Is it better to book a photographer for a couple of hours than not at all?

Might be worth trying

I know a few photographers that do simple package style deal on unusual days/times and some only charge £50-£100 per hour (usually a minimum of 2 or 3 hours) but £150-£300 isn't much

I say there's no harm in enquiring to those you like the look of

We are paying around £475 for 3hours ( on a bank holiday Saturday).

i didn't think we'd bother as we were keeping everything low key, but everyone kept going on about how we'd regret it. We met ours at a wedding fayre and explained we only wanted 2-3 hours ( ceremony/drinks and up to seating for meal) and it worked perfectly for him as he has a bigger wedding the day after! So I'd say go for it!

I've just got to convince my oh I was wrong now and find a nice way of telling my friends husband that I would rather have a professional ... Oh and contact some Togs and hope they are not offended!

The thing is that end of July is right in the middle of peak season so even a Sunday is busy for professional wedding photographers, for a 5pm ceremony if it were me I would be looking to arrive at 4pm then a 5pm ceremony with everyone with drinks in hand by 5.30 add your 2 hour photography on top brings us to 7.30 = 3.5 hours realistically, + another 10 hours at least editing that a pro would do. so what i am saying is that dont be shocked by the prices you are given for what you consider is only 2 hours

Also to get to you at 4 -= even if they were reasonably local they would leave at 3 meaning that they would only be shooting your wedding on that day, so perhaps they would rather be saying no thanks and wait for a full day wedding to come along, but try leaving it until the last min and that same photographer may not have anything booked and so your "2" hours now looks good.

You are paying for informal eve shots could perhaps that money of been used towards a pro wedding photographer for the day shots and left the easy eve snaps for the keen friend.

Thanks Bill .... I had not considered it from this perspective ... I don't really know anyone that has married on a Sunday so assumed it was not that popular still ... I guess I could just wait until last minute. Any other Togs with a view?

In your situation I'd be tempted to leave it until about 6-8 weeks before your wedding. Then make enquiries. What you are looking for is a photographer who hasn't been booked on that date or has had a cancellation (it does happen!). They'd be more inclined to give you a discount to fill the date. If you approach a photographer now, the chances are we'd want to hold out for someone willing to pay the full day rate.

There are so many wedding photographers nowadays that you should be able to find 'someone'.

Sunday's are quieter than Friday & Saturday's but plenty of people still get married then. My own wedding last year was on a Sunday.

Sunday "can" be as busy as Saturdays...and Fridays come to that.....I think that it is worth the ask., although also you are more likely to get a better tog closer to the date with a free afternoon......As Martin has commented on.....

In my experience of couples comments and the wedding industry, the one main thing they regret, is not giving enough thought to the photography.

Peter

Always worth asking the question! You've got to go bold in this life I say

Thanks for the comments ... It's a bit mixed and I'm left undecided .... On balance I guess I should probably just wait ... x

Do your research now on what photographer you would like, get a list of them then closer to the time ask them if they are available, don't leave it too late to search because that will take time and you might panic and book someone who is wrong for you.

I think, as Bruce said, I'd do your research now and get a list together of photographers you like the look of.

Then 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding I'd start contacting them.

This would also solve the problem of telling your guest as you can genuinely say you found an offer that was impossible to refuse.

This is a really interesting question - we've compromised and gone for a photographer who only does part of the day, because OH really really passionately doesn't want to have his photograph taken and I have had to talk him into even that.

Whilst in some ways it would be lovely to have a photographer around all day to capture every single detail, I reassure myself that the important stuff (for me, that's the church and family) will be on film and we'll get lots of 'party' shots from the evening from our guests anyway.

This ^^ that's your best bet for getting a decent bargain, I can't speak for all but I won't take shorter hour bookings for most of the year irrespective of Fri/Sat/Sun because I know I'll fill it with a full price booking, if you wait until the last minute someone is more likely to haggle with you.