Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Photographer...etiquette question...

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
Mandarine

Mandarine

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
3,786
Hi girls!

I have a question. Today I received an email from my photographer that left me a little bit concerned.

I saved a ton of money because I went with a "new" photographer (recent graduate). So far I think she has done a great job and I''m happy I gave her a chance. The thing is I do think that because she''s so young, she doesn''t always know what is proper to do. I have sent a bunch of people her way because I do think she has talent. As a thank you (without me knowing she would do this) she is bring a second photographer for free to capture the wedding. So she''s been good to me and I''ve been good to her...lol

As part of my package, I negotiated to have the CD with full rights to all of the pictures. She didn''t like the idea at first, but then agreed to it.

As most photographers, she will put the pictures up in pictage (where pictures are always over priced, IMO). Anyway, today she sent me an email saying that she will print business cards with the event''s webpage so people can go there and buy pictures from there...so she can make extra revenue. She said that she wanted me "to respect her work" and the cd''s were for me, but not to make copies.

Ok, people buying from the site I have no problem with...but handing out cards???. Is that normal?. I almost feel like that''s what you get when you are skiing and they have photo booths set-up, or what they do when you get on a ride at a theme park...lol. I answered I didn''t really mind if she did it after the party, in a subtle way. BUT the more I think about it, the more it bothers me and I don''t know if that is just what people do?.

What do you guys think? is that ok, am I just being a bridezilla?...hehe

Thanks :))

M~
 
Well, I wonder if you could tell her that she is welcome to leave some cards on the present table or something, but not hand them around (yeah, I think that's a bit icky too!). You could also promise to direct people there if they ask or even say 'hey, check out that gorgeous pic of you and grams!' if you think someone would like it.

But, I do think it is A-OK for you to say that you don't want anyone soliciting any kind of business actually during your wedding. I would put my foot down on this one if you can do so nicely.

ETA: wait, what was she planning to do with the cards? hand them around? or just leave them somewhere for people? I think I'd be OK with the latter. But the important thing is what YOU are comfortable with.
 
My photographer, who has been in the business for over 10 years, handed out business cards at the end of our reception announcing when our photo website would be up and running, and that one could order photo prints from the website (I don''t think any of our guests did however). We also had DVDs with all the full size pictures and he never said we could not copy them or print photos for our friends and families from it.
 
Date: 2/1/2008 5:02:26 PM
Author: Independent Gal
Well, I wonder if you could tell her that she is welcome to leave some cards on the present table or something, but not hand them around (yeah, I think that''s a bit icky too!). You could also promise to direct people there if they ask or even say ''hey, check out that gorgeous pic of you and grams!'' if you think someone would like it.


But, I do think it is A-OK for you to say that you don''t want anyone soliciting any kind of business actually during your wedding. I would put my foot down on this one if you can do so nicely.


ETA: wait, what was she planning to do with the cards? hand them around? or just leave them somewhere for people? I think I''d be OK with the latter. But the important thing is what YOU are comfortable with.
Click to expand...

Ditto!
 
No, she wanted to hand them around..

Like, "sure, did you like that picture? ok, go here and you can buy the picture!". I just think it's tacky.

If someone were to ask her then I am fine with her handing a card....

I had already responded saying that I was ok with her handing them after the party in a subtle way?. I want to email her back and say that I'm not comfortable with that...she can give a card if people ask, and leave them on the placecards table (after people have taken their placecards). How do I take back what I said so it is clear I don't want the wedding to feel like the county fair??
 
I wouldn''t be happy with her handing cards out at my wedding. I don''t even think that I would like her leaving them on a table somewhere. I would tell her that you will let people know where she is selling the pictures if they are looking for any. If you''re not comfortable with her giving her cards to your guests, let her know.
 
If she''s nice and you guys have rapport, I think I''d just be straightforward. Tell her you''re so sorry, that you have every hope for her success and intend to promote her to the utmost after the wedding if all goes well, but that on reflection you just feel kind of weird about handing the cards around. Then give her the other ideas (putting them on the card table, etc.)

If she''s a nice woman, she''ll hear ya and understand. If she''s a smart business woman, she''ll know that she shouldn''t make you upset or uncomfortable. So it should be OK, I''d bet?
 
Usually info about Pictage is on the wedding website and such. Do you have a wedding website? You can just spread the word this way if you prefer. Its just a matter of telling the photog what you want.

