I've been meaning to write about alternatives to professional wedding photography for ages, but this week I got two emails on the subject, and I decided it was time for us to chat. Here is the thing: I love photography as an art form, and wedding photography was really high on my list of priorities. BUT! I do not think that professional wedding photography is for everyone, and I don't think it needs to be. Here is a snippet of an email I got this week:
We're getting married in 4 weeks, and yesterday I made the daft mistake of going for lunch with a lovely friend who is getting hitched in a few months. We're having very different styles of wedding, but both really excited for each other. Here's the problem: over a cup of green tea, she confided in me that she is really worried about our decision not to have a professional photographer. She has a couple of friends of friends who did the same and now regret it. She was dead serious, very concerned for me, and encouraged me to reconsider, and even though I was sure we'd made the right decision for us, I'm now fretting. We decided not to have a wedding photographer because:
- We have loads of friends who are handy with a digital SLR. We've put together a list of important shots for the big day, and will divide them up, so nobody has to take more than 5 key shots (they have already agreed). Is this a mad idea?
- The cost of the photos would add an extra 10% to the wedding budget, and we don't want to get into debt. And frankly the average price of wedding photography makes me feel unwell.
- We're applying the infinite monkey theorem, whereby if we have enough people taking photos, we're bound to get some album-worthy shots.
- My parents' photo album is really 70s, only has about 30 photos in it,* but is beautiful, and to be honest that would be good enough for me.
I think this bride's reasoning is great. You don't need tons of photos of your wedding, and you can absolutely ask friends to take each take some shots. I think that all of us (myself most definitely included) put way too much emphasis on chic wedding pictures. In the end, wedding pictures stand is small documentaries. We frame a few, we put the rest in an album. Our lives move on, and the album goes on the shelf where it will one day get pulled down by a tiny daughter, or niece, or granddaughter who will peer at the dusty pages admiringly. It won't matter to her how much you spent on those pictures, just how happy you were, and how pretty you looked.
Now, if you can't afford a wedding photographer (or don't care to have one), but want a few chic pictures, some ideas:
- Buy up some Polaroid film, and a cheap Polaroid camera (I know, it's more expensive than it used to be, but you don't need that much film). Ask a few of your friends to pass around the Polaroid camera during the wedding and take shots. You'll have instant, stylish, and personal photos. We're doing this (we were given a gift of Polaroid film) and we have a photographer.
- In the same vein, if you want Polaroid style photos but don't want to pay for film, do what this bride did and have friends and family take pictures, and then use this free software to turn them into fake Polaroids (I use this on the blog all the time, it is awesome).
- Buy a Holga camera or two (you can't get much cheaper than that) and have your friends pass it around. Enjoy the dreamy and surreal results.
- Look into hiring a photographer who will do post production on your photos. Then shoot away and hand it over to a pro who will edit your shots to chicness.
- Or, the most obvious answer: Let your friends and family take photos for you, and have faith. You'll have simple, personal shots to remember your simple personal day. Done and done.
Other thoughts or suggestions? Supportive thoughts for the bride in question? Dish!
*Mine too! Remember, in the end you probably only really need one or two really great shots. That's what the generations to come will latch on to.
Thumbnail photo by One Love Photo (not DIY but indisputably great) from our wedding, of our fabulous friends' Polaroids. Those Polaroids are some of the treasures of the day. Post photo via Snippet and Ink
Categories: Ask Meg, Budget, How To, Meg's Thoughts, Weddings
Tags: Budget Wedding, DIT, DIY Photography, DIY Wedding, Indie Wedding, One Love Photo
Oh amen on this one. I’ve had a post stewing about photography for a while myself. While there are lots of amazing photographers out there and it’s easy to get excited about them (heck, we LOVE the photogs we booked), the current WIC obsession with photography is disturbing and seems to be spiraling out of control. We we want mementos of an important day or a fashion shoot? Stay strong, no photographer lady!
