Hi and looking for free photography/videography!

Hi ? and congratulations!

Can't help on the tog/vog but just being nosy, whereabouts in Reading are you having the ceremony? I'm getting married just outside Reading, and there's a few of us around from the Berkshire area.

Congrats & welcome. I doubt you'll get a TOG/VOG to do the work completely free, maybe at a reduced rate if you are lucky. Its worth asking as you never know. Best of luck.

Hi Nutella!

Only Reading registry office! Followed by a reception at our local bar on Kennet Island

Hello and congratulations! It is possible to find a photographer for free ideally a student or amateur anyone of a professional level will not however.

The best place to find someone in the position of building their portfolio is your local art college or gumtree. You probably still have to pay their expenses so travel, discs/usb etc.

Obviously them being free is the positive of doing it this way. But there are several negatives such as they won't be insured, its unlikely all of their equipment will be of a professional standard, they won't have the experience or knowledge of weddings. But that doesn't mean it can't work. If they are someone enthusiastic about going to wedding photography they will want to maximise the opportunity so try to find someone who will do a pre-wedding shoot for their portfolio and then you will get to see if they know what they are doing because at the end of the day you only get one opportunity to get these pictures. Take them to where you are getting married and to the reception venue so they are fully prepared.

Basically give them every opportunity to maximise their potential as they have to benefit from this agreement as much as you. Make sure you give them a list of all of the group and formal shots you want. Speak to your registrar prior to the wedding as some can be sensitive about what can and can't be photographed during the ceremony and an inexperienced photographer might not know to do this. Oh and give a schedule for the day as well.

If you choose the right person it can work, also be prepared to write them a reference and recommend if they are good as its unfair to use someones skills and not give back. Photographing a wedding is a high pressure job and takes a lot of work its not just a case of showing up taking some pictures and then loading them on to a disc. I spend an average of 30-40 hours on each wedding.

Good luck

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3682375/wedding-photographers-500-or-less

Some seriously cheap photographers on there, good luck with the search!

Hello and congratulations on your upcoming civil partnership.

I agree with what Ami says, she has given you some good advice.

Please also note that many wedding photographers can vary their packages and prices to suit your requirements so why not try a few? You could also look at a few photographers websites to give you an idea of what you would like and if you do go for eg a student, y ou can then give them some examples to look at.

Let us know how your planning goes.

Hi jamiew,

I cannot offer free but do have a special offer on at present both for photgraphy and video. I am based in Sandhurst and have done many weddings in Reading.

I have many years of weddings experiences and am fully insured. Please check out the website for more details. The offer runs out at end of the month.

Kind regards

Bob

Hi Bob just had a quick look on your site - were getting married in surbiton, surrey do you cover that area? And welcome and congratulations Jamie!

Hi Bee26,

Yes, I do cover your area and most of UK.

I forgot to mention that, Hitchers from here will get an extra bonus on photography package - A free 20X30" Canvas (worth £159.00).

What is your date?

Feel free to contact me direct, if you prefer but please mention your Hitched name.

Bob

Hi Jamie

I understand your on a budget and that's fine, however if it's actually possible, photography is one area where it isn't a good idea to save money imo unless you don't have much choice. I'm sure allot of hitchers who are now married will confirm their happiness that they chose a good photographer, or their regret for not doing so. At the end of the day, the photographs are all you have to remember the day.

P.s.

Guests pictures with compacts and camera phones at weddings are mostly extremely poor and would strongly recommend against relying on them to capture your day.

Hello there,

Anyone looking for a free videographer I am available!

I am free because I indeed want to build my portfolio since I graduated (TV and Film Production, minor in Journalism) about 1 year ago BUT ended up in sports videography instead of wedding videography. I am passionate about weddings though and have loads of experience filming and editing.

I am based in London and can travel up to 2 hours away, I don't mind

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Thank you very much

Hi Lulublue,

I would have taken you up on that but we are in Yorkshire and not getting married until next year, by which time I'm sure you will be sorted for your wedding portfolio of work.

