Wedding Photographer wants meal at reception, is this normal????

lucylouwoo

Hi All,

I am just about to book my photographer and was just looking through the small print, and one of the conditions is that as he will be staying through the meal him and his assitant will be expecting a meal!!
Is this normal????

We have already budgeted for how many people can come to our sit down meal and can't really afford and extra £80 for him and his assistant to eat!!!!

Caroline73_2

That's ridiculous. No way, he's trying it on.

shelovestobuystuff

No its not normal at all.Most photographers will take a packed lunch with them if they know there is a break where you dont want them to photograph you,most people dont want to be photographed eating.
Does the small print say you have to provide him with the same meal as the guests,whats the wording?.You definately shouldnt have him seated with the guests,he is staff.
You could arrange for them to eat something but certainly not the £80 a head meal and definately at a seperate table or depending on space in the venue in a different room altogether.

Arthurian

Waht sort of uncouth oaf would expect this?! And do you really want to do business with him? Maybe you should accept his gracious offer to be treated as one of the guests, and that of course you would be glad to include him and his assistant in the full festivities, as that will save you a lot in fees which would be due if this were a business arrangement. :rolleyes:

bride_on_a_budget

some photographers do have this written in their small print in the contract, but i tend not to use them with my business as i think it is ridiculous. Weddings cost enough as it is without having to fork out for 2 more people to eat.

alot of the photographers i deal with do stay through the meal but they go to a side room with a packed lunch

Horace

Your photographer is taking the tiddle. I am like Bride on a Budget - I don't have any photographers on my books who demand to be fed, sure if they stay during the meal they and their assistant go into a side room to eat their packed lunch (one that the bring themselves).

My advice is to choose a different photographer - one that does take the tiddle by demanding to be fed. The cheek of the man he will be asking you to do his ironing next:eek:

*Louise*

What a cheek - ask him if you can deduct the £80 from his bill!

I thought photographers got paid to do a job, not to be wined and dined.

Minxy_Bella

Oh dear - it looks like I'm in the minority here but I thought it was good manners to provide a meal for my photographer. I'm sure I read it on a wedding site somewhere and so I included it in my budget.

I haven't discussed it with him yet, and he may well tell me not to bother as he'll bring a packed lunch, but as it's a small, intimate wedding during the day, I would be embarrassed if he felt uncomfortable.

lauraaurora

Over the last couple of years we've found that most photographers do indeed ask for a meal, and often have it written into their contract. They don't expect to be seated in the main dining area with the guests, nor do they usually expect the same three course meal as the guests eat. Often the reason we hear for them requesting a meal is they just require a hot meal to help them get through the day (!).

We on the other hand do not ask for a meal, and usually (kindly) refuse when we are offered a meal. Photographers and others who are being fed by the venue get fed last, and this means often they are eating just as the speeches are starting to occur. Which from our point of view isn't ideal! We always bring a packed meal and wander off to eat it elsewhere.

I'm just letting you know that it certainly isn't unusual in the Berks/ Oxfordshire areas. But, if you don't like the idea, get someone else. However, I'd suggest it's one of the first questions you ask in future

lucylouwoo

Looking at the small print it states

'If the Photographer and assistant (if deemed necessary by the photographer) is required to remain for during/following the meal, a meal shall be provided for them.'

So in fairness it doesn't say they have to have the same meal as us, so in aspect I could just provide them with a packed lunch.

becs

I can't believe the outrage of people here about this! Most photographers will be with you for Hours especially if doing pre wedding pics and staying through reception for first dance etc! As you say Lucylouwoo it does say to provide them with a meal. We however provided our photographer and assistant with the same food as we had but they sat in the bar of the hotel rather than with us which was fine. I would never have dreamed of not providing this for them, they are one of the most important people of your wedding and I would just consider it downright rude not to, budget or no budget.