May 12, 2009 5:58 am
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I think another great option is to use the best digital camera that you can borrow, buy a huge memory card and a remote for the camera, set up a fun background, and let your friends take their own photos. You will get 1000 photos for no cost, and you can print (or upload to a website) the best photos of your friends having fun.
May 12, 2009 5:59 am
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We hired a student at our university as a photographer. He’s charging us $600 for engagements, bridal portraits (if we want them) rehearsal dinner and all day on the day of. And they’re great pictures to boot.
But I don’t think you need an elaborate photographer, just someone to capture what you want. Sara at 2000 Dollar Wedding had friends take her photos and she seems to be more than pleased with them. She opened a pro flickr account and told people how to upload them there. She’s written that they have over 2000 photos. How cool is that? You wouldn’t get that many from a professional.
May 12, 2009 6:02 am
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My parents did have a wedding photographer, but her was awful and didn’t get them any good shots. Lucky for them then that my mum’s uncle was a dab hand with a camara then and took all the pictures they ended up with in the album. I think sometimes you get a better result from family because they love you and some how that seeps into the pictures.
We decided to hire a photographer, but not a wedding one, to do some journalistic shots during the day, and rely on friends and family to do a few formal shots. A decision my Mum and Dad were more than happy with bearing in mind their experiences.
May 12, 2009 6:03 am
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My parents DID use a professional photographer – and the pics were awful (she keeps them in a drawer, out of sight). She always says she is so glad she had family members take pictures too or she wouldn’t have any ones she liked. Those are the ones she made an album out of. So, having a pro you love is a bonus, but you’ll still have SOME great pics if you encourage friends and family to click away too:)
May 12, 2009 6:07 am
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Yes!! There are some amazingly gorgeous wedding shots out there. Some were shot by amazingly talented photographers, some were shot by amazingly talented friends and family. To echo Meg’s footnote, when it’s all said and done, everyone will only remember those one or two great shots anyway!
May 12, 2009 6:10 am
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I had the *same exact situation* happen to me. I decided not to have a professional photographer. Many of my friends are enthusiastic photographers, and I KNEW they would get great shots. Plus, I didn’t want a stranger following me around all day (for $5000 no less). I felt more comfortable with camera-armed friends who I could play around with.
Regardless, I had a close friend sit down and have the same “talk” with me. It really upset me because my decision was made and I felt it was not her place to be so worried about what *I* was doing. Still, it shook up me up so much that I went on a hunt for a last minute photographer. Big waste of time because I knew in my heart that I wanted my friends to do the photos, and that’s what I ended up doing anyways.
My pictures came out awesome! And more importantly, on the day of the wedding, I had 3 of my closest friends following me around like I was a supermodel and they were paparazzi. We made up all these crazy poses, ran all over the reception grounds, and just had an absolute blast! It’s a memory I will cherish forever. I would not have traded it for the world!
May 12, 2009 6:29 am
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Knowing that I didn’t want to spend lots of money on a photographer, I posted an ad on craigslist asking for a specific amount of time and offering what our budget could allow. I got a ton of responses, many of them from really talented photographers. We’re still deciding who to hire, but we have some great options!
May 12, 2009 6:34 am
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You won’t regret it. We asked a couple of friends to photograph our ceremony and the pictures are wonderful. Plus, they were super excited to get to work the room and even framed a couple of pictures for us. Plus, we didn’t have a photographer in our faces as we were walking up and down the aisle. The ceremony was more about us and less about smiling for the camera.
One friend rode in the limo with us and some of my favorite photos of the day came from her.
May 12, 2009 6:49 am
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My parents got married in NYC in 1970… afterwards, the car with the camera and film holding the majority of their pictures on it was broken into, and everything stolen. They only have a couple of pictures from the day — but they are fantastic! My dad has a ridiculous beard and ‘fro and my mom is rocking a minidress with her veil — and they look hapy and beautiful. You only need a few good pictures when all is said and done. I know my mom is still sad that they were stolen, but I love the pictures that she has… I think everybody has to do what’s right for their budget and there are no wrong choices here.
