You've tallied up your expenses for the big day and realize that the butterfly release you've scheduled and the dozens of pale pink peonies you've ordered have you in the red.
Just then you receive a call from your maid of honor's boyfriend offering to shoot your wedding. He's just purchased a fancy new digital camera and will save you a ton of money. How could you resist? He's dabbled in photography and seems pretty competent.
This could be a liability on all levels and a potential nightmare. The industry has made it a very user-friendly environment for enthusiasts to try their hand at photography. To pay someone even a few hundred dollars is too much money to spend on a soured relationship if you aren't pleased with the outcome. A bride and groom may feel less demanding with their photo needs since this is an act of kindness which can compromise your expectations. A volunteer photographer can tend to have a lax attitude especially since he or she isn't the hired help. They could be distracted by guests and want to socialize. And before you know it they've missed the "first kiss".
The pressure of documenting a wedding is still intense, even for photographers who have been doing it for years. So why put that type of pressure on anyone that you have a good relationship with?
A better solution would be to graciously decline their offer as the main photographer and invite them to shoot additional table and candid pictures as a contingency. Who knows, they may end up saving the day if something disastrous happens.
Leave a comment