
  

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• littlemushroom member

  

  January 2015

  I would go with option one. The photographer will find you someone who shoots in the same/similar style if she can't make it, plus you get to keep your awesome package. Just because she will be a new mom does not mean she won't be able to take awesome photos. Pregnancy/being a new mom is not a reason to get someone else.
  
  There are never any guarantees. Your new photographer could get sick, have a death in the family, have an accident, etc that would mean they would have to get a replacement anyway. A clause in the contract about what will happen if your photographer is unable to be there is pretty standard. My male photographer had a clause saying he would find us an alternate photographer in the same style if something happened and he couldn't be there.

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• novella1186 member

  

  January 2015

  Write up a new contract to sign with her that includes option 1. And ask her if she can go ahead and already have that person on stand-by now. It's better to have the back-up canceled on than someone's wedding, I think. 

  

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• labro member

  

  January 2015

  littlemushroom said:

  I would go with option one. The photographer will find you someone who shoots in the same/similar style if she can't make it, plus you get to keep your awesome package. Just because she will be a new mom does not mean she won't be able to take awesome photos. Pregnancy/being a new mom is not a reason to get someone else. There are never any guarantees. Your new photographer could get sick, have a death in the family, have an accident, etc that would mean they would have to get a replacement anyway. A clause in the contract about what will happen if your photographer is unable to be there is pretty standard. My male photographer had a clause saying he would find us an alternate photographer in the same style if something happened and he couldn't be there.

  I agree with this. My sister's wedding photographer nearly didn't shoot her wedding because his mom passed a few days before the wedding. However, the death was expected (she had been sick for a long time) and they were able to arrange the funeral. He still shot my sister's wedding and did a wonderful job. I'd trust your photographer to find someone if she is unable to shoot on your wedding day. My photographer worked with a group of other female photographers in our area and would've been able to pull someone easily who she was comfortable with and trusted to shoot at the same level of quality she would've provided us with.
  

  
  

  
  

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• FiancB member

  

  January 2015

  Honestly, I don't think it's really a big deal. A lot of people go back to work a few weeks after baby, why would a photographer be any different? I think her offer to give you an out shows a lot of honesty and integrity. I can't really think of many birth issues that would make it impossible for her to be there 6 weeks later, or say 4 weeks later if baby is a procrastinator. 

  
  

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• ElcaB member

  

  January 2015

  Consider yourself: Will you be bothered/overly stressed with a last minute photographer switch? If so, I'd switch now. 

  
  

  If you think you'll be okay with photography details being changed at the last minute, keep her & hope for the best. 

  

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• lovemyrunner member

  

  January 2015

  @blabla89, that's a great suggestion!  I will definitely ask to see portfolios from the photographers she suggests.
  
  Also, @littlemushroom and @FiancB I agree with both of you. Anything could happen to stop any photographer from shooting a wedding with far less notice than I have in this situation.  I do still think there's a chance she could shoot it, depending on when her baby arrives and how.  For instance, if she winds up with a C-section (hope not!) that would take more recovery time and I really wouldn't expect her to try to make it.
  
  I need to talk to FI about it, but I like option 1.  I get to keep the package I love, I maybe get to keep my original photographer and if not, I get someone similar.  I don't see this as something I'll stress about last minute, so if the three of us can work together to pick a back-up we all like, that's good enough for me.  Thanks for the advice ladies!
  

  
  
  

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