May 12, 2009 6:50 am
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We had a photographer (a friend of ours, but a pro nonnetheless) who took beautiful photos, but we have just as many great shots from all of our friends who are digital camera happy anyway.
Turns out we framed more photos our friends took than ones the photographer took.
Your friend sounds like she’s fallen into the WIC trance, give her a break since she’s probably stressed too- tell her you’ll think about it. Then sleep well assured that you will have great pictures taken by people who love you and more money in the bank when this is all over.
Good luck!
May 12, 2009 6:58 am
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I think that any of these could definitely work – make sure to create a flickr or other photosharing site – and distribute the info at the wedding! – so that you actually get all your guests photos – or set up some kind of digital photography dump station at the event itself with a laptop and a card reader, with a tech savvy friend to help out. I think the biggest problem with using friends is making sure you get the pics.
Also, even if you’re not having a photographer, you might want to look into the cost of renting a fancy camera for the weekend and giving it to a friend who has a working knowledge of photography (or a willingness to learn) and that way you make sure you get better shots.
I think for trusting your photography to your friends, you have to really consider your space. Point and shoot cameras will take great pictures outside and in any room with enough light – but in most hotel ballrooms, there is not enough light and you need a more powerful flash, and often a better zoom. If you have an indoor space, definitely consider renting professional equipment or posting an ad on Craigslist to find a cheap photographer – believe it or not, digital photography is getting cheaper because there are more people getting into it.
May 12, 2009 7:09 am
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I am a long time lurker here but this post made me come out of hiding. Last summer my Mom got married in Central Park. She wanted things very simple and easy. There were 13 people including the bride and groom in attendance.
Just about everyone was equipped with their own digital camera. Nothing fancy but I have to say we have TONS of great photos from all different perspectives. Her photo album tells the complete story of that day in beautiful detail. I am still shocked at how great our photos turned out.
Don’t worry about professional pictures. Just make sure someone is documenting the day no matter amatuer or professional.
Rachel
May 12, 2009 7:10 am
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we couldn’t justify spending alot on a photographer since we were paying for everything ourselves, straight out of college.
a friend of ours who has a pretty nice camera and is fairly artsy took pics for free at our wedding.
100% honestly, I am a little sad at times that we didn’t hire a pro, but it’s not because I don’t have great pics, it’s just bc I see what I COULD have had… I don’t have fancy photos of my favors or journalistic pics of friends laughing at the reception… and honestly a lot of what I don’t have could probably have been captured if I had planned better and gave more direction.
In the end though, when we combined his photos with those taken by 3 or 4 other friends and family, I have so many pics that I adore from different parts of the day and different views. I wouldn’t trade them! And I have had so much fun editing myself.
May 12, 2009 7:32 am
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I’ve come to believe that a lot of the comments other people make to you about your wedding choices have more to do with them than about your wedding. It’s probably VERY important for the friend in this case to have a photog and she doesn’t understand not having one.
It helped me opt out of traditional wedding photography to hear that my cousin felt pressured to have a photographer (because people say that’s the ONLY thing you have from that day — as if your memories don’t count). My cousin says she doesn’t like their pics at all and feels like it was ultimately a waste of money.
But I still wanted someone to be responsible for pics and we lucked out that a friend of a friend wanted to do our pics. He was great to work with and the pics turned out far better than I’d even hoped.
May 12, 2009 7:46 am
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I think this post and all the ideas in the comments are so great. Personally I think when my time comes to plan a wedding, I’d like to ask my friends who have gone to photography school, worked as photographers (not necessarily wedding photogs), and are just really into photography if any of them would be willing to do my wedding photography for cheap (to build their resume and for fun!) or if they can recommend any friends who would.
