Photographer or not... I can't decide

[fleacircus]

DP and I are planning a tiny, pretty informal wedding. Happy to be lavish in some ways - e.g. food and booze! - but generally keeping the budget fairly low. We aren't planning to have a photographer, except now I'm worrying that I'll regret afterwards not having pictures (obviously some of the guests may take some, but none of them are amazing photographers as far as I'm aware). I know I should just call a couple for quotes but I fear getting trapped in some kind of wedding machinery and I almost certainly won't end up booking any of them. But just so I have some idea what I'd be letting myself in for, does anyone have a ballpark figure for a photographer (south of England but not London), just for the (brief, civil) ceremony and immediately afterwards? Maybe one group picture, one immediate family (4 people) and one of the two of us. I know it's not time I'd be paying for, but expertise and equipment and the pictures themselves - so I don't know if the fact that they'd only be there for 40 minutes makes a difference?

[harpist]

definitely get a photographer. I've come across so many couples whose photos were ruined/non existent because they relied on friends to do them.

Armande
Wedding Harpist

[Dukketeater]

Our photographer is doing all day and a photo booth for £400

She is based in South London but coming to us in Kent and covers Surrey. Her photos are really quite lovely but she is new and thats why her price is low. Its just a disc of edited pictures x

Her name is Jenine Mason
m.facebook.com/jenine.Mason?refsrc=www.google.co.uk/

[FromagePlease]

Chose a cheap one, regretted it, very average photos at best. Photos were saved by a mate of DH's who was testing out his new camera, his pics were so much better than the official photographer. Really, really, regret our decision.

[Mashoona88]

Just answered a similar thread elsewhere so forgive my repetition anyone who sees it - I'm in the SE and my sister is at Central St Martins in London, I asked her to point us in the direction of the best photography student in her year. He was willing to do it for £250 plus travel (DH and I had decided that we would go without if we couldn't find a photographer for that). I was a little nervous but he was amazing, he listened to my brief (DH and I didn't want cheesy) and produced some amazing shots, including a number of analogue a4 prints and a massive disc of edited photos. We paid him travel in advance and the full amount at the end of the day. I was nervous but so glad we did it, our pics are honestly my favourite wedding photos I've seen (I would say that, eh?)

If you want his deets or to look at some of his work online (although some is very artsy and not at all like what he did for us tbh) I'll happily share, was so chuffed.

We also put out a couple of Polaroids and hung up an empty frame for people to take pictured at the reception, which worked really well, but isn't cheap either - proper Polaroid films now cost £2 per picture!

[eurochick]

One difficulty you might face is that in summer wedding season, even though you only want 40 mins, the photographer would have to give up another full day booking.

[overmydeadbody]

Ask local photographers in your area, don't just look for 'wedding photographers', any photographer will be able to do what you want, you don't need a specific wedding photographer with an expensive wedding package.

[overmydeadbody]

Definitely get a photographer. It is the one thing people always regret if they don't do it.

We found a very good photographer and he is not charging anywhere near some of the crazy prices you get quoted for.

You won't have to pay more than £300 for what you want. It is just a matter of looking hard (not just on the first page of google!)

[CrazyOldCatLady]

I had various people, including my dad (who volunteered), take photos. They were atrocious. There was only one that was halfway decent and it was of me and DH. Nothing of anyone else. I regretted it terribly for a while.

Then life moved on, we had kids and lived our lives and in all honesty I don't think we're missing out by only having one photo. We're still married, even without photos!

[PotatoPolly]

Please please please spend as much as you can afford on a photographer- as someone up thread said, photos are one of the only things left after the actual day.

We had a fantastic photographer from the Kent area, let me know if you're interested and I'll pass on his details

[starsandunicorns]

I really want one put our wedding on a shoestring and even smaller than yours op so far only got 3 guests when we get wed uni will out I thinking on just plying into a photobooth

[MaryHo]

Well.. if you still have some more time, I suggest considering once again the topic of a wedding photographer. I think that now maybe you think you can do without wedding pictures but after some time, in the future you'll definitely regret not having the professional session done. And the occasion is unrepeatable. So even if you want to have a low budget wedding I think it's worth investing some money in professional photographs. Just look here: www.studio-milla.com/london-photographer-gallery/wedding-photography/ These are wedding photos which are made by a professional and definitely an accidental person won't take such pictures.

