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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not have a wedding photographer?

106 replies

xela21 · 13/05/2021 16:04

We are having a wedding weekend away with just 10 guests.
Photographer prices are astronomical as soon as you mention 'wedding' but equally don't want to be dishonest - it is still a wedding although very small. Also because of the tiny scale, wonder what really will the photographer have to photograph - not doing the traditional first dance, no bridesmaids/groomsmen etc. All very simple. Instead doing different activities over a number of days. Also, the wedding is very soon (doubt will find a photographer so quickly).

Will I regret not having a photographer?

OP posts:

misskatamari · 13/05/2021 16:41

We got married abroad, and had a photographer there (was just me and DH), but had a big reception back home, and we didn't have a photographer for that, and i really wish we had. We were hoping guests would get pics and email them over, but hardly any did. I really wish we had some better shots of it, but it is what it is. Obviously it's totally up to you, just my experience

RampantIvy · 13/05/2021 16:43

I'm saying YABU because we didn't have one. My uncle took the photos, and while they are OK, they are just that - OK. They are just 6 x 4 snapshots of our wedding day. I wish we had had a proper photographer.

It is our 40th wedding anniversary this year, and we just have some tiddly little photos to look at.

Whatthechicken · 13/05/2021 16:43

We got in an apprentice photographer from the college (I did know his work though), we have some lovely pics. We paid him about £500 and he did a great job.

iminthegarden · 13/05/2021 16:43

I think you'll regret not having at least a few decent pics if the ones your guests take aren't great. Can you speak to a photographer and explain the situation, if you are clear then they could probably just be there for 30 mins to do a few of the ceremony then a group photo and a few you the two of you directly after, and explain you'll only be buying x amount that way they can decide to take the job or not.

wingsofsteel · 13/05/2021 16:47

I had a much bigger wedding than that and completely regret bothering to pay for an official photographer. Ours was pretty traditional, so DH and I had some photos on our own that were quite nice, then tons of different groups of friends/family etc. I found the whole photo thing tedious (I can only imagine the guests found it more so) and would have much preferred to have an extra hour with my guests. At the time the alternative seemed to be to pay even more for someone to follow me round all day taking un-posed shots, which would have really irritated me.
I now have a large album of very expensive photos that I don't think I have opened in over a decade. I much prefer some of the snaps friends took.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 13/05/2021 16:48

I'd ask around I know some really really good amateur photographers, they have all the equipment etc and just do it as a hobby and if you are a friend of s friend they might do it for a fraction of the price of a professional

What they wont do though is know what 'works' best for wedding poses etc and be used to giving people lots of direction so if you go down this route or a student etc I would have a look through the portfolio of a photographer that you love on facebook or something and print out some examples of pictures and poses that you like and ask the photographer or a friend to keep hold of them on the day for you. It's easy to forget when you're actually in the midst of celebrating! And give really clear direction of wanting some formal group shots, families, candid guest shots, posed shots, any props etc

ItsAllAboutTheParsley · 13/05/2021 16:49

If they matter to you, get a professional. If it’s not so important don’t, but do tell the others at your wedding to take photos so that they know you want them.
You could always get a studio portrait done in your wedding outfits if you wanted an official photo for less money?

Streamside · 13/05/2021 16:51

As another wedding photographer ,I'd say please try and have a photographer.It's been a tough year for photographers and many will be happy to quote you an hourly rate.

hilariousnamehere · 13/05/2021 16:51

It's more expensive when you mention wedding because insurance is more expensive for a wedding and you don't want a photographer who isn't operating with insurance in place!

I'm biased because I am a photographer, though don't shoot weddings (being a bridesmaid more than 10 times was enough weddings for me!) and I think the photos are the things which last beyond the day, the cake and the dress... but it depends how much you personally value being able to look back on the memories visually :)

firstimemamma · 13/05/2021 16:52

We are having a small wedding too but not quite as small as yours - 18 people altogether. We are having a professional photographer but only for a 2 hour slot which obviously slashes the price. Just enough time for the ceremony then some lovely photos afterwards. Something to consider - it doesn't have to be for the whole day.

