Friends as wedding vendors pros and cons: What I learned from getting our photos for free
Shortly after my husband and I were engaged, we ran into an old family friend who I hadn’t seen in probably over a decade. We chatted for a bit, during which she enthusiastically offered to photograph our wedding for us free as a gift. I had to restrain myself from jumping down her throat with my “yes.” Photography is important to me and my family, but we had a relatively small total budget, and there was almost nothing in there for photos, so I figured this was perfect. It is now almost four months since my wedding, and I’m having some issues with my choice.
Here’s what I’ve learned from my experience with using friends as wedding vendors…
Why you should absolutely do engagement photos if they’re included in your wedding package
“I didn’t think we wanted engagement photos. My partner hates being the center of attention and has requested we try to find a wedding photographer who won’t act like paparazzi. But a lot of the photographers I’m seeing have packages that include an engagement session. I don’t think we want to do them, even if they’re free. What do people even use them for? Is there any reason to do them?”
Yep. Because it’s really not about what you *do* with actual photos, it’s mostly just about practicing. Lemme explain…
Give your guests YOUR camera for instant gratification wedding photos at the end of the night
SarahP left an awesome comment on our post, “13 things I wish I’d known on my wedding day.” She recommended that couples leave a camera in a conspicuous area and let their friends go wild with photos.
A disappointed bride’s 5 tips to get better wedding photos
Our wedding is all done and it was fantastic, but the photography isn’t. There’s little I can do now, except to share some wedding photography advice with the benefit of hindsight in the hopes that my disappointment won’t be yours as well. Here are five things I wish I would have done differently.