May 12, 2009 7:49 am
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When I got married 10 years ago, I was able to hire a local portrait photographer to take just the group shots of family groups and bridal party. After that it was all disposable cameras. It worked just fine for us and I believe the digital mass upload monkey strategy is a much cheaper replacement for digital cameras.
May 12, 2009 7:56 am
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Oh, the photography.
I think what makes us so nervous is this idea of REGRET, will we regret letting our friends do it? Will we regret spending all that money on a professional? Ack!
My parents didn’t have a professional, and they do regret it. Photos are really high on our priority list, and we lucked out and found a student photographer (Emily Perello of Emily Takes Photos if you happen to be in California) and she gave us a great price AND did an engagement shoot so we could feel each other out and be more comfortable on the actual day.
So, good luck with whatever you decide, I’m sure you’ll get gorgeous shots, no matter what.
Tris
May 12, 2009 8:05 am
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Thanks for this. I love wedding photography… but I’m not sure I want it at my wedding. A lot of the blog photos we see are beautiful pieces of art, but I’m not sure I want my wedding to be art. I want my wedding to be joy, and I resent that there’s now an expectation that weddings are now fashion-plate worth events (with price tags to boot).
At my cousin’s wedding recently, they didn’t hire anyone. It was a small intimate wedding that could have been marred by a photographer hanging about with the family and friends. So about two minutes before the ceremony began, my uncle threw his $1000 fancy camera into my fiance’s hands, figured he was artistic enough because he’s a musician, and asked him to take photos. Despite my fiance’s look of panic, everything came out beautifully. My uncle’s pre-wedding photos and my fiance’s ceremony photos made me cry all over again. It wasn’t a fashion shoot, but it perfectly captured a beautiful memory.
May 12, 2009 8:14 am
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We had a photographer that I loved, and were about to go to contract with. When we were about to sign, she told us she’s pregnant, so she couldn’t shoot our wedding. We interviewed about four more before finding our current photographer, and it was a pretty frustrating experience. One photographer essentially said something along the lines of “I don’t get out of bed in the morning for less than x dollar amount.”
That’s what made me realize that while photography is important, a lot of vendors in my area are overcharging just because that’s what the market will pay. I just didn’t want to spend upwards of $3,000 for pictures that are yes, very important, but no, not something I will look at very often in the future.
I ended up finding a photographer that no, doesn’t offer super trendy shots or lots of post-processing like a lot of photographers now. But she does offer a very good value for the money and is professional, has a great eye and offers a good value.
Thanks for the tip about the Holga camera, I may just have to pick one up!
May 12, 2009 8:15 am
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I’ve been contemplating most of the ideas in this post for a while now. In fact I’m even threatening my Maid Of Honor with having to carry a Holga instead of a bouquet(she already owns two of them). The other thing I’ve been pondering is getting a multi-card reader and setting it up somewhere so that towards the end of the reception we can announce where it is and have people go upload their memory cards to one computer – but that’s mostly because I’m impatient and don’t want to wait for people to get around to it on flickr.
May 12, 2009 8:24 am
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This is a tricky one for me. I am a semi-photographer who did not hire a “real” professional for my own wedding. Our wedding was planned in 2 months and everything was on a very tight budget. We asked a friend to do the video taping and another friend who had a fancy camera to take the photos. At first he charged $250 but then gave us the money back.
Needless to say, I was dissappointed. The pictures are in a box in the basement and my own family has never seen them. The truth is that they probably aren’t that bad but my eyes are a little sensitive to photography. It’s still difficult part to know that we can’t re-do the day and the photographs don’t make me happy at all.
Even if we had the money, I think I’m too practical to spend thousands of dollars on a photographer. However, I wish I’d tought about the following:
Call a photo school. Students are often willing to take on the project at little to no cost.
Find a “new” photographer who is in the process of portfolio building. I will be doing just that to get practice this summer. I am photographing for FREE just to get practice and build my portfolio. I live in Atlanta, by the way.
