Is it worth having a photographer??

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• 08-Feb-2012 14:02

  Is it worth having a photographer??

  lucy_x Joined on 05-Jan-2012 Posts 28	Contact We are currently saving up for our wedding and are trying to keep costs down, is it really worth having a photographer when they are approx £1000 for the day? I was thinking maybe just ask a couple of friends/family members with a good camera to take some photos throughout the day and then make a nice album myself? xx

• 08-Feb-2012 14:09

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  lurvlyloz Joined on 04-Jan-2012 Nottingham Posts 1,101

  Contact personally i would say yes as these are the only things you have to look back on on the day & costs can be cut else where. you can get cheaper photogrpahers who arent there as lon/dont do albums only digital etc etc  also, the guests would then feel very responsible & wouldnt feel at ease as a guest. a Hitcher on here has contacted their local college to see if a student would want to do it as part of their course.

• 08-Feb-2012 14:12

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  HatTrick Joined on 06-Jul-2009 Posts 8,012

  Contact Yes, it is definitely worth having a photographer if you want any decent pics of your day. Asking a bunch of friends and family to all club together with their point and shoot cameras might save you a few bob but most of your photos will be too light/too dark/blurry/wonky etc. Plenty of guests took photos on our day and from the ones that I have seen I can honestly say I wouldn't put one of them in a frame.

• 08-Feb-2012 14:13

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  Mrs*W*2B Joined on 15-Nov-2011 Manchester Posts 559

  Contact it depends how much professional photo's mean to you...you would hate to regret not having them!! its the one thing you can always look back on.... in my opinion they are worth it however i will say if you are going to really scrimp on the photographer (a couple of hundred say) then i would just have friends doing it as the quality is likely to be similar to that of a friend!!... we have a small budget overall but photo's are really important to me (not really to H2B) i am into photography myself and i want to look at my pictures and think 'wow i couldn't take that myself' ...i would hate to look through professional pics and think 'that could have been taken by a friend'... for these reasons i think it's worth spending the extra to get a decent photographer....on our small budget overall we have a limit of £1000 for a photographer which for us is LOADS but then i know i wouldn't be happy with rubbish pics, i'd rather DIY on other things. :) x

• 08-Feb-2012 14:17

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  funkyjameseo Joined on 24-Aug-2011 Posts 532	Contact in my opinion this is one thing you should not cut back on as like others have said it is the only thing to look back on your day, why spend thousands of pounds on everything else if your not going to have any decent photographs of any of it?

• 08-Feb-2012 14:34

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  fizzpop Joined on 05-Oct-2011 London Posts 95

  Contact I agree with what MrsWToBe said.   Originally like you I was thinking that we wouldn't bother with a photographer and ask friends to do it.  But after some thought I've dramatically changed my mind and our photographer is going to be the most expensive part of the day.  The things that made me decide were; 1. I wanted my friends to enjoy themselves and not feel we have invited them only to take photos (one is great with a camera but I want them in some of the shots too!)  2. I wanted some nice family portrait shots, and I feel that by paying a good photographer I will feel a lot more comfortable saying to them, right I want you to get that shot, and that group photo etc.  With a friend that might come across a little bossy! 3.  I don't know for sure but I think a professional photographer will be able to herd my family and friends better, to get the family portraits done as quick as possible, so my family can go back to drinking. 4. Finally I looked at some cheaper photogrphers but like Mrs WTo be I love photography and messing around with my camera so in the end I went with someone slightly more expensive whose photos are great - and that I couldn't match with my camera skills. The only issue is my other half doesn't give two hoots about a TOG so I am paying for this myself so it doesn't put the overall cost of the wedding up!  I am putting £100 aside each month, just for the TOG and he is letting me pay in instalments which is so helpful.   So I don't know if that's helped but it's what made me finally decide to splash out on a professional. [img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10730;116/st/20120922/e/Our+Wedding/dt/5/k/5a58/eve

• 08-Feb-2012 14:40

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  Tina Ellie Joined on 12-Jul-2011 Posts 1

  Contact hiya, i would say so yes. We deliberated with this as we have a friend who was happy to do this for us. Whilst our family and friends took lots of photos which were lovely to see, there are a few issues I would consider about this - who will take the photos when/if you wanted everyone in the same photo, eg the group shots, what if there is glare from the sun (some photographers have screens they put up), if you were not happy with the photos then would you feel comfortable in saying (although it's too late then), would the family/friends be with you all day and not be drinking (i'm guessing youd want photos up to the first dance atleast)? Just a few thoughts, I know wedding photography is pricey but it's a memory you have forever. There are a few ways you could maybe cut back on the price, find a photographer who offers full copyright to all photos you have taken. You could maybe get a few of your favourites from them and then do your own album but atleast you'll have quality photos. I think alot of the cost involved is within the album you have. We went with a company called Electra Wedding Films (midlands based), not sure what area you are from but I would not recommend you use these at all. We have had issues with obtaining copyright after we had paid for it and in our album they cut my head in half :(. My friend used Adam Smith who was very good and you can get full copyright off him (full meaning copies of all photos for you to print at any resolution). Hope this helps x

