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Original poster

Wedding with no photographer - would you judge?

99 replies

CalmDownPacino · 22/02/2019 11:25

As the title really....it's my wedding - only a small affair, second time around for both of us. Register office and then a party afterwards. We categorically can't afford a photographer so aren't having one. Would you be judging if you came?

OP posts:
Enko · 22/02/2019 14:36

ok we had an expensive photographer at our wedding. the 2 best picture taken was by my sil on her camera.. 23 years on they are the 2 still up none by the photographer

Jackshouse · 22/02/2019 14:38

Definitely don’t bother with disposable cameras.

AnotherEmma · 22/02/2019 14:38

"One other thing to try - ask a local photography group or course if there are any keen amateurs or students that would be able to take pictures for you - even if just for the registry office or an hour at the party - for a minimal fee (what would you have spent on disposable cameras?) and the chance to have a go at photographing a real wedding, that you would let them use for their portfolio and provide a reference. You might find that there are no takers but sometimes it can be very difficult for people to get that first booking to become a wedding photographer so they might be up for it. I know a couple of people who started like this - basically did it for petrol costs and their food - as they needed those all important pictures to show to clients that they could do it. If you don't ask - you definitely won't get someone. If you do ask - there's a chance that you might find someone..."

I was going to suggest this myself but couldn't be arsed to type it all out so I'm glad someone else has Grin Excellent idea if I say so myself Grin

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Weddings
AnnaFiveTowns · 22/02/2019 14:50

I think people will be relieved that they dont need to spend hours faffing about posing for photos.

We didn't have a photographer; I asked a friend to take some nice photos for us and she did. For me a photographer was an unnecessary faff and expense, even though we could have afforded one.

Parthenope · 22/02/2019 14:57

I'd notice, and be absolutely delighted to dispense with all the tiresome hanging about from the guests' pov. But then, not only did we not have a photographer when we got married, but we took no photographs at all. Maybe one, which is a selfie of the two of us in a black cab.

beefthief · 22/02/2019 15:03

I would judge you positively.

Banana770 · 22/02/2019 15:05

I wouldn’t as we didn’t have one, just got FIL to take some pics with his fancy camera and my bridesmaid took some great ones too. We went to a wedding about three weeks later and there was the most intrusive photographer there, I was glad we didn’t have one!

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 22/02/2019 15:10

We had a "proper" photographer, we have an album full of smaltzy photos. Took bloody ages
Nicest photo was one taken by my sister.
Just ask your guests to upload their best ones to a sharing site

EleanorLavish · 22/02/2019 15:38

I had a massive traditional wedding with no photographer.
It has been said many times by relatives that everyone enjoyed it so much because there were no photos, standing around for hours posing etc. I could mingle with guests all day at ease.
Lots of people there took snaps and gave me some. You only need 1 or 2 nice snaps!
Have a lovely day.

KindergartenKop · 22/02/2019 17:18

I'd be relieved.

Meet0nTheledge · 22/02/2019 17:32

We did (20 years ago, pre phone cameras but we did still get a fair few good ones from friends and relatives. The proper photos were really good. But we moved house a year later, the albums went into the loft and have been there ever since, the DCs have never seen them, and I doubt they'd be interested. Not sure I'd bother with a photogrspher now, getting the guests to use phones would be fine.

I would bd careful about asking a friend though, I have s friend who is a decent amateur and he gets really fed up with this happening, he finds it hard to relax properly and finds it hard to say no.

ScorpiaForCatra · 22/02/2019 17:38

Do people still d those disposable cameras that were a thing when I got married?

TBF out of the 20 or so we bought we got 10 decent pictures, but people had fun with them.

BestBeforeYesterday · 22/02/2019 17:38

No. Why on earth would anyone judge?

happymummy12345 · 22/02/2019 17:39

I wouldn't judge. But I wouldn't do it myself.

AnotherEmma · 22/02/2019 17:40

No because people have smartphones now, which have cameras that are much better quality than disposable ones, and getting the photos developed is expensive.

Seems silly to throw money away on bad photos from disposable cameras when you don't want to spend money on photography!

Clankboing · 22/02/2019 17:40

God no it would be a relief! Hate photos!

ToastyFingers · 22/02/2019 17:42

I'd rejoice. I have seeing dodgy 'candid'photos of myself from weddings and if I'm honest, I've only ever seen one lot of wedding photos I thought were beautiful and absolutely loads of tacky, sub-par ones.

Justkeeprollingalong · 22/02/2019 18:27

My daughter had a professional photographer and the photos are fine but the 'snaps' taken by family and friends capture the spirit of what was a wonderful day much better. It's a good thing to save money on.

Wonderbag · 22/02/2019 18:30

I love a wedding with no photographer deciding that everyone should stand and wait while you get out of the car right, waiting while people are called up etc. Waiting waiting waiting.

PrettyAmazingGrace · 22/02/2019 18:32

We didn't have one and it was my 1st (hopefully only) wedding. Friends and family all gave us copies of theirs, which gave a much fuller and.more real flavour of the day. My bridesmaid put an album of key moments together for us afterwards as a surprise (using everyone's pics - she didn't take any). It was beautiful, didn't miss having a photographer one bit.

Congrats btw 😊

Crockof · 22/02/2019 18:34

Another that didn't have a photographer, just ask people to share their pictures xx

StandardPoodle · 22/02/2019 18:45

We had a vey small wedding and no photographer - I certainly wouldn't judge you!

NeverTwerkNaked · 22/02/2019 18:53

I wouldn’t bother with disposable cameras- people will take much nicer photos on their phones. Maybe suggest to people that they send their favourites from the day to you if they would like to?

We are getting married in a few months and aren’t spending on a photographer. I prefer “real” photos to posed ones and don’t want the day to turn into a photo shoot. We spending on a holiday with our children instead. There’s a lot you don’t actually “need” that the wedding industry will try and convince you is a “must- have”

NeverTwerkNaked · 22/02/2019 18:55

I remember DBIL getting married and a large wait in the middle of the day while they had hundreds of photos taken of them. Most in posed situations. Including pretending to cut a pretend cake HmmGrin . I never understood why! They had a lovely real cake and photos were taken of them cutting that too. I want a good party not a photo shoot

TheCraicDealer · 22/02/2019 19:06

I'm with AnotherEmma on this. Photos were very important to me- memories fade quickly and they're the one thing you get to keep (aside from the rings and actual marriage, obvs). It's good thing we paid for a photographer as most of the photo-takers in our wedding were in the bridal party and the older family members who took photos on cameras didn't send any on to us. If you want photos at all you should pay for a professional rather than rely on guests- especially with disposable cameras. Equally if you're genuinely not bothered it's an obvious place to make a saving.

The one couple I know who didn't bother with a professional did so because a relative of the bride (amateur photographer) said she'd do it for them as her wedding present. She took so many photos of her kids and immediate family before the wedding started the camera battery died, and she had no replacement. Friends have only a handful of photos from the day, none of which are great. Bride still can't talk about it without getting teary.