I think it would be okay to have cards sitting out somewhere. I''m sure everyone would want to know the picture site info so they can take a look.

Just say something like, "I definitely think people need to know about the Pictage site. I think the best way to do this is _________." Then tell her what you feel comfortable with. This way you''re still agreeing that the info should be out there, but on YOUR terms.
 
Mand, I personally don''t feel that you''re being a bridezilla. I think you''re being a typical bride who has been thoughtfully putting together her wedding and was blindsided by a demand as opposed to a request!

For my wedding, I went with a well-established photographer, so we pretty much walked right into a tried and true way of doing business. My photographer collected e-mail addresses at our wedding and at a later date contacted the guests to share with them the link to our photo page, and at this time gave them the option to purchase pictures as they saw fit. I too believe I would be uncomfortable if my photographer had handed out business cards at my wedding.

I guess I personally see the photog handing out business cards in the same light as I see a "cash" bar. People come to your wedding to celebrate your happiness, dance, eat and have a good time--not to pay for drink, or be bombarded with the sale of pictures. While, in fact they may actually be in the market for a photographer, your event isn''t the time nor place to make business dealings. Besides, you want her attention focused on capturing your wedding day, not promoting her business.

Here''s what I would do:

*I* would contact the photographer again, and as kindly as possible attempt to convey that you''ve given her purposal serious thought and while you can appreciate her drive to build new business, you would prefer it be done in a more subtle way. Suggest she create a form that those interested in purchasing work and learning more about her photography can fill out, and she can contact them later. I would also make a point of explaining further that you are purchasing a CD and the rights to the pictures...and that one way or another you are in fact PAYING for those, and what you opt to do with them is your business. I would also make a point of saying that you anticipate respecting her wishes.
 
Honestly? I''d be seriously ticked off to be solicited by e-mail by the photographer after the wedding too. And I''d be very annoyed with the bride for sharing my personal information without my permission. But I''m extra uptight about privacy when it comes to contact info. I guess the point is, since one doesn''t know which of ones guests is like me -private - one probably shouldn''t share their contact info with anyone without their permission.

Yeah, when it comes to weddings. No soliciting of your guests. At all. If someone asks, you can direct them, but it is off for the photographer to contact them or actively solicit them.

I would say something, Mandarine. Otherwise you''ll feel yucky about it the whole time leading up, and at the wedding. Not worth it.

She''ll understand.
 
If you negotiated the rights to the digital files with your original contract, she doesn''t get to take that away later just cause she wants to. You are usually "free" to make your own copies of pictures for your friends and relatives - but are typically restricted from commercial use of the pictures - ie. selling them for money.

If she is providing the "service" of making it easy for your guests to obtain your pictures from pictage (for a fee to them), well, you and your guests can decide if that fee is worth the convenience or you would prefer to make them pictures from your CD, which you have previously secured the rights to in negotiations.

Whether or not she is allowed to hand out business cards at YOUR WEDDING is totally up to you. If you feel uncomfortable about it, speak up! It is YOUR WEDDING and she is a hired professional (even if the fee SHE AGREED TO was low) and you are not required to allow her to advertise at your event (unless it was in the contract.) If you feel it would be a service to your guests, then allow her to discretely place her cards somewhere but I agree that actively handing them out commercializes your day in a more mercenary way.

She may be young, but see this as a learning experience FOR HER. She needs to charge what she is worth, and not antagonize brides who would otherwise provide referrals, and she needs to not give away the rights to her digital files without proper compensation and CONTRACTUAL restrictions on their use, if she wants to impose those restrictions. She can''t just email you later and guilt you into agreeing to them, unless you are willing to be guilted into agreeing to them.
 
That was a great idea!

I sent her another email as IG suggested and asking that she just leaves the cards on the gifts table. I also told her about the website and even made the change and sent her the link so she could see it. Since she already opened the "event" on pictage, I posted the link to pre-register on the main page of our site...I even added a link to her own website mentioning our "wonderful photographer"...

I hope she understands!! Thank you guys for the feedback!

M~
 
Oh I would be really upset! I think you are totally right to think this isn''t right. You have hired her to take picture FOR YOU. Full stop. No "I''ll rub your back if you rub mine" situation. Even if you got her for a ''decent'' price, that was the price. There were no strings to that.

The fact is, once you get your pics, which you own (as part of your contract), you will likely send them to friends. If they love them and ask for your photog''s contact number, then great! She will possiibly get more business!