Most pro wedding photogs don’t do weddings alone and if you’re cutting costs, you shouldn’t either. Get several people to take shots and give them the title of photographer and let them know their responsibility to document your day. That way you get a variety of perspectives.
If you’re getting a “newbie” photog to do your wedding, offer to rent nice lenses for them. Often, the quality of the composition of the photo is significantly affected by the quality of the lens. Offer to rent the lens/camera if the person will just bring their talent.
Do an engagement session with the photographer. It will give you a feel for their style/presence/demeanor on one of your most meaningful days.
May 12, 2009 8:53 am
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I’m SO happy you’ve written about this!
We too are ambivalent at best about professional wedding photography and toyed with the idea of skipping it altogether. Sure, we want PICTURES of the day, but do we really need PHOTOGRAPHS? (There IS a difference, and you KNOW what it is.)
Personally, I think wedding photography is a racket and the prices for many pros boggle my mind. I’ve heard the argument regarding time and talent a million times, but it hasn’t changed my mind. The prices are as high as they are simply because the word “wedding” is involved, and that’s enough for me to opt out.
That said, we decided to set an arbitrarily low budget ($300) and make THEM come to US (via Craigslist) by spelling out exactly what we want and exactly how much we want to pay.
The response? OVERWHELMING. A lot of hobbyists of course, and a few fools who simply have a camera and just want to make a few bucks. But there were also several reputable pros with well established businesses who responded and offered to accept our terms.
We ended up booking a great husband and wife team who have been in the business for quite a while, have a great portfolio, and have even won awards for their work. The prices they charge people who go to THEM are literally 5-8 times as much as what we’re paying. Which, for the record is indeed $300, and for that we’ll get 2 shooters for 3 hours.
Perfect!
May 12, 2009 8:54 am
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I totally understand the ambivalence. We only decided to hire a pro at the last minute, and we really lucked out with finding someone affordable and laid back. In the end I was glad we had some family portrait shots done, because even though I did not care about them, our parents did. That said, our friends took some great pictures too, and I think it all would have been fine without the pro. So, to the woman who wrote the email, it sounds like you’ve thought this through, and I’m sure you’ll get some wonderful pictures from friends. Don’t worry.
P.S. The photographer also took tons of detail shots: the cake, shoes, the wine bottles, etc. I don’t care about them. Like everyone else has commented here, no matter how many pictures are shot, you’ll wind up with 10 or 20 favorites anyway.
May 12, 2009 8:59 am
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Ugh, the flack you get for not having a “professional” photographer. Our pictures are amazing, and I don’t regret our decision to have friends take pics for one second.
I definitely agree with whomever said to rent some equipment (lens, flash, maybe an additional camera, tripod, etc). We also had our friends do a test run at our “venue” at the same time of day as our wedding to make sure they knew the settings to use.
The only thing I wasn’t prepared for was all the work you have to put into the pics AFTER the wedding. We had 1200+ pics, and narrowing it down was difficult. It’s a lot of work to put an album together on your own, so just be prepared for that. The post-wedding glow is gone, and the last thing you want to do is organize your photos. It’s why Flickr is fantastic. :)
PS If anyone can tell me where to get a professional photog quality album with matted pages (no sticky paper, no cellophane), please let me know!
May 12, 2009 9:07 am
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Someone mentioned this but I heartily agree: hire a student from a local university that is majoring in photography or media arts!
I have to be honest and admit there is a tiny part of me that goes, “Yikes!” when I hear of people doing something alternative i.e., NOT hiring a professional, because photography to me is art. And I’ve seen my friends’ photos after an evening of drinking. It ain’t pretty. Nor would I want to burden them with capturing photos and having THEM potentially worry I wouldn’t like them. Weddings have enough stress.
Photography is our splurge and we found a lovely couple of elves to devote their time and photographic talent to our fun day. We could have probably spent less, but fell in love with the photos’ energy… the artists themselves, and well – had to have them!
This is definitely a “to each their own” part of the wedding process.
