Photographer Question

Hey, we're feeding our tog, but he's going to eat in the hotel bar/restaurant, he's not eating with the wedding if you know what I mean, he'll be in a different room. We will just pay for his meal.

I don't think he would really want to be sat at a table with our guests during the meal, it must be a bit strange!

That's what I thought when H2B reminded me that someone had told us that we're supposed to feed them.

I usually bring my own sandwiches, but I do know some photographers put it into their contracts that they require a hot meal if they are staying a full day. It varies from photographer to photographer.

It's one of those things I don't expect, but is always appreciated and if a couple have fed me, I'm not desparate to shoot off as soon as their alloted time is up to go and eat and don't mind hanging around a bit if they are running late for the first dance or whatever.

I usually eat in the bar away from their guests so we can ALL relax.

Although it's not something I insist on I can understand why some photographers do, if you are doing a wedding or two every week then ham butties for your tea gets old very quickly!

WBS...although in some cultures, the vendors are deemed as part of the wedding party. Specifically, Italian, Greek, and Asian weddings also cater for those "supporting" the wedding day, even to the extent of having a vendors table in the main room.......something that I will go along with although not always feel easy about.

edited to add that once at a Thai wedding, the groom insisted that I sat on the top table as a result of the work and attention I had given the day and specifically how I had calmed a very nervous bride.....I was both honoured and embarrassed at the same time.....

My tog has just started his own wedding photography business AND he is also a close friend, so we have decided that he is going to be invited as a guest and will sit in the wedding recpetion meal and will also be taking the photo's. I am thinking that this might be a bit complicated but...hey ho....he'll manage!

I wouldn't like a meal with the guests, I don't think. Just because I wouldn't feel at ease. But some people have provided sandwiches and I've had them in a bar area.

I would never expect it, but it's always nice. I always work with an assistant, so if we're in a bar area then we can review shots and discuss details of the day and whats happening next - we couldn't really do that if we were in the main room.

I also need to remember to buy a cool box for my food as the last wedding I photographed I made sandwiches as it was going to be a long day. Unfortunately it was very very hot, and there was no where to put sandwiches apart from in the car.
I got my sandwiches out, they had cheese spread in them and when I picked up a sandwich it was so hot that all the cheese spread run out like liquid! I didn't eat them ?

The only silly questions are the ones you don't ask. :-)

Most wedding photographers will state in their contract what is required - usually it's sandwiches and soft drinks. You wouldn't seat them at a guest table.

Personally I use that time to backup the photos from the camera to a laptop and then to an external hard drive.

Ben

Thanks everyone for the response and fab info.

Why don't you speak to your photographer about it and ask what he usually does?

Personally as a photographer a lot depends on the length of the day. As you can appreciate running about with all that heavy equipment is tiring, so we do need a break, and an energy boost.

Quite honestly at weddings I go with the flow, weather I get my own sandwich or are given some sort of food, I'm happy. As I say, its just an energy boost.

I also never worry where I am seated, but there is one big consideration, is that the photographer is not too far or isolated from the action. We need to be able to see what is going on and everything else. We need to be able to observe to see when the speeches are about to happen or to capture any other great moments that may occur.

Personally I'm always on. I'll drop my lunch, and run to photograph something if if means the couple getting a great photo.