What a nice idea to offer services though!

Hi Dana,

Indeed, Yorkshire is pretty out there for me! It's sad because I am really keen on helping people out! Since I have a full time job (involving some filming and editing actually) I am not fussed about doing it for free on my spare time for the moment. I am not sure I will still be in England by next summer but if I am, I will definitely repost something here in January/February, before the season starts.

Hope you will have a nice year planning your wedding, must be so exciting!!

Hi were getting married in alfreton derbyshire. its coming up at around 2 and a half hours? would this be too far for you?

Hi there Laynarose!

2 and half hours would be perfectly fine! When is your wedding?

Don't hesitate to email me

Best

Using a free i.e. amateur / student photographer is a receipe for disaster.

Search on this forum (and any other wedding forums) for all the horror stories of people booking inexperienced photographers and ending up with unsuable photos.

It takes much more skill than just owning a camera.

Hi,

I agree with you that it takes more than just owning a camera to be a good photographer but people can still end up with good quality if they hire someone who is a photograph, but maybe not a WEDDING photographer. If they are knowledgeable enough about weddings and have experience in photography, I don't think they will end up with unusable photos.

Same goes for videography

Depends how talented the photographer is, some take to it like a duck to water, others take time, so it all depends.

Also being good at landscapes or other types of photography is no guarantee that the photographer will be any good at wedding photography, although the extra knowledge 'can' help a great deal.

Time for this article to be posted again I think...

https://www.rocknrollbride.com/2012/01/should-i-book-a-professional-wedding-photographer-or-get-a-friend-to-do-it-for-free-a-cautionary-tale/

There was a blog posted on here recently where a bride had used her friend who photographed cars for a living, the photographs were awful! I would say that when you meet with a photographer/videographer you will know whether they are genuinely passionate about weddings and photographing them or just trying to make a sale! Photographing weddings takes a lot of preparation and communication and on the day you have to be efficient and organised as well being social, outgoing and professional.

I don't just photograph weddings I do corporate projects, family portraits, product shoots and work with bands and artists. Weddings is the work with the most pressure, you have to be on the ball constantly and there is no re-shoot.

I started out doing weddings for free to build my reputation and experience. I spent hours upon hours reading articles and other wedding photographers blogs preparing myself and gathering information so even though I wasn't being paid I would still be giving the couple a high standard of service. My reputation is more important to me than how much money I make and my current prices reflect my current experience.

So I don't think its a bad thing at all to use a photographer trying to break into the wedding industry everyone has to start somewhere but still make sure they are capable of doing the job because your reference and word of mouth advertising will help them make a start as well as the experience and work they will get for their portfolio. So even if someone is free, still make sure you view any work they have done before and get along with them and don't be afraid to say no if you don't think they are up to the job.

Ha Rhys you beat me to it!

But, it really depends on the expectations of the client. In some cases as long as it's better than the client themselves can take it is one of those 'make do' options available to those without the funds to hire a pro.

If the funds are not there for a pro TOG I would take my chances with a TOG trying to build their portfolio rather than just guests photo's. After all you will still be able to get copies of guest photo's so you have nothing to lose and it costs you nothing. Everybody wins.

If you were splashing out on a wedding and not a decent TOG then that is a different story.

WSS

Hello

Just wanted to ask if you were still looking for a photographer as I would love to do it for free for you.

Do not worry, I have experience, I have been studying photography for 7 years, completed a 2:1 BA degree in Contemporary Photographic Practise at UCA Rochester and have shot 3 weddings so far and events and I work in the creative industry. However, I'm looking to become a wedding photographer but need some more experience first, so I would be more than happy to shoot your wedding for free.

I know the area well as used to live in Camberley, and my style is documentary, so I focus on blending in to the background and capturing those special natural moments.

Please email me with any questions and to see examples of my work

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