May 12, 2009 9:09 am
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My sibling got married a few years ago and as I have a reputation for being the family photographer, my parents got me a real nice digital camera for Christmas before the wedding with the understanding that I would use it at the wedding. I loved it. I loved that extra time I got with my sister and her new husband. And they got the pictures for free. It was a win-win.
May 12, 2009 9:16 am
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We hired photographers who were still getting their business off the ground, so we got a good deal. A lot of people have suggested similar options here.
We also got great photographs from friends, but I liked that they felt like they could put the camera down and shake their booty on the dance floor because someone else was making sure to photograph it all.
The only thing I didn’t want was photos full of people with cameras up to their faces or held out in front of them. That’s something to be careful of when you ask friends to take photos– make sure they enjoy themselves and that everyone isn’t feeling like they need to document every moment.
That said, we didn’t hire a super artsy, super expensive photographer. We wanted the day captured as it was- not as a modern art performance piece. Wedding blogs are great, but they can make you feel like you need high end photography for it to be a beautiful day- you don’t.
And yes, it’s true– you will have a handful of favorite photos, not matter who takes them. Even if you have thousands that are your favorites, only a couple will see the light of day on regular basis.
May 12, 2009 9:31 am
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This post seems to echo exactly what I was feeling at my daughter’s wedding. We couldn’t afford the cost, and opted for shots done by friends and family on disposable cameras. They were terrific and they tended to focus on the fun shots that we really wanted to see. In the end there was a photographer there, paid by another family member. They got a handful of nice shots, but frankly ones done by family were just as good if not better.
May 12, 2009 10:14 am
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Just chiming back in to say, for the record (which I think everyone knows and is giving credit, but I just wanted to say again outloud). I think many a pro photographer is worth every penny, its a question of if it is worth it *to you.* I fully understand that photography can be A) art and B) a full time job, and talented people should be paaaaiiiiiddddd (in a way that doesn’t rip you off, natch, but paid well).
So, for some of us (like me) paying a fair amount of money for pro-photos was worth it, and more. But should you have good options if it isn’t for you? HECK yes.
I just don’t want to make this thread seem like a trashing of the very talented-savy-honest-working-to-earn-a-living-photo-wedding-elves in the world. Because god bless, really. The alternatives to kick *ss cool independent photographers? Terrifying.
Meg
May 12, 2009 10:16 am
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I definitely angsted over this. To me, the key was seeing this phrase repeated over and over and over again: “After the wedding, all you’ll have left are the photographs.”
In one sense, this is absolutely true. A wedding is a one-day event, or a one-week event at most, and after it’s over and the food’s all eaten and the decorations are put away, you’ve got your own faint memories and whatever memory aids you’ve got. Like pictures.
But that’s not what I want, personally, from my wedding. I want the One Thing I have at the end of the day to be the marriage. Even if I can’t remember a thing from the wedding day, I’ll have experienced a good party fully present, in the moment, and not worrying about what I’ll have left afterwards, and I’ll have what matters most to me.
Like you said, Meg, I feel like this is a really personal decision, and for a lot of people having those pictures is really important and worth putting half your budget towards it. But for me, physical mementos of the wedding are honestly not a priority.
May 12, 2009 10:44 am
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I was asked to photograph a wedding for a friend who couldn’t afford a professional…I was stressed out to say yes but knew she didn’t have anyone else that would do it. She LOVES her photos (not tooting my own horn- well I guess I am sorta…beep beep) hehe- but I was extra careful and made a list and thought of everything that I would want if I were a bride, if you can’t afford a photographer or don’t want to pay for one, then make sure you find someone who knows how to use a camera, and who will be aware of what you want.
and take a MILLION photos. You’re bound to get a lot of good shots if you have a million photos.
I decided on hiring a photographer for my wedding, but I made sure we could afford him. He’s half the cost of the entire wedding but I don’t for a second regret it, because all I’ll have (besides the memories, but I have a TERRIBLE memory) is the photos.
