Are you feeding your photographer?!

Ours were there from 11.30am to about 8pm.

It was in our contract that we were to provide something so we spoke to the venue and while we were eating around 4pm, the togs and vog went to the hotel bar for a bar food/sandwich type dinner.

I'm glad you started this thread as I've been wondering this too!

I'm more than happy to feed our TOG but wasn't sure what the protocol was.

Ours were pretty clear with us about that. they said our contract had them their till 8pm. if we want them there longer (which we do as we won't cut cake till late, and there are evening guests arriving at 8) then we feed them. Need to talk to them about whether they want to eat with our guests or have a break and eat in a different room.

I like this idea. I would feel bad if they were left to go hungry but I didn't think they should be included in my seating plan!! Plus, at £50 a head with 2 togs and 2 vogs that would bring our cost up a lot.

The rule I’ve been working to is if the supplier is doing 6 hours or more then I should feed them. I think its even in my tog’s contract. But talk to your tog about it, mine has said he doesn’t care what he gets fed, ie he doesn’t need the same meal as everyone else, he’s happy to have a hot starter & main or even a packed lunch. Venue can do either for me, I’m thinking I’ll give him the hot meal because I like the fact he’s given me the choice IYSWIM. If it were you, you’d need feeding or your quality of work may start to wane!!

Check with your photographer as they're all different. I know my sister's brought his own sandwiches. I'm not sure what mine intends to do but I'll check with her closer to the time. My venue offers a "suppliers' meal" for a certain price. You certainly don't need to feed them what your guests are having, but a plate of sandwiches/little bar meal would be fine.

Our tog said it was completely up to us. I would have felt terrible not providing him with a meal, but we didnt give him the 3 course that we had. We paid for his main course, which was sufficient enough.

I don't think my photographer expects us to feed him but our venue provides meals for our suppliers free of charge!

Our photographers, OTD coordinator and sound and lighting chap had the same three course meal as us, just in a different room. We didn't pay any extra for it. Seems the right thing to do (although I agree that you shouldn't feel you have to provide the same meal or seat them with you!).

Check with your venue as I think you'll find most offer a special rate for suppliers. I think ours is only £15 a head compared with £75 for guests!

Our togs were local so they disappeared while we were eating and then came back.

We asked the Hotel to provide bar meals to our TOG, VOG and Harpist and charge it to us. I wouldn't have felt happy tucking into my food knowning they hadn't had anything. I emailed them all to check if they had any allergies or things they didn't particulary like.

We will be providing a bar meal for our TOg we also have a carer for my Grandad who will need feeding. Like others have said I'd feel bad tucking in to my dinner and leaving them. I always think it pays to look after people though - treat others how you would wish to be treated

Yeah, I'm just seating him at a table

Our venue asked us if we wanted a "photographer meal" which was about £15 and from what I could see was the same as ours just no starter or dessert - he sat in the bar area and ate.

It was in our contract that we would feed our togs. They said they'd have soup and a sandwich. I said they were welcome to have whatever they fancied on the menu. We also invited them to stay after the first dance as we were having a fireworks display and they could have a butty and a cuppa before they head out. They said they would stick around and shoot the display too as it was part of our day. I said i didn't mean they were to photograph it, just if they wanted to stay for it, but they were quite happy to stay beyond the first dance and continue to work! Next to the actual day itself, i can't wait to see the photo's!

I fed both my tog & vog. I knew my tog anyway (used to work together) and he already knew my vog so I sat them both with my work colleagues. Just fed them like everyone else. Its a long day for them as well!

Now I feel bad... Everyone on here has fed or is planning to feed their tog/vog. Our TOG says on his website that the cost of weddings are huge etc etc and no way would he expect to be fed as well.... Maybe I should still ask him???

We provide our own meals and always bring along a packed lunch. We tend to tuck into this, in another room whilst guests are eating.

However, we've had couples insistent on providing a meal for us and that too is absolutely fine. It's just something that needs to be mentioned to your photographer as obviously, if some have it in their contracts we all think and feel differently about it.

Personally I wouldn't expect a meal to be provided for us. You're already paying us to be there and it's part of our job as far as i'm concerned. As long as we're given a bit of time to go away and eat, that's absolutely fine.

HappyTog - do you prefer sitting with the guests or do you like a break? or does it depend on the wedding?

We fed our TOG (and her 2nd shooter).

I didn't check her terms, but as a supplier who would be working from 10am until ~8pm (with possibly 1hr of real downtime), it wasn't a consideration.

Our DJ was with us in the morning (to set-up my moodlighting), and then returned in time for the meal - as he is a good friend of us both, he sat with our guests.

I wouldn't personally feel happy being invited to sit with guests, unless I knew the couple well.

Normally we're eating with the Togs, and obviously we get to know the same faces, so its much more relaxed.

For the events where I've had lots of downtime (ie an early set-up, and then 3 or so hours of waiting around), I'm happy to venture into the town or a local pub and sort myself out with dinner.

Its not the money thing.. its about being realistic - if the TOG only has 1hr between main photos and the end of the meal (ie some candids, then speeches), they can't realistically leave the venue and enjoy some food and be 100% certain to get back.

If they are leaving at a sensible time (ie 8pm) then a light meal may be ok. If they are there all night, its not reasonable to expect someone to work a long day with only a cheese roll.

As has been mentioned, venues will be used to catering for Suppliers.

It's never expected...but always appreciated.

I was once sat on the top table facing the bride and groom.

Which was weird.

I've catered for my Tog and his second shooter as guests. I have asked them where they would like to be seated and they are happy to sit with the other guests if there's space.

I would always have fed them, the decision as to whether to offer a seat with my guests was based on how well we get on with him - he was a star at both our initial meeting and pre-shoot and so I have no hesitation in believeing he'll be just fine with my friends and family

We are feeding our photographer, as he is also a guest. He is my MOH's partner and as I have seen his work (he is a professional wedding photographer), we knew we wanted him taking our pictures. They will be at mine when I am getting ready and also all day till the end of the reception, but I am also going to be feeding the band we have hired as they will be there for 9 hours. We are having a BBQ so it is a bit easier doing this - would have been more difficult if we had a sit down three course meal I think.

Many venues get too greedy with costs for suppliers food. Its excellent that yours has this approach.?

I have had that too........... I also had one where the groom(it was an Asian wedding) insisted on creating an extra seat at the top table in appreciation of the work I had done throughout the day.

Protocol wise, it does vary from culture to culture. Italian weddings for instance will more often than not, have a suppliers table (vid, tog, band) and include them as part of their day.

Peter

All my guests thought SR was wonderful, he'll be great!

As we were limited in seating (and as I thought it might make our TOG feel uncomfortable) I asked if he would rather sit elsewhere and have a break, which he said would be great so he could have a look back through the earlier photos etc. It was in our contract to provide food and drink and I had no issue with this. As I thought I wouldn't want a huge three course meal then to continue working I asked what he would prefer and he said a bar meal would be perfect. He ordered whatever food/drink he wanted and we paid for it.

I just emailed my venue this exact question and felt very stupid for asking, but I honestly didn't know. They replied back and said that they usually provide meals for the TOG and VOG which costs £15 and for the DJ they usually provide a selection of sandwiches and soft drinks for £5.

I'm going to email my TOG, VOG and DJ and see if they would like me to provide something or if they will bring their own packed lunch.

Hi,

Generally I organise something myself that fits into a part of the day where there is less chance of taking some great images.

I like to try and make myself available for the WHOLE day.

However, some B&G have insisted on providing a meal, which I do appreciate.

Hope that helps,

Dean

www.deancarney.com