to think its really not necessary

[smorticus]

To have a professional photographer at a childs 3rd birthday party?
I took my niece to her playmates shindig today and was shocked and mildly horrified to discover the parents had paid for a professional snapper to be there! Worst of all was that if anyone who attended the party wanted pics of their child they would have to pay to receive copies. Oh and a nice big sign on the door and constant verbal reminders that no one else was allowed to take photos. Hmmmm aibu to think this is all very bizarre?

nope.

they sound like utter twats

How strange. I would have took photos anyway, they can sod if if they think they would stop me actually it would make me more likely to

if I wanted to pay someone for pictures of my child I would it, but they wouldn't be from another childs party!

So glad it's not just me! I told my sister who found it hysterical and was glad she had to go to work! I did take a sneaky pic on my phone of niece having her face painted. Never have been one to obey rules!

What?

Are they famous parents , is it going to be in Hello/OK!

How ridiculous.

No-one else allowed to take pictures?!

WTF? That is really going to backfire on the hosts!

Definitely not necessary, what a money spinner! I would have left. I'm sure permission has to be sought from parents/guardians for photographs to be taken by a professional? There was a thread on here a while ago about a mum who had spotted her baby's photograph on an advertisement for a professional photographer who had taken pictures at a party they had attended, the mum hadn't given permission for the photograph to be taken let alone used for promoting the business. I'm a bit rubbish and can't remember the outcome though!

Definitely not famous, not sure they are even that "popular" for want of a better word, amongst the other parents that were there. According to my sis they are trying to become trend setters in the tiny village they live in! Not sure it's going to well

I wonder what commission they'd be getting from all those photo sales. That's really a class act - host a party, get a stack of gifts and then get the 20% or whatever of the resulting sales. I think I'd have turned into a paparazzo and started snapping my child like a madwoman.

I hadn't even thought about the possibility of them earning commission. One way of paying for the party I guess!