I think that is awful. I feel the same way about DJ''s who have advertising on the dj table.


Your wedding is not a bridal expo.


Definitely not a bridezilla.
 
Date: 2/1/2008 5:54:54 PM
Author: October2008bride
Oh I would be really upset! I think you are totally right to think this isn''t right. You have hired her to take picture FOR YOU. Full stop. No ''I''ll rub your back if you rub mine'' situation. Even if you got her for a ''decent'' price, that was the price. There were no strings to that.

The fact is, once you get your pics, which you own (as part of your contract), you will likely send them to friends. If they love them and ask for your photog''s contact number, then great! She will possiibly get more business!

I think that is awful. I feel the same way about DJ''s who have advertising on the dj table.


Your wedding is not a bridal expo.


Definitely not a bridezilla.
Click to expand...
Thank you!!! exactly! it''s not an expo or a fair...lol

I told her she can leave them by the gift table (AFTER people have grabbed their placercards and sign the guestbook) so they can grab one if they want to as they leave (I doubt anyone will be looking at that table anyway. I told her if someone specifically for it then she could give them one. Other than that I just put the info on my website, which I already think is a REALLY nice gesture.

She''s printing one of our e-pics to put by the guestbook and that already has her name on it. I think all that is more than enough, right?


M~
 
Date: 2/1/2008 5:49:00 PM
Author: cara
If you negotiated the rights to the digital files with your original contract, she doesn''t get to take that away later just cause she wants to. You are usually ''free'' to make your own copies of pictures for your friends and relatives - but are typically restricted from commercial use of the pictures - ie. selling them for money.

If she is providing the ''service'' of making it easy for your guests to obtain your pictures from pictage (for a fee to them), well, you and your guests can decide if that fee is worth the convenience or you would prefer to make them pictures from your CD, which you have previously secured the rights to in negotiations.

Whether or not she is allowed to hand out business cards at YOUR WEDDING is totally up to you. If you feel uncomfortable about it, speak up! It is YOUR WEDDING and she is a hired professional (even if the fee SHE AGREED TO was low) and you are not required to allow her to advertise at your event (unless it was in the contract.) If you feel it would be a service to your guests, then allow her to discretely place her cards somewhere but I agree that actively handing them out commercializes your day in a more mercenary way.

She may be young, but see this as a learning experience FOR HER. She needs to charge what she is worth, and not antagonize brides who would otherwise provide referrals, and she needs to not give away the rights to her digital files without proper compensation and CONTRACTUAL restrictions on their use, if she wants to impose those restrictions. She can''t just email you later and guilt you into agreeing to them, unless you are willing to be guilted into agreeing to them.
Click to expand...
I totally agree with Cara. You negotiated the contract that you wanted and that includes the rights to your photographs. She cannot force others to purchase the pictures from her, when you already purchased the rights! You are free to share with whomever you please. You paid for that right!

And I would really be unhappy with her trying to drum up business at my wedding. If she was asked for her card, certainly. Beyond that, absolutely not. So tacky!

I guess I would cut her a small amount of slack for being young and inexperienced. However, you need to make your limits clear and make sure she sticks to the contract to which she agreed!
 
Ok, you guys make me feel so much better!...I didn''t know if this was "common" practice or if I was being a B...

I agree about the rights to my pictures. She agreed to sell them to me, that was a huge thing for us, she agreed to it, now she can''t take that back.

I am playing nice and cutting her some slack...I did the website thing and don''t mind of she puts them on that table at the end of the night. I hope she understands and doesn''t come back with a nasty email. I''d hate to go into the wedding with any bittersweet feelings!

M~
 
Date: 2/1/2008 5:40:36 PM
Author: Independent Gal
Honestly? I''d be seriously ticked off to be solicited by e-mail by the photographer after the wedding too. And I''d be very annoyed with the bride for sharing my personal information without my permission. But I''m extra uptight about privacy when it comes to contact info. I guess the point is, since one doesn''t know which of ones guests is like me -private - one probably shouldn''t share their contact info with anyone without their permission.

Yeah, when it comes to weddings. No soliciting of your guests. At all. If someone asks, you can direct them, but it is off for the photographer to contact them or actively solicit them.

I would say something, Mandarine. Otherwise you''ll feel yucky about it the whole time leading up, and at the wedding. Not worth it.

