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I don't think I would rely on guests to take all the pictures for my weddding. You might end up not getting what you want in terms of pictures. If you can't afford your friend, then go with someone less expensive like a student.
Ask your friend. She did your epics and you love them. Tell her that you love the epics and you were wondering if she would do the wedding. Ten ask her about prices. Then if you can't afford them, you find another person. If she extends a discount then she did it on her own accord and not by you asking.
Be careful with friendors though. Make sure you get a contract to protect you both.
I know she is your friend, but being a buisness woman she should have no problems telling you her prices, as well as taking the news that you cant afford her. This wont be the first tme she ever had that discussion.
Please, please, please don't rely on guests pictures! They will turn out shakey, or blurry or missing important moments. Or your mom will keep taking pictures of you at bad angles!
Your friend is a professional. She is used to discussing her fees even if you are not.
Talk with her. Tell her what your budget is and ask her if that would work for her. If you don't want her to give you a further discount, tell her that you would be uncomfortable with that. Ask her what her going rate is and ask her to be straight with you.
Usually photographers (friendor or not) do what they can to work with your budget. Maybe she does ceremony-only; maybe she just gives you unedited images, maybe you don't get any prints only a cd. Talk to her, ask what she can do within your budget (which I am sure is more than nothing) and go from there.
@dotdotdoodlebot:"or your mom will keep taking pictures of you at bad angles!" LOL!!!!!! even though i know my mom takes great pics, that made my day!
@Miss Tattoo: i like how you said if she extends a discount she did it on her own... cause i dont want to ask for one cause that would be tacky. and i dont want to push for one. but maybe i should wait to see if she does. and she always does contracts! so were good there.
and thank you everyone... youre right she is a professional and is use to people asking. and i think i will ask just to find out her prices. who knows maybe it wont be as bad as i thought they were. i guess im just a little embarrassed about my finances to ask and say no.
We have a few photog friends. Regardless of cost, we don't want them lugging gear at our wedding. Is it ta close a friend? Why don't you go to her for advice about who in town would fit your budget and see what happens from there. She may volunteer to do the work herself for a reduced fee or recommend a someone whose skills are solid and whose prices are in your range.
I agree with Jeannine. You should totally ask your friend about photographers and what to expect in fees. I understand not wanting to ask a guest to tote gear around your wedding and reception all day and how you don't want to further impose on her generosity. She may have some other budget friendly ideas for you, though, and there's nothing wrong with asking her advice. :)
@MissHobbit: this is what my mom pretty much said. im glad to see someone offered that opinion other then her cause ive never heard of that. i always figured a price is a price and thats it. she might do something like that though. i should ask. on a side note love you profile pic and name!!!
@Jeannine @ Small Chic: that might be a good way to go too. i know she is understanding that we dont have much to work with but she never told me how much her packages are so i assumed they were too much. but since she is understanding i wouldnt doubt she would offer other options. and maybe thats a way to go too without going behind her back and finding someone else.
I should add that a friend who knows more photogs that I do (she knows more of the "artist" photog group while I know the wedding/baby/portrait photogs) had at least a dozen professional photogs at her wedding. Many of them brough gear with them, even though they weren't working the wedding.
SO, perhaps you should hire a photog that she helps you find and perhaps she will also bring a camera to the wedding and take a few shots. Double bonus!
We are acquaintences with one of the most successful wedding photographers in our town. We didn't ask her for packages, but we did run our choice by her. Not that we felt like we needed her approve (we signed a contract before we told her the name), but it was cool to get a little nod from her. :)
@Jeannine @ Small Chic: Most photographers have a clause in their contract about being the only professional photographer shooting. Asking guests who are photographers to shoot for free is sort of disrespectful to them and definitely disrespectful for the hired photographer. I would avoid doing that and just hire a professional who can get all the shots you need.
@BeeM: I read it as the extra photographers brought cameras of their own accord because they wanted to take pictures of their friends' wedding, the same way anyone else might bring a point-and-shoot. I have a lot of photographer friends and I'm definitely looking forward to my guest photos because I know they'll do a great job and capture some moments where my photographer just won't be! I think, if the photog-guests (photoguests!) are professionals they would certainly be aware of overstepping boundaries and contracts.
I don't see anything wrong with being upfront with her. This is our budget are you able to work within it?
I think your friend would be hurt if you didn't even inquire about hiring her and hired somone else. As pp stated, she is a professional and used to discussing pricing. Tell her what you told us. You can't afford a lot. Maybe approach it as "We love your work and want to use you but we only have x amount to spend on photography. What type of package could you put together for this amount?" Maybe you won't get as many shots or as many pics but you'll get the group photos you want. I would think if she was going to be a guest at your wedding anyway, she could at least take a few group shots and pics of just you and the groom then enjoy the wedding like all the other guests.
@BeeM: I wasn't suggesting that she ask her friend to second shoot. I'm saying that some photogs don't go anywhere without a camera. The friend she can't afford might just take some photos anyway.
I joked with that friend I mentioned in my post that there was probably about $70,000 in camera gear in the room and only one photographer was on the clock. She guessed $100,000. :)
And yes, professionals know boundaries. Luckily, in many towns, the photog community is tight and friendly...which is why I suggested that the expensive friend might be happy to refer the original poster to a colleague who does great work for less.
I feel like if she was offering to do your engagement photos for free, it seems like you're close enough that she'd probably just include a discount without you having to ask her. I'd say ask her about her rates, but also make it very clear that you're on a super tight budget. Maybe even ask her about a rate for a custom package that would just include all the formal shots through the end of the ceremony so that she can enjoy the reception responsibility free. If her rates are over your budget there's no insult in telling her that the rate is just a little more than you had planned on spending, and that if you can't pay her propperly you'd rather her be able to enjoy your wedding day responsibility free. As a photographer, I love the opportunity to actually sit down and enjoy a wedding of a friends every now and then. It's so rare that we get the chance to dance eat and drink with the rest of the invited guests!
Just approach her as you would any other professional. She won't get offended if your budget is less than her rate. Likewise, you shouldn't be upset if she won't or can't offer you a discount or custom package in your budget. You're getting married in May, an extremely popular month. Even if she did ceremony and portraits only, she'd likely have to turn down a full priced wedding for that day. That could be half a month's income.
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a while ago a friend took our eng pictures as a favor. we gave her some money just cause we couldnt just let her do it for free. the pics are wonderful and everyone loves them. my family keeps asking me to ask her to do our wedding but i have a feeling we cant afford her prices. i feel weird asking her what her prices are and then find out i cant afford it. i dont want to ask for a discount either cause she was so kind to do our eng pics for next to nothing.
been trying to think of other options.... i feel bad if i find someone cheaper or a student to do our wedding pics. and i dont want to just rely on disposables. i like the homemade photo booth idea at the reception cause im going for a sort of vintage feel. but i would really like some group pics and pics of the ceremony. should i just ask my guest to take lots of pictures?