No official photographer

If the budget is really tight and you can't afford a decent tog, I would advertise for students to shoot the wedding.

Also, not every photographer does the ridiculous pose thing, there are many different styles.

Don't think I've ever done this. I hate having my picture taken though so completely understand how your Husband feels.

Is there anyone there to take pictures for you as it would be a shame not to have any visible memories from your day? I say this because you forget certain things that happen and the pictures are great to look at after.

No budget, no problem, just let the guests know there is no official photographer, hopefully someone will take a decent pic of you two at some point.

With the guests being aware there isn't one designated they might be more enthusiastic with the clicking and forthcoming with the images for you.

It really depends on what's important to you. Photography isn't to everyone.

We are also having no official photographer, partly to do with budget, partly to do with choice. However, I will make sure close family take some shots for us and also one of my current housemates is very good with his camera so has offered to take some for us.

We are also putting disposable cameras on the tables for all the guests as that way we will get lots of fun shots - hopefully

Word of warning, make sure they are high quality. Our disposable pics were really poor, half of them useless as the flash wasn't automatic and people hadn't realsied it was dull enough to need one.

I am of the opinion that after the day is done with, what do you really have left (besides a husband obv)? The rings, the memories and the photos. But if your guests are happy to click away and you feel more comfortable that way then all's good. I loved seeing the ones of the day where I hadn't been, it was an insight into lots of little moments that otherwise I would have missed.

Disposable Cameras + Quality + Wedding guests = impossible.

I have told my friends that we aren't having a photographer but thought I might include a note or something in with the invites?? My dad loves taking pics but hopefully he will also be in some!! Not sure I want disposables as have heard lots of stories about having hardly any good ones!

Are there any 'must have' shots I should ask people to take??

Personally I think disposable cameras are a waste of time. I've heard of people leaving black cds on the table for guests to take him and copy their photos for you, maybe that with a wee note will encourage people to take some snaps. Most mobile phones will giver better pictures than a disposable camera.

There can be perfectly valid reasons for not going with a pro-photographer but fear of being "posed" should not be one of them.

I've been a pro for over ten years and the sort of embarrassing poses referred to have never happened at any of my weddings. Annoying requests for posing will generally - and ironically - come from your wedding guests and not from the official shooter !

Firstly I would check with the registrar on their photography rules. Some allow photography all the way through, some don't allow any, some allow an official photographer to take some at certain parts of the ceremony. Then relay that to guests, although the registrar will likely warn people prior to the actual ceremony.

I think you should know that the odds of you getting technically 'good' photographs are stacked against you, however if the guests click away enough they may get lucky.

This was why I recomended looking for a photography student etc. lot's will do it for free just for the experience, and if you look around enough, you will find someone with a genuine talent. At least they will likely know an F stop from a bus stop.

Unfortunately many brides and grooms make similar decisions to not have a photographer and then regret it later, and the thing about regret is it lasts forever, so just be sure you know what your letting your self in for, and that your ok with that choice.

Check out the below blog post.

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/

It's good and also, kind of strange to hear of a couple 'fearing' posed shots. It's always the wishes and requests of the couple that the photographer follows?

But, I do agree that, like all things in life - not everything is for everyone and you should feel happy about your decisions. Also, I would agree that mobiles these days offer far greater image quality than disposables.

As for 'required' images, hopefully you should be able to knock up a little list of things you'd like to see and to remind you of your wedding in months and years to come?

What I should possibly of mentioned is that my fiancé has been Best Man 4 times and all have been very formal occasions. I think if he had been to at least one with informal shots, he would be slightly keener on having one!!

Thanks for the advice, I have been sourcing a local photography student so hopefully can get it sorted

The single biggest regret I have about out wedding is that we went with a really cheap photographer who simply wasn't up to the job. At the time I can remember feeling really smug that i'd saved literally £100's of pounds that we could spend on other things. Now I really, really regret that decision and wish so much I could go back and have a different 'tog. We don't have a single shot that I am completely happy with. Not one.

My favourite photo is this one:

This was taken my by SIL who is rather fabby with a camera, but of course was keeping out of the way of the "professional" 'tog and who you can just see in the left of the shot. So even this pic isn't perfect. And I can find fault with every single photo that the 'tog took.

I wish so much that we could put on our wedding outfits and go back to the venue with a good photographer and kind of recreate some photos just so we have some that we love, but 2 babies later, I am 2 sizes bigger than I was back then so I know I will never get back into my dress. So I can't even do that.

Get someone good to take your pics. Please! Don't spend the rest of your life not even wanting to look at your wedding photos cos they make you feel so cross with yourself and full of regret! ?