I also know a few people who had friends do it and got back a bunch of really crappy terrible pictures. They all regret it- and you can’t go back and redo it…and that’s scary. I just couldn’t risk it.
That’s just me though- photography is REALLY important to me and something I’m passionate about. I had to use someone I could trust.
May 12, 2009 11:07 am
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I forgot to add- our photographer only charges 2600 for the full day, cd of the images we can print what we want, free photoshopping,engagement photos- and he’s so awesome to spend time with, I absolutely love him.
So yeah- out of our 5k wedding, half is the photographer. ah well. :P
May 12, 2009 11:12 am
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It’s like you are reading my mind!
Six weeks until The Day and I had a moment of photographer paranoia – mainly because our engagement photos were less than stellar. But instead of firing the current photogs, losing a hefty deposit, and blowing our budget we are just choosing to have faith.
May 12, 2009 11:43 am
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I just started pricing photographers and they are going to completely decimate my budget, so I am so glad that you posted this. It really bothers me that I have to pay over $3,000 for someone to take pictures and then I still have to pay for the pictures themselves! Thank you for this post!
May 12, 2009 11:47 am
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Stacy Marie-
Find someone who will give you the jpgs. We negotated for that – I told people flat out that if I couldn’t get the jpg’s it was no deal. We paid a bit more for that (understandably) but we know our costs up front, and it feels honest and happy. So whatever you choose to pay, find someone who will do that for you, you will love them much more right away.
Meg
May 12, 2009 11:54 am
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Figuring out how to document our wedding has been one of the most difficult decisions in the process. We are both amateur photographers and have taken classes and all that jazz. So photography was an important part of the planning. Then we started looking for one and were overwhelmed by the prices. We ended up going with a really great portrait photographer who is just starting out in the wedding biz and trying to build her portfolio. She is doing it for super cheap. We are also having my brother in law take pictures. He is really talented, and is really excited about being involved in the wedding in some way. I’m getting married this month, and I think everything is going to work out just fine.
When I look at my parents’ wedding album, it doesn’t look “magazine worthy” but it shows how happy they were and it’s lovely.
May 12, 2009 12:19 pm
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Photography is very important to me.
I’d be disappointed with relying on snapshot type photos from my guests if it was my wedding. Even if they own digital SLRs.
uch better
I don’t want 1000 photos, a slide show, a video, a giant leatherette album and a trash the dress session.
I do want high quality, professional grade photos with good lighting and exposure. I do want photos that capture the mood of the day and the relationships between people.
I do want the reassurance that someone else is being paid to pay attention to these details so I can be the bride and not the photographer.
May 12, 2009 12:19 pm
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I just wrote about this the other day! http://veilsandvows.blogspot.com/2009/05/great-polaroid-handoff.html
May 12, 2009 12:47 pm
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It was all about compromise for us. We did want good pictures, but we did not want to pay that much for them. Plus, as for every other vendor, I was always a bit wary of “wedding” people, I don’t know, it may be a fear of being ripped off (while totally agreeing with your last comment Meg), or just not liking things being done in a cookie-cutter way. Last year the pro photog at my sister’s wedding was SO loud and annoying (and of course I’m not implying that they all are), and was always taking center stage with his two assistants! It seemed to me all my sis did during the day was pose, I thought it was total overkill. In the end I think her shots are completely unoriginal and cliche. But she loves them, and that’s what counts, right? To each their own.
What we did is pick a semi-pro guy we knew. He’s mostly a graphic designer, but he also has a clothing business and he moonlights as a photog, doing mostly fashion and TV work but he’s also done several weddings so he’s used to it.
We told him we didn’t want someone following us all day, just to have mostly photojournalistic-style memories of the ceremony, the guests, the general feel, as well as a few posed portraits. He agreed to charge us $100 an hour, and to give us the files in RAW afterward (my fiance is a good hobbyist photographer and will be more than happy to retouch them).
