To think I may be able to get a uni photography student to take my wedding photos for free?

[MaryBoBary]

We are getting married at the end of the year back in our Uni city where we met. It will be just the 2 of us and our 3 year old (will potentially be calling on some mumsnet witnesses nearer the time!) and the wedding will be pre 12pm.

AIBU to think that a photography student would want the chance to take some wedding photos for an hour or two for their portfolio, and not expect to be paid? Obviously we won't be expecting world class photography, just some nice pics as we won't have any family or friends there to take them. Would it be cheeky to email the uni asking or have other people done this before?

Utterly cheeky and unlikely. Student photographers are much more likely to be taking avant-garde shots of soft focus. black and white trees silhouettes with taxidermied owls than some bland wedding with a cheapo bride.

Just pay for a photographer like a normal person.

Photography students won't be interested in doing wedding photos. They're studying to be photo journalists and artistic photographers etc.

Every Tom, Dick and Harry thinks photography students would love to photograph their wedding for free. But when I was at college photography students looked down their noses at wedding photographers.

Why are some people so cheeky and entitled? FFS, no, no one wants to do work for free anymore than you do, and yet you think you're doing someone a favour by deigning to command their time and skill for free? For 'an hour or two'? Give over.

Also worked at a uni where we advised students never to give in to this work for free bollocks.

Some people literally have no shame.

Utterly cheeky and unlikely. Student photographers are much more likely to be taking avant-garde shots of soft focus. black and white trees silhouettes with taxidermied owls than some bland wedding with a cheapo bride.

Or food. Friend of mine makes a good living as a successful food stylist/photographer/videographer.

You'd be incredibly cheeky to ask. I have done wedding photography for people as a favour and they'd always offered to pay something. I've only ever done work for free when it's been a charity and even they didn't ask me to do it for free.

You are exactly the sort of person that Art&Design students are warned about by responsible tutors. Likewise musicians and craft workers.Find a friend if you have one and ask them to do it. Stop exploiting others.

Your cheap two person wedding won't contribute anything to a portfolio. It's also so overreaching to expect a school to give you student information. Pay people for their work.

Hair and beauty students at college have a cut price salon they train in but it's not free. You could potentially outsource your band to the college if anyone is interested too but it also wouldn't be free (they're students not free labour). Plus if you don't get the results you want you'll have no comeback as they won't come with individual insurance and if you end up with 50 photos you can't use then you get what you pay for - if you want free photos buy a bunch of disposable cameras to hand out to guests and develop what the take on the day.

Very cheeky and rude!

I know people who are photographers and artists and musicians ad also I.T. specialists and gardeners. You wouldn't BELIEVE the amount of CFs who ask if they will give their services for FREE

With the musicians and photographers, the CFs say 'it will be great exposure for you.'

You can't pay the rent and bills with EXPOSURE.

Very rude. Don't do it!

Sorry just read no guests attending.... Ask witnesses to snap pics or passers by?

No no no. Try asking a plumber or an accountant to do work for free to build up their portfolio.

Not only would you be grabby to ask, but if there is only the two of you and one small child that doesn't sound like a heaven-sent opportunity for a photographer! Don't embarass yourself by taking this idea any further, OP! What could possibly be in it for the photographer?

I am sure you have got the point now OP so if money is tight you need to think of ways of making that bit of your day work well. I know people who got friends to take “snaps” of their wedding and regretted it immensely as it’s not just the practical skill with the camera but having the eye and creativity.

My husband has taken pictures after the fact of bride and groom in their finery as it was only after the wedding that they realised their friend had taken pictures of their own friends and a few blurry snaps of them in the distance.

At least you sought advice OP, that was a wise thing to do, even if your original idea wasn't

I'm sure you'll take the advice on board even if it has turned into a pile on.

Of course it's unreasonable.

It'd be more than cheeky to email the Uni to ask, it would be insulting. Offer a respectable fee for the quality of service you want to receive.

If you're really cheap, just go with one of the £50 photographers that advertise all over eBay. There are plenty of want-to-bes charging next to nothing, and generally proving the point that you get what you pay for.

Do you seriously think photography students want your wedding photos in their portfolio?

My son was a photography student at Uni and so was his BF. His BF did do this kind of work as a side line and would charge £300 at least for the day's shooting and editing but sometimes £500 if my son or another was alongside him to assist. He then charged extra for any prints etc afterwards. He didn't need to do anything for free for "the experience" as even though he didn't yet have a piece of paper in his hand saying Honours Degree the people employing him valued his time and talent.

Why would a photography student want to photograph something as boring as a wedding for free !?
Making money would be the only reason to do it !!

'Oh, yes, that would be perfect! My rent is exactly 800 exposures!'

YY musicians get this, too, as do florists, bakers, tailors, etc. And the staff at colleges and unis. 'Do you have anyone you can recommend?' No, CF. 'Sorry, we cannot release student information but you can put up an ad on the wall in the building and see if people respond.' 'Oh, but i need someone guaranteed.' 'In that case, we do have some student groups who have formed musical groups who take bookings.' 'But they charge!' 'Yes, well, it's their job.'

Ask your witnesses to take some photos

I love how people denigrate these skills, too. 'It's just a few snaps'. 'It's just flour, eggs, butter and milk' 'Just a nip and tuck on the dress'

I can't believe it wouldn't occur to you to want to offer them at least something. Travel costs, a box of miserable chocolates, at least.

Absolutely nothing is completely unreasonable, no matter how small the do, or tight your budget.

I have a degree in photography. I understand your thought process but many photography "students" are actually established photographers already, not just learning the ropes. It's not the same as getting a cheap haircut from a trainee. I didn't study photography to learn how to take pictures, not many do. I studied because I wanted access to excellent studio and dark room facilities, for professional development advice such as how to market my work, how to network etc. For feedback and constructive criticism.