• 08-Feb-2012 15:09

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  Peter Joined on 07-Jan-2005 Hertfordshire/Essex border Posts 8,581

  Contact I am naurally biased in this response, although over the years I have spoken to many people about wedding photography. Many have commented that in hindsight, they have really regretted not having had a pro photographer as the images captured by friends simply didn't express the events of the day. They were a jumble without a timeline or structure or common quality of image. Groups were ill structured and look messy compared to those created by a pro. The photographs in many ways become more valuable as time passes and loved ones pass away. They are a "snapshot" in time of you and those that were part of your wedding day. Peter   btw...website currently broken thanks to 123-reg so called upgrade. They have promised to fix it asap. www.eternaldreams.co.uk

• 08-Feb-2012 15:15

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  nicolagrimshawmitchell Joined on 04-Jul-2011 Posts 88

  Contact I'm not a wedding photographer any more - gave it up for various reasons - one of which was to concentrate on Boudoir, the other was an increasing de-valuation of how wedding photography is perceived. Its not just £1000 for one days work - its at least 60+ hours to provide you with a keepsake of the most precious day of your life - not something I would EVER leave to an unprofessional. PLEASE PLEASE if you get a minute read this: http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2012/01/should-i-book-a-professional-wedding-photographer-or-get-a-friend-to-do-it-for-free-a-cautionary-tale/   Have a look at the 'photos' at the end. These are by someone who professes to be good with a camera. They are truely horrific. nuff said. Hitched supplier, Boudoir Photographer and wedding expert having photographed more than 300! http://www.myboudoir.co.uk http://www.ngmphotographic.co.uk

• 08-Feb-2012 15:23

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  Nicalf08 Joined on 21-Jan-2012 Switzerland Posts 720	Contact Yes yes and yes for all the reasons the others have mentioned!  That link above me is truly terrifying!

• 08-Feb-2012 15:24

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  nicadele Joined on 17-Mar-2011 Tyne & wear Posts 412

  Contact My thoughts are yes it's worth it because when it's all over it's the photographs that you have forever to remember your wedding day. I remember when I was a little girl looking at my parents wedding album and I know that when I have children I would also want to share those memories with them! I also have cameras for the tables but I would imagine most of these will be pics of guests doing funny things rather than anything else. In the end it's your decision but I personally know I would regret it Ifcwe didn't have a photographer. You can also shop around and get different packages from them.

• 08-Feb-2012 15:25

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  Chris Giles Photography Joined on 22-Oct-2010 Knees bent, arms straight, ra ra ra Posts 763	Contact If you are asking yourself this then photos probably don't mean a lot to you, which is fine but still get someone on the cheap to take them so there is some structure and record of the day, a student trying to make a name for themselves or an assistant looking to turn pro.   'I only deal with nice people as they rub off on you' - 07525 752823 Wedding Photographers - Wedding Photography

• 08-Feb-2012 15:50

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  Trickers Joined on 13-Jul-2011 The 'Ding' Posts 10,931	Contact Of course it's worth it.  I cant believe you're even considering its not. "If I worried what every *** was saying about me, I'd never leave the house."  Samantha Jones - Sex and the City.

• 08-Feb-2012 16:06

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  deliciouswitchchild Joined on 24-Nov-2008 West Midlands Posts 3,590

  Contact Get a photographer. Photographs are so worth it. We originally asked my uncle and cousin to do it for us, both are very good, semi-pro photographers (they take occasional bookings for weddings in the case of my uncle and fashion and freelance in the case of my cousin). However, we have thought about this a lot over the last few weeks and have decided to just get a pro. Our guests are guests and should be allowed to enjoy the day rather than being stuck behind the camera all day working for us. You can find photographers in all price ranges. We have been incredibly lucky and found our photographer at very short notice and well under a grand. He is a commercial photographer who does mainly portraits and sticks to a limited number of weddings in a year. If you are tight on budget but know what you want, have a look off the beaten track, try a few different combinations of google search, ask around for recommendations. Also haggle on the finer points if you can, such as if you don't want an album, ask for digital only. If you aren't bothered about your bridal prep photos ask them to either cut it from the price or add the hours on at the end of the package instead. Don't end up regretting the decision not to have a photographer. Its not just a few snaps, they are one of the only material things you can bring away from the day. My Swimming goal: 121 of 1000 lengths done, 879 to Go.

• 08-Feb-2012 16:15

  Re: Is it worth having a photographer??

  Mrs C Joined on 18-Sep-2009 Posts 8,625

  Contact Absolutely. And they don't have to cost £1000's, there are some very good togs out there who offer packages to suit you. Ours was £750 for all day coverage, images on a disc and 2 photographers - but for me worth every penny.   After the day, all we have are our rings, memories, photos and videos. Married since 19.O3.2O11 Dress for Sale: http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/104086706/jonathan-james-couture-wedding-dress-1012.html