She''ll understand.
Click to expand...
I totally second this opinion! Maybe this is how it''s usually done by the more experienced, but unless there was some disclaimer on the guest book or something, so that people would know their email addresses were being shared with your photog/other vendors before they gave it to you, I would be slightly upset upon receiving an email directly from the photog. It would be fine if the email was forwarded to me by the bride though. Just my two cents
25.gif
 
Oh no, I do not plan on sharing any emails with her!...no way.
She has my email and my FI''s...that''s it. I posted the link to the photographer''s website and to the event on pictage on my site. That''s about as far as I would go.
I mean I will let her put her cards with the link to the pictage website on the same table where the guestbook will go...but I told her she can''t put the cards there until the end of the night (so basically after everyone has signed the "guestbook" (not really a guestbook since they are signing rocks...haha). That''s what I meant :)
 
I would not want any of my vendors to hand out cards or try to solicite business during my wedding so I don''t think you''re being ridiculous, Mandarine.

I suppose leaving cards on the gift table is "ok" but even that sorta bothers me cause it seems kind of expo-ish/advertising. And wedding vendors are suppose to be inconspicious and subtle. Its about your and your FI not about them.

I would suggest that you just tell her that you don''t feel comfortable with it BUT that you will make sure that people know they can purchase pictures from the website via your own methods (word of mouth, wedding website, thank you cards, email, etc). For my friend''s wedding, when she sent out her slide show link she told us in that email we couldp urchase pictures from the photographer and also on the slideshow page there was a link to the album and the photographers website.

I feel like that is plenty of advertistment right there. AND if a vendor does a good job any bride would be happy to spread the word about them.
 
When I signed my contract with my photographer, he included a line about putting cards out but when it came time for the wedding he said he didn''t do that anymore because too many brides had complained about his advertising. In the end I was glad he didn''t get free advertising, but I did put a link up to his site on my website and put a note in the program that pictures would be available for viewing through our website. I''m not sure if anybody bought any or not, but I know I''m waiting until I get my cd to order prints! $5 for a 4x6? no way!

you have the right to say "NO ADVERTISING" at your wedding!
 
Date: 2/1/2008 6:18:45 PM
Author: sumbride
When I signed my contract with my photographer, he included a line about putting cards out but when it came time for the wedding he said he didn''t do that anymore because too many brides had complained about his advertising. In the end I was glad he didn''t get free advertising, but I did put a link up to his site on my website and put a note in the program that pictures would be available for viewing through our website. I''m not sure if anybody bought any or not, but I know I''m waiting until I get my cd to order prints! $5 for a 4x6? no way!


you have the right to say ''NO ADVERTISING'' at your wedding!
Click to expand...

See - that''s completely different. It was in the contract you agreed to, and if you cared about it enough, you could have negotiated it out. And clearly it was an unpopular imposition, if they voluntarily stopped utilizing that option!

Oh, and my photog charges more like $60 for a 4x6!! OK, it would be retouched at that price and printed at a professional lab. But still...

So that CD is definitely worth its weight in, if not gold, something fairly valuable!!
 
i think having her name or business card anywhere during the wedding is super tacky and shows lack of professionalism on the part of your photographer - it shows how amateurish she is. i would not want even her name on the e-pic that is going to be on one of your tables.

she should let her work speak for itself. i agree with having her info on your website and a link to her. that is appropriate and plus it is usually after the wedding that people are going to want to get the pictures.

if she is business savvy she will realize that since she is starting out she should make the best impression with whomever she is working with. not saying that she should just do whatever the bride / groom want but she should act in accordance with what the photogs she aspires to be like do. has she gone through the wedding experience? i found that the amateur photogs who actually have been through the wedding experience are a lot more flexible and reasonable.


ETA : you might want to discuss this over the phone just to make sure that everything is kosher between you two and that there aren't any misunderstandings. just be firm yet gentle with her and remember that what you are requesting is completely reasonable.

i also think that you bought the rights to the CD so you have every right to make whatever copies you want so i think it is weird that she is kind of saying that if anyone else wants pictures they will need to buy them through her. she needs to realize that she is starting out and as she builds her portfolio she will make more money but in this day in age most photogs give the digital pics to the bride and groom as part of the package or for a nominal fee and they get free reign to do whatever they want with these pictures. trying to make most of her money off of selling reprints is not a good business strategy for the digital future.
 
My photographer just said that as far as he was concerned, they were my pictures and I will get a cd with high-res images and I can do whatever I like with them.

