A nice question I always get asked after being booked for a wedding…. “WIll you be having a meal ?”
I always thank the couple for the nice gesture, but refuse.
Various reasons… but at the end of the day why should you ?
I know quite a few photographers that boast to having in their contract that they eat the same as the guests, some even demand in the same room.
But that’s just wrong.
If you hire a plumber, joiner or painter to work on your house, even if they are there the whole day, you don’t make them their dinner.
Why would you ?
What other professional do you hire, pay them well, then have to feed them ?
I even know some celebrants that demand it… so the person at a wedding that is there for the shortest time demands lunch.
Or what ? They will refuse to marry you, even though they’ve been paid ?
Mad.
Me personally ? I’m professional enough to be prepared and take food & drink to survive the day without passing out through starvation.
I’m not saying I’ve never dined on a couple’s expense… over the years some weddings for one reason or another get my services at a really cut price rate… friends, family and the likes – so yes, I’ll accept food payment top ups.
But on a normal “here’s my prices” wedding… no. Thanks for asking, but you shouldn’t even ask.
Some photographers just want to make it all about them. Their websites full of statements like “I love my couples so much and they love me” but their price list should have a big bold line that says “Plus Expenses”.
Imagine asking for a quote from a builder for a days work at your house… and the quote comes in at say £1500 plus vat, and I’ll want a 3 course meal at 4pm.
You’d chase them ! I hope.
Even if you have a very cheap photographer – let’s say you hire your wedding photographer for a full day coverage at £500 with all the photos on a usb…. first off… the photos will probably be not that good, as at that price you are just hiring a hobbyist or part timer. So if they need you to pay for their food that day… that’s THEIR problem, not yours.
You DO get what you pay for when it comes to artistic professionals (oooo-la-laaaa) but don’t let them make it all about them and demand dinner. We’re grown ups and can look after ourselves.
If your venue’s price includes meals for vendor staff then fair enough, but if it goes on your bill as an extra – don’t do it. All those wee extra price increases could go towards hiring a better person in the first place 🙂
Right, that’s that rant over. But now I’m going to offer some other advice from years of wedding work… this wee bit is about “traditions”.
Things I think should be phased out at weddings…
1) Kilts for the groomsmen that never normally wear a kilt.
2) Wedding cakes (sorry wedding cake bakers).
3) Getting everyone to stand up for all the toasts.
4) Photo booths
Lots of guys wear kilts as “it’s tradition”. But so is having the speeches AFTER the meal… but you don’t do that as you want it done quicker.
Wedding cakes, having them… the cutting of them as a “special part of the day” … why ???
And yeah, let the guests just stay seated for all your toasts to “absent friends” and the venue staff. ALL the chair squealing and folk getting up and down every minute while you thank everyone for coming.
And photo booths ?? “Yeah, we loved Aaron & Stacey’s wedding, look we even got a photo of us in a white room wearing an inflatable hat and holding an inflatable saxophone.” You get your wedding photos back and you wonder why no-one is enjoying and dancing to the expensive band that are on their second version of ” I gotta feeling” because all the 13-27 year old are queuing up to convince the world they are wacky…. “Look guys, I’m loving this life so much now I have a fake moustache on a stick”.
Right, that’s my inspiration for just now.
Grahame is a photographer that has over 40 years experience shooting weddings, and has obviously become very cranky in his recent years.