[fleacircus]

Thank you all for interesting insights... I do think I might regret not having pictures. Relying on friends isn't really possible, we're only inviting about 10 people so having one of the tied up with photographs would be a bit odd. Somedizzywhore - that sounds perfect, sadly we're in the wrong part of the country. But I am heartened that cheaper options might be available. Had wondered about the student option too - might investigate that further!

[harryhausen]

A *mate would take her photos.

[harryhausen]

Please, please get a photographer.

Apart from your wedding ring, it's the only other lasting thing from your day that you will treasure.

I hated the whole wedding photo thing. We had a very casual wedding. I ended up booking a 'reportage' type of photographer. He was expensive - but amazing. He caught the day, me, my dh, my guests in ways that were so happy, natural and unique. 10 years on, they are the best photographs of myself and my family & friends I've ever had.

A good friend of mine spent a fortune on her wedding but thought a Nate would take some photos so she could save £900. She always claims it was her biggest regret ever. She has hardly one photo she likes from her day.

Hope you find someone. Tell them what you want, they'll be lots who can do it. Have a great day x

[MrsSlobinson]

Yes - the fact that you would require them for less time makes a difference to the price, though also it depends on the date. There will be more flexibility on price for a midweek shoot, than for a Summer weekend when they could otherwise book a full price wedding.
I would also recommend using a professional.
It's great you can appreciate that you are paying for their expertise, training, and time before and after the wedding too. Tell them that and they will love you!
If you are not sure enough of your own 'eye' for a decent photographer ask another experienced photographer who they rate, as they should be able to determine the quality and consistency of the work.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

We did use a professional, and they were good, but I have to say that after a few weeks the albums went into the loft never to be seen again. We have one tiny photo on display and that was actually one taken by a guest. But I am still glad we got the good ones done.

[3bunnies]

In terms of organising I planned the shots, making sure people didn't go in and out of photos too much - eg us & FIL; us FIL, BIL & SIL; us, FIL, BIL, SIL, DM, DF, SIS & family then narrowing back down on my side. Then our wonderful best man got everyone there who needed to be. The photographer didn't need to do much of that organisation but he did have my list We only had 50 shots so had to plan each one. If you are going cheapish or getting a student then it is worth planning your must have photos and telling them what you want.

[BikeRunSki]

Don't ask your guests. I am a keen amateur with Ok kit. Did a friend's wedding, very stressful day for me, sort while time running around worried about getting the shots right, and don't remember a thing about the wedding. An amateur who is not part of the wedding, fine, but not a guest.

[nomoreminibreaks]

I would say it's worth having one - and a decent one. We had lots of good snaps that guests took but most of these were making use of the compositions the professional put together iyswim. Otherwise who's going to stand there telling the tall ones to stand at the back or feeling like an idiot saying 'say cheeeeese!'.

My sister wanted my DH to do this for their wedding and we recommended against it as he was happy to take photos but not boss people around, plus if you want a group shot there's always someone missing. In the end she got a very cheap professional and got some nice photos but organising everyone for group shots took a long time (think sending my elderly GM away then keeping getting her back down the stairs again for different shots, which took ages). It made me see very clearly what we'd paid for.

[perplexedpirate]

Our photographer was £300 (North West) and was absolutely crap.
He was rude (completely different from when we met him, but of course he had our money by then), didn't take the shots we wanted, took loads of stupid posey shots we didn't want and was generally a massive pain in the arse.
You get what you pay for, and I really wish I hadn't budgeted in this area.

[TheSlug]

I would get one. My mum and dad got married 25 years ago and my mum really regrets not having proper photos. They had a v small wedding, church and church hall, mum didn't even wear a dress, but that is the only thing she would change.

[whattoWHO]

I'm SE (not London) and paying £1250 for a photographer who is coming to the house for when I get ready until after the first dance.
He does smaller packages, but his work is so wonderful that I wanted
A. Him to capture the little details of my dress, bouquet etc
B. Our guests relaxing through the day.
Its the biggest extravagance of our budget but I hope it will be something to give life to our memories.

[Cybercat]

I would pay for one. They have better knowledge of lighting etc and you will get much nicer pictures to look back on.

[MotherOfInsomniacToddlers]

We just had friends and family take photos and have lots of lovely ones, I wouldn't bother tbh!!