I can’t wait to see how it turns out. It probably won’t be as great as that beautiful wedding eye-candy I’ve been looking at in the last year, but it will probably be more than good enough. The key is in the expectations I believe. If we have say 25-30 good pictures that reflect the day, I would consider myself happy.
May 12, 2009 1:04 pm
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We were having the same trouble finding an affordable photographer. Thankfully, one of my friends is a photography major and though I don’t want her to have to be the photographer for the day, she recommended classmates that would be affordable (as they are students), had some experience, and were talented.
May 12, 2009 3:49 pm
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Wow, that bride's email really made me think. When we got engaged, I knew we had to have priorites. For me, it was music (got to party down) & photos, because I'm a photographer in my spare time & I adore them. I take pictures of everything we do & I wanted to make sure our day was WELL documented.
However, the photographer I want to use is fairly pricy & I don't know if I can afford it. I know our guests will have their cameras (we're requesting it), but will they be able to get "that" picture & in "that" style as the lady I want to hire?
I'm so lost!
& our wedding isn't until November!
May 12, 2009 5:47 pm
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In reading all of these comments, I realized that my aunt’s husband TEACHES photography! Bingo!!!
May 12, 2009 6:09 pm
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We pretty much are taking the option of your emailer is using. We have several talented family members/friends who are handy with a digital SLR so they will be taking the bulk of the photos. We also have about 3 kids at that in between age (8-12) coming to the wedding so we are arming them with cheap digital cameras (approx. $50 on ebay) with loads of memory and pixels so they can snap away, feel included and not bored, and hopefully generate some really interesting kids-eye-view shots for us.
May 12, 2009 6:33 pm
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Love the idea of having kids do it!
June 23, 2011 6:03 pm
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We were on a tight budget, and high-quality photographic images were very important to us. Don’t get me wrong, many other things were important – spending time with friends and family, declaring our love, etc. We ended up finding someone on Craigslist who was up and coming. The photography was FANTASTIC and didn’t break the bank. We’ve actually gotten her several gigs since because many found her photography to be so beautiful and affordable.
We debated on having some artsy friends capture these moments, but didn’t want our guests to have tasks to worry about. We just wanted them to enjoy the evening and celebrate.
So – I think what has been repeated here, it just comes down to what is important to you. And, whatever you decide, don’t give up looking for a way to make that possible, somehow it will workout.
May 12, 2009 6:33 pm
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We asked friends to take photos, and I couldn’t be happier with the results! The best part was that without a professional hovering around, I was totally unaware of the whole photo thing, and it didn’t make me feel self-conscious or uncomfortable.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/madebybees/sets/72157617622255932/
May 12, 2009 6:37 pm
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advice?
uhrm. start a blog and cross your fingers? and then stumble upon the most incredible luck and best timing in the universe?
May 12, 2009 7:23 pm
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I had a daydream the other night about sneaking off for a while between the ceremony and reception with my man, a camera with timer, and a tripod, and doing our own photos.. There would be talented friends to take photos of the rest, but I love the thought of sneaking off with my new husband actually on our own, not just pretending for the camera.
In the light of day, I’m not sure I’d have the guts to actually go through with it. But it’d really fit the old-fashioned, relaxed and low-key vibe I’d love to have…
May 12, 2009 10:37 pm
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My cousin got married recently and didn’t get a professional photographer either. She has told me on more than one occasion that it’s the biggest regret of her planning. She got quite a few nice pics of different parts of the day, but is mainly dissappointed that there are key points which are just not captured at all. I really tink this could have been mitigated though, by some more planning. If only she had done what the bride in the original post is doing and actually planned the shots/moments she wanted and asked specific people to take them, I think it would have been fine.
May 13, 2009 1:06 am
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I would definitely recommend some free photo editing software – I personally use GIMP from http://www.gimp.org/ It allows me to get the same effects as a professional photog without hte cost of Photoshop!
May 13, 2009 3:22 am
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