Namechange1067949 · 13/05/2021 16:52

Would you consider a university student who just wants some experience - probably be approx £200
Then at least youve got some photos

The photos and the rings are 95% of my wedding budget, they’re the ‘keepsakes’ I think so I wouldn’t skip it personally

nokidshere · 13/05/2021 16:54

It's personal really. We have pics from friends and family from our very small wedding 34 yrs ago. I don't regret anything about it. It's a very expensive item given that they will sit in a cupboard for the majority of your life, maybe coming out for the odd special occasion.

I'd definitely go down the route of student or family and friends.

therearenogoodusernamesleft · 13/05/2021 16:55

I paid a big chunk of my tiny budget for a photographer for my wedding 14 years ago.

I looked back at them recently and they're awful! Dated and not great quality.

Oh, and I got divorced

CandyLeBonBon · 13/05/2021 16:56

I'm not advertising for business here, I promise, but I'm a wedding photographer and I developed a small Covid safe mini package for small weddings that offers a free video of the services and live streaming for people who can't make it. We're not all out to fleece the happy couple, I promise!!!

It's designed to reflect the smaller amount of work involved.

I'm surprised more photographers haven't done it tbh - it's proved really popular where I live!

But if you don't want one, that's fine, I'm sure friends/family will do just fine!

Good luck and have a great day OP!

SwimBaby · 13/05/2021 17:00

TBH the wedding photographer was probably the best thing I spent money on (apart from my dress) for my wedding. I didn’t have him at the reception, only for arrival at the registry office and about half an hour after. I love my photos.

Rmka · 13/05/2021 17:00

We had a bigger wedding, but a photographer would be high on our priority list regardless. I would really regret not having one. Most photos are candid and they're beatiful, they tell the story of our wedding perfectly. We ordered a personalised album from our photographer and we look at it every few months. It's the best keepsake. Plus we probably won't look so good ever again, so we wanted to capture that
The difference between the photos our family took and the professional ones is huge. Even though some of our guest's photos are good.
Also if you have only 10 guests, they can relax, enjoy the moment and not take their cameras out.

Winterwarrior · 13/05/2021 17:00

I know a couple who got a trusted friend to take their wedding photos. They could well afford an excellent photographer but chose to do things differently. Let’s just say the gamble didn’t pay off. They had no decent pictures and it’s still a sore point with them even now, many years later.

HollyHardcastle · 13/05/2021 17:01

I had a small wedding and spent quarter of the budget on a photographer and it was the best money I've ever spent. My photos are exquisite and I look at the album regularly. Three of our fifteen guests have sadly died in the five years since the wedding, so it's even more special to have beautiful pictures of them happy and laughing.

HermioneKipper · 13/05/2021 17:05

We paid £1100 for ours. A lot of money but I knew the photographer and that he would do a great job plus he gave me a discount as I worked with him a lot. Never regretted it. The photos are beautiful. We have a lot up in the house and seeing them gives me so much pleasure

Gladimnotcampinginthisweather · 13/05/2021 17:09

When my cousin got married a friend of theirs offered to do the wedding photos as a wedding present. They have one decent photo of them together...

Ravenspeckingearly · 13/05/2021 17:15

Depends if the photographer is any good. We paid £2k. I cried for 2 days when the pictures came back. Not one single picture of me in my whole dress. I could have been wearing jeans on the bottom half and based on my pictures no-one would know. I do however have several pictures of my brothers dog and the sandwiches we ate before the ceremony. When my DD gets married I'm hiring TWO photographers in the hope that one is decent.

MyHairNeedsASnip · 13/05/2021 17:15

As a lot have already said, it really depends how important they are to you. My photographer was cheap and it showed. It bothered me at the time but 12 years in I've looked at those photos probably 3 times and that was in the first 12 months. It's nice to have a few good shots though.

joystir59 · 13/05/2021 17:17

Get a friend who is into photography to be your photographer for the day. I think you would regret not having lots of photos of one the most important events if your life

trevthecat · 13/05/2021 17:21

We get married in 3 weeks and our photographer did a elope/micro wedding deal of 2 hours for £200 might be worth asking if there are deals. For me it was one of the most important parts of our day

YourCakesAreShit · 13/05/2021 17:22

We had 12 guests and paid about £450 for our photographer - he did two-hour packages, which was great because we didn't have a formal reception so only really needed the ceremony doing. I'm so glad we did get a photographer. It means everyone else could just enjoy the day.

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