Wedding photographer extra - AIBU?

[mrsneville]

I’m getting married next year and we have booked a photographer. I love their work but they have recently added on an extra option for the coverage of ‘film style shots’.

Now, I love this look and it’s created using a different digital camera with a filter. But they are charging £350 for this ‘add on’. I didn’t originally pay for this extra but now I’m considering it because I do like the look of these film style photos.

AIBU to think it is a bit cheeky to have to pay extra for them to just use a different bit of their own kit? They don’t have to pay film developing costs so I don’t understand why it’s extra? surely when you pay for a wedding photographer it’s up to them what cameras they use?

YABU - just pay the extra or dont
YANBU - you shouldn’t pay extra for something that won’t cost them more

It does cost them more to own that kit though and to be able to use that kit.

Simple as if you want it, pay. If you don't want to pay, don't have it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think you either pay it or you don’t. I contract a photographer through work for landscape stuff and if we want drone footage it costs (quite a bit) more. He already owns the drone and the commercial licence, but it’s something extra to our original contract, so it’s an add-on.

You don’t know the costs associated with buying and using a different camera/kit, bringing extra kit on the day, editing in a particular specific style etc.

They’ve offered an add on so either pay for it or don’t - those are your choices!

Different camera, different lens. Do you have any idea how much these cost?

They've bought additional equipment to add an extra service. Plus it's extra pictures to edit. They're running a business, that's how it works.
If you don't think it's worth the extra money then don't do it.

You're forgetting the time required afterwards for editing...

This is like going to a hairdressers and getting a restyle with scissors and asking to pay the price of just a wash because all the other equipment was just sitting there.

If people are willing to pay extra they will charge extra.

No it's not cheeky, they are a business and you pay for what you want. If you're not happy go elsewhere

They've bought a special piece of equipment, if you want the special effect of this you pay extra. If you want standard photos you pay less.

I own one of the cameras myself, I know how much they cost.

And there is less editing involved because the photos are edited in camera. I am a photographer myself, so I see it from the perspective of -

if I bought an improved camera lens for my client photos, I wouldn’t then charge an optional extra for me to use different kit. I just see it as part of my equipment.

I don’t think I’ll pay for the extra, just wanted to hear people’s opinions!

Are you a hobbyist or is it your business?

I can't imagine you'd be asking the question if you were a professional photographer. And I don't imagine for one second a professional wedding photographer does all their editing in camera. Yes, there may be a preset filter for the aesthetic (which they are likely to have created themselves, it is unlikely to be a pre-set) but there will be after editing too.

I am a hobbyist photographer. My kit cost more than my car did, talking close to 5 figures. Doesn't mean I have the skills to do a wedding well though. A good photographer can get great images out of a shit camera. Having top spec kit does not always mean top spec results.

You are paying for the time and expertise, not the camera.

It's not cheeky, it's an entirely optional extra service from a business.

They could charge £10k to take one photo if they wanted. It wouldn't be good business sense because nobody would pay it but it still wouldn't be cheeky because you're not required to do it and neither of you are doing the other a favour.

Would you expect this from any other business? I can't get my head around your thought process here.

It makes it worse that you are a photographer but you expect another photographer to provide an extra service for no extra money? I take it you don’t work for money.

If you have the camera and there is no skill or editing required just get one of your guests to point and click. As it’s so easy.