Asked a friend to do our wedding pictures and has just hit us with a £500 bill

If hes going to charge you that much you may as well hire a professional who will be experienced in doing weddings, as a guest he may not have his mind totally 100% on the job at hand too as he'll want to enjoy himself as well! I would def hire a professional if I was you, they can take a large part of your budget but if you only want a few shots after the ceremony you should be able to find something affordable. Tell the mate you want him to be able to enjoy himself without worrying about working!

Thankyou. That's what I said to my OH.

Only want photos for 2 hours max.

Couldn't believe the cheek of it. £500 geez. x

I think that would be my initial reaction too - it is a bit steep, given he's not a pro tog. However, whilst he IS a guest, you need to consider that his focus will be primarily on getting good shots through the ceremony, taking away from his relaxation and enjoyment as a spectator. Also, how much time will he be spending doing group shots, editing etc? Perhaps you could tell him that £500 is over your budget and suggest a compromise? Xx

My OH is going to meet up with him face to face.

Editing we can do as my OH is a keen photographer too. So it's just snapping away sticking all on a disk and giving it to us. So no work after really.

Now thinking that a pro would be best as then it will be professional arrangement and I will pay for what I get.

Out of all the family and friends helping out this is the 1st problem I've had.

x

I would tell him to 'do one' and get a pro.

love this x

I promise you his photos would be cr*p.

We had pro-photographers, and they were brilliant. Worth every penny.

If he shoots in Raw, do you have the raw software converter? It may not be as straightforward as handing over the files....

Additionally, protogs should have insurance. Some venues do ask for evidence of this from suppliers....it is not common, although does happen.

Peter

Has he ever shot a wedding before? I mean properly, not just as a guest snapping away?

Most pro wedding togs will start out as a second shooter or shoot a couple of weddings for travel expenses only.

That we do, good point about the insurance I shall check with the venue. Thankyou

Nope, the more I think about a friend doing the photos the more I don't want it to be a friend. :/

Considering you can get me for £400, and I shot my first wedding for a friend for £100, if he wants to charge even £500.01 I'm sorry but I feel he's being steep, and because he's said it goes up to £2000, it kind of sounds to me like he might be about to ask for more than £500.

Even if he's thinking about going professional I'd see what his background experience is... Because although it's still possibly fine if he doesn't have some experience shooting a real wedding, I do say to people shooting a wedding is different from doing something like landscape or studio or even portraits. With weddings you have the window of 1 second to get the right shot sometimes, it's in a ballpark of its own I feel and is more comparable to street photography (I'm only talking about documentary style wedding photography here).

If he was a street photographer I would be slightly less worried. If he takes good landscape photos, I would be worried.

I think he's being very cheeky then to be honest. You can't just start charging that kind of money with no experience!

If you're happy to pay £500 you will be able to get a professional that's newish to the business and looking to build their portfolio like Marianne. And I guarantee you will be happier with the results.

This is your wedding day - you need to be happy with your pictures.

I'd ask him if he has insurance. When he says he hasn't then just say sorry but the Church require it and hire a pro. That's a lot for what you're asking him to do.

If he is the Photographer then he can't be a guest too. Impossible to be both so you've also got the "we want you to be a guest more" line.

My other half is a professional photographer, frequently does friends weddings whilst managing to be a guest, edits the pics afterwards and wouldn't dream of charging.

We have had some nice weekends away as thank yous though Downside is he's going to be a nightmare on the other side of the camera!

I too would tell him where to go and maybe even un - invite him too ( evil smile)

xx

I'm very happy that I have asked for advice with this.

I am convinced that I now what a pro. I don't want the worry of pants pictures.

Thankyou all so much for your advice photos a big part as we will want something to remember the day by.

Again thankyou all x

I like this, trying to think of a "polite" way of saying "your having a f**king laugh" lol

this will work brilliantly x

Cheeky wotsit.

My OH has become friendly with a couple he met last year and they're photographers. They're offering us mates rates at £500 for all day photography including a 'photo-booth' with props. They've only in the past year been shooting weddings as they used to specialise in studio portraits but we love the pics they have done of weddings so it's worked out fab for both us as we get the tog for a good price and they get the experience/added pics to their portfolio.

When you think of what I'm getting as mates rates compared to what your friend who would have been a guest anyway is offering it's a bit cheeky of your friend.

Another one sitting in camp cheeky over here.

We started out like many togs shooting for free and slowly and built up our pricing from there. Very cheeky to be asking for £500 from friends for a first time job...we were still charging under £500 (as a duo) when we had 20 odd weddings under our belt!

Glad to hear that you've reconsidered and will be looking at getting a pro. You'll be able to pick up someone fantastic in that price bracket if you have a search around.

DW's suggestion was also a good one, hopefully the hint will be taken!

Best of luck finding someone!

I'm a convert of pro tog's. i was gonna hire a student or get a mate too. but i think it might be worth it in the end! decent price for decent pics, especially if your shy, you're making them work for their money to get the best side of you. One awesome piece of advise I got was to hire someone your relaxed around

This is a very important point.....Another is whether he has the fast lenses required for low light churches and venues.

I am all for people with the right attitude trying to make a serious approach to the trade of wedding photography. Pitching a high price without that experience is aiming too high too quickly. Weddings are not easy. Those that think they are are fools. Many very well known and high end togs will not do weddings period....because they know that it is a very specialised field...

This is a very important point.....Another is whether he has the fast lenses required for low light churches and venues.

I am all for people with the right attitude trying to make a serious approach to the trade of wedding photography. Pitching a high price without that experience is aiming too high too quickly. Weddings are not easy. Those that think they are are fools. Many very well known and high end togs will not do weddings period....because they know that it is a very specialised field...

I agree with everyone else, tell him to stick it!

If he's considering going pro he should be looking to do some jobs for friends to build a portfolio surely?? Free or for a token small amount?

£500.00! He doesnt sound like a friend to me!

We have got a photographer who has just started out in the wedding business. She has done half a dozen weddings and the pics are fab. As she is after the experience to build up her portfolio, she is only charging us £200.00. She is already a professional but in baby photography, I am surprised your 'friend' is trying to charge you so much x