Hi,

Newbie myself here; we're not having an official photographer- simply because we can't afford it- like everything else associated with weddings the prices we've been quoted are just ridiculous. I can also empathise with your fiance- I HATE having my photo taken; in fact, there are no photos of us anywhere in our house...I don't think one even exists!?

So, we've compromised and roped in two of his relatives; one who did A Level Photography and another who is studying Photography at the Royal College of Art at the mo (!) and we're hoping they will get some decent snaps on the day. The benefit of having friends / relatives do the photos is that they can be more flexible- for example, our wedding has a seaside theme and the registry office is down the road from the funfair, so we're all going to traipse to the fair and have some photos done there. I can imagine a professional photographer would charge a fortune for the extra time / hassle! We have also drawn up a (very loose) list of some 'staged' shots, just to keep the 'rents happy more than anything- y'know, mum and me, dad and me, sisters, his family & us, etc.

We're also having a polaroid photo station at the reception for people to take pictures, print them there and then and write comments / draw on- kind of an alternative to a guest book.

I'm sure we'll have something we can cobble together! Don't worry too much about it. You'll have the memories and, to be honest, how often do you think you're going to dig out your old wedding photos? BORING! You'll be too busy enjoying married life! ?

Sorry to hear that starstuck, such regret's happen far too often. Just hope your post saves other hitchers from the same disappointment.

It's very interesting to see the very different priorities that people place on images of weddings and also of 'togs'.

Being a 'tog', I'd like to put my opinions on this topic.

When there are not many weddings taking place (mostly winter) I get a lot of requests to make albums for couples who have had photos taken by another photographer. My worst nightmare (and it is a nightmare) is telling the couple that out of the xxxxxxx images, only xx are in focus. The immediate response is can I fix this. In all honesty, no.

I don't understand how this comes about. We live in an age where anyone can arrange to see as many photographers as it takes to ensure that the person they are booking is capable of delivering what they are looking for.

Look at the albums of full weddings, are they to your taste? Ask probing questions, are they avoided or honestly answered?

Luckily, every photographer is different. As a person, as an image maker, as a service. If a photographer has been around the block a few times, they will only put images that they like taking on their website. This tells you their style.

If price is a concern, discuss it with the interesting photographer. From my personal view, if a couple was to say they loved my work but I was out of their budget, I'd ask what their budget was and whether they need me for all the hours they originally thought or do they really need an album right now, try and find a solution. I'd try and accommodate reasonable requests. If however, the first question was how much do you charge, then for me it means the money is more important than the service and images. An indication of where the priorities are.

There have been on Hitched a few recent threads of couples getting married in the most unfortunate of circumstances and all the 'suppliers' have come out with offers (heartwarming) of assistance and for no fee. Humanity is still alive and kicking!

I hope I am not alone in saying this: When the payment of a wedding comes through, my wife is over the moon. When I deliver the photographs (album, dvd, prints) and I see some emotion, I am over the moon. That is my payment.

Just to add my two-penneth... I completely understand that budgets can be tight. Sometimes they just won't stretch to a good photographer. However, what I would say is that if there is any way you can afford it I would whole heartedly recommend going without weddings cars, chair covers etc to get photos you will love. I still look at my photos all the time. I absolutely love them and I'm so pleased we chose our tog carefully.

I think that's the point kharv, if you love your photo's you'l be able and will want to relive the day from time to time just by looking through your album. On the other hand if the pictures suck, they are going to stay in a draw as they will be either boring or worse.. upsetting.

Totally agree with both of you. I don't have a single wedding photo in a frame because there are none that are good enough and I don't want to be reminded of such a stupid mistake every day. However I do have this on a big canvass in my lounge, and whilst I would love to have something from our wedding, I guess this is a more current snapshot of my life!

Funnily enough, the second regret I have about the wedding was spending £300 on 2 cars which although I loved sitting in, the tw&t photographer didn't get any photos of, so they were a waste of money!! Should have booked a couple of taxis and spent the money on a decent photographer. Was very glad we had a videographer and I really have to get the video put onto DVD so the kids can watch it as our video player has packed up!

(I don't have any other regrets! lol And I loved the day, and my marriage is rather fab! lol).