He doesn''t like the idea of making people buy photos expensively through him.

I think he''ll get a lot of business this way. If I was choosing between two photographers and one gave me the negs and the other didn''t, even if one was slightly better I''d go with the cd of negs like a shot!

I would be very annoyed by people trying to advertise in that way.

I was thinking of hiring a silhouette cutter who I used for another event. He is amazing, and once the silhouette is cut, he sticks it in a little white card to protect it. The card has his name and website on, but it''s very elegant and subtle and has information about the history of silhouette cutting on the back. It is advertising, but it''s not asking people to spend money with him.
 
To offer a different opinion...

(Background info first: I got the rights from my photog too, and that was a must for me, and I will be making copies of the CDs, because it is your right)

Last summer, I was in one of my best friend''s weddings. Her photographer offered an option where she printed her bridal portrait in 3.5 x 5" with the website address at the bottom. They were sitting in a basket beside the door at the reception, so you could take one if you wanted. I actually thought it was a neat idea because I sometimes go to weddings, see the photographer take a picture of me, and wish I could see it. This way guests can see all the pictures from the wedding, and perhaps they would like to buy one or two.

I thought that might be neat to do at my own wedding. Of course, I don''t know if there is another way for people to simply view your photos. Maybe you could create an online gallery for yourself for that?

Keep in mind that your photographer is spending the time to upload all the pictures online, so she probably does want some return for that, but she wasn''t very tactful in discussing it.
 
Date: 2/1/2008 6:40:13 PM
Author: K&L

Keep in mind that your photographer is spending the time to upload all the pictures online, so she probably does want some return for that, but she wasn''t very tactful in discussing it.
Click to expand...

but i believe mandarine is already paying for the photog to do this so it is not like the photog is doing something extra for her
 
UPDATE!!!

She emailed me back and said not to stress about it, if I didn''t want any cards at all, she wouldn''t bring any.
36.gif
36.gif


Yayyyy, I am glad I emailed her back...I told her I really would rather not have any, but if she really wanted some, she could just put them on that exit table (that really doesn''t bother me).

Ok, I''m feeling better now!!
9.gif
9.gif


Interesting tidbit, both my photographer and my videographer are from PA!! (I''m in FL). It''s just a funny coincidence since I booked them completely separately!

M~
 
Date: 2/1/2008 6:24:50 PM
Author: cara
Date: 2/1/2008 6:18:45 PM

Author: sumbride

When I signed my contract with my photographer, he included a line about putting cards out but when it came time for the wedding he said he didn''t do that anymore because too many brides had complained about his advertising. In the end I was glad he didn''t get free advertising, but I did put a link up to his site on my website and put a note in the program that pictures would be available for viewing through our website. I''m not sure if anybody bought any or not, but I know I''m waiting until I get my cd to order prints! $5 for a 4x6? no way!

you have the right to say ''NO ADVERTISING'' at your wedding!
Click to expand...

See - that''s completely different. It was in the contract you agreed to, and if you cared about it enough, you could have negotiated it out. And clearly it was an unpopular imposition, if they voluntarily stopped utilizing that option!

Oh, and my photog charges more like $60 for a 4x6!! OK, it would be retouched at that price and printed at a professional lab. But still...

So that CD is definitely worth its weight in, if not gold, something fairly valuable!!
Click to expand...

It didn''t bother me when I signed the contract, but when he told me why he didn''t do it anymore, that made sense. I did want people to be able to see them so the bit in the program and the website link worked fine for that.
 
That sounds like a cool idea. It looks more like a courtesy than an ad gimmick that way. Guests get to see pictures from the wedding, and they get a picture of the bride and groom for albums, if people have albums anymore! All my photos are digital now, and I think it''s nice to have some hard copies.
 
I''m glad you got it worked out, Mandarine. My photographer did bring cards with the website and event login info as well, but was subtle about it and didn''t distribute them until the reception was almost over. I think she may actually have asked my mother what we''d prefer to do with the cards, and my mother handed a few out, and put the rest out on view for whoever wanted them. I personally thought it was a good service that saved ME from having to notify people where they could go to look at the photos. On the other hand, our CD was ours, to do what we wanted. It was just helpful to have the site where people could go because she had them online within a week, but we didn''t get the CD for a month. There nothing that says your guests HAVE to buy from her website, but at least they can go there to check out what she did.
 
yay-glad that you got it worked out. I think that you''re definitely doing the right thing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top