Pregnant Photographer....

I can't comment personally as I haven't had any kids; but I do have friends and colleagues with children and some of them are very career driven - back within two weeks even!

Everyone is different, but she has a reputation to uphold so I am sure that if she says she'll be back to work by then, then she will. The only thing I would be concerned about would be if the due date was wrong and she only gave birth a week or so before the wedding. Why not ask her if she has someone who would normally step in for her in case of illness. This was something we had to ask our photographer even though there's no chance of him being pregnant, ha ha. It's good to know they have a back up.

HTH x

She is a student and we would be her first wedding....

Oh, oops - totally different then. Sorry, picked up your post wrong... ?

I think you just need to explain to her that you don't think it's going to work with the dates, but maybe you could do a post-wedding shoot if she wanted to - like a 'trash the dress' or something, not too sure what these are but seem to be V.popular at the mo.

Alternatively, if it was for her portfolio, you could give her the opportunity to take some pics alongside your new tog - so long as they were ok with that...

Sorry, don't feel like I've helped much - it's a tricky one

Then I think you should at least make sure she has a back-up (and check you like their work too) just in case. She is obviously keen so I think you should keep her as your photographer, but maybe ask her if she knows another student who could step in if anything goes wrong? This doesn't have to be just something with the baby, but anything could happen on the day and you would be stuck. plus if there was a back-up then there would be less pressure on her to leave the baby if she changed her mind after the birth.

I personally would sit down and talk to her and see if she can have a back up person in place to shoot your wedding in case:

*she has a C section and may not be strong/physically fit enough on the day (standing up/carrying heavy cameras all day)

*if she going to be breast feeding

Hmmm, this is a tricky one.

One point to consider, which may not be the case if she is a student TOG, is was a contrcat signed, have you paid her any money/ were you going to pay her any money. Generally people can be a lot friendlier to change if money is not involved.

Personally if I were you I would book someone else, if budget allows. Ive never had kids but say she has a C section, isnt she supposed to not do anything too strenuous for about 6 weeks after (sorry if mums are laughing at my ignorance), but my point is a wedding is a long day, and you dont want your TOG flagging.

I personally would look for an alternative photographer and explain that its the most important day of your life, and the photography os one of the few things you have forever from your wedding and you need to be 1 million % sure that everything is going to A) happen and B0 live up to your expectations.

I wouldnt be letting someone who had never shot a wedding before do mine to be honest - friend or not. Has she ever assisted a photographer before ie been a 2nd photographer before?

My photographer is a friend who has been building up his photography business for 4 years, and was a '2nd' phptographer for about 3years previous and is currently leaving his job to set up full time - he has 44 weddings this year alone. He done my engagement shoot and the pics were great.

I really think its a way too important part of your day to take a risk on - you cant get them took again.

We don't have a contract, but we were going to pay her....

not sure where i stand legally - ie sex discrimination

My partner and I don't have lots of photos up in our house, and I am fine about them not having done a wedding before as I am not looking for perfection or RMW or stylemepretty just some nice photos.

I am not keen on her having someone she knows just stepping in if she can't as i would have wanted to meet that person and seen photos and had our photos taken with them.....

I have asked a friends husband who has done commercial photography before who is interested in doing wedding photography and he took some good photos of us a few weeks back and he has proffesional spec cameras....

And what would happen if the baby was two weeks late? I wouldn't be comfortable about it at all. Even if the baby came early and had it 6 weeks before your wedding, I don't know how she could work around the breastfeeding (if that's what she chooses to do).

Any ideas on nicely worded let downs would be appreciated!