]Just to add my two-penneth... I completely understand that budgets can be tight. Sometimes they just won't stretch to a good photographer. However, what I would say is that if there is any way you can afford it I would whole heartedly recommend going without weddings cars, chair covers etc to get photos you will love. I still look at my photos all the time. I absolutely love them and I'm so pleased we chose our tog carefully.

exactly this, I would have loved to be rocking up in a rolls royce, but it was a case of 500 quid for 10 minutes or 500 for forever

We are going by taxi so cannot save money there (couldn't justify a 'classic car') and while I am having chair covers, these are only £50. When I said a tight budget, we are doing it all for £2.5k. I have posted details of my requirements on a site for student photographers so hopefully we can sort something

Cracking picture! ?

Don't expect that just because their camera looks impressive that the pictures will also be impressive. However they will likely be a big step up from guest photo's.

Make sure you look at plenty of them, and you could also ask for advice here about which ones will likely provide the best work/experience.

I think if you can't afford it, then you just can't. I know someone who was on such a small budget that they had fake flowers throughout and at the speeches gave the ones on the tables as gifts to the mum's.

But this is different from those who see it as a good deal and spend the money elsewhere. £400 for photography but spend 2k dress, £800 shoes etc. I don't think this is the case with the OP so the route they're taking (guests or student) is a wise one.

But as already mentioned earlier (Rhys or Peter, can't remember, sorry guys) where it could fall down is during the ceremony where the registrar asks for cameras not to be used. At which point someone has to be designated to step up.

Nothing beats a pro but starting married life in debt isn't good either.

Completely agree Chris. Sometimes budget just will not allow. OP I think contacting students is your best bet. Good luck - let us know how you get on.

Interesting discussion. Posts like this always remind me of this quote from Rock 'n Roll Bride magazine:

Hope you manage to find someone fab within your budget OP ?

Quote=Chris Giles Photography

"I think if you can't afford it, then you just can't. I know someone who was on such a small budget that they had fake flowers throughout and at the speeches gave the ones on the tables as gifts to the mum's.

But this is different from those who see it as a good deal and spend the money elsewhere. £400 for photography but spend 2k dress, £800 shoes etc. I don't think this is the case with the OP so the route they're taking (guests or student) is a wise one."

^^

THIS! I'm not spending £2k on a dress (I flippin' wish!)...and as for chair covers, what are they?! ? We're on a super tight budget and I'm not willing to get myself into debt over the wedding, especially as we're trying to save for a mortgage deposit which is more important in the long run! I'm getting tonnes of freebies from friends and family (hair, makeup, band, cake, photographer), for which I'm hugely grateful and I think makes the wedding really personal, we're walking to the registry office then to the reception, we're having fake flowers too (yay!) etc.- for some of us spending hundreds of quid on a photographer is just not possible and- sadly- all the quotes I've had are in this range. Fact is, different people have different priorities for their wedding and everyone's wedding is very different. I can totally get why some people would love to have amazing, high quality, professional photos of their day; for me, it's just not that important! Frankly, I'd rather spend it on cake and booze! Sorry. Vive la difference!!

On the other hand...if I could find a professional photographer willing to do it for £50....*wink wink*!

I'd say stick to the student idea if you can find someone, rather than a complete rookie. I work at a University and have seen some of the student work; stunning. You might stumble across the next big thing! ?

I totally disgree with this! Obviously I'm not married yet, but hopefully (providing the photos are good), I will never find my wedding photos boring! I love looking back at photos and also love looking at my parent's wedding photos. I initially booked a cheaper wedding TOG, but then realised the saving wasn't worthwhile as I didn't like their work at all, so have now gone for a slightly more expensive one, but feel much happier about it, as I realised having decent photos was quite a high priority for me.

I have to buck the trend and say that this comment is spot on. Whilst I do appreciate budget limitations, photography students are not taught wedding photography. so don't assume that a student is the answer to a cheap photography option. Despite my own student qualifications(which was BIPP approved) I was NOT a wedding photographer until I had undergone specific training in weddings.....Weddings are very different to other brands of photography and many truly underestimate what it takes and the pressures involved. Many highly rated photographers will not touch weddings, because they know the pressures that come with the necessity of getting it right with no option of doing it again.

One wedding, one chance, why take a risk on something so important

Peter

Because the Op is saying their just budget won't stretch, therefore a student is better than relying on guests to document the day.

Also, if she hunts around for someone who's genuinely talented, she might actually get some nice pictures. Sometimes talent trumps experience, especially in the low end segment.

Completely agree with this. I have no formal qualifications, in fact I left studying photography because they were holding me back. I'd set up my own business and they weren't teaching me anything I didn't already know.

Luckily there were brides out there willing to give me a chance otherwise I wouldn't be where I am today.

Me neither, all the information you need is freely available. If you have a genuine passion along with talent, you pick it up fast.