Would you use a free photographer?

Wishfairy2010

I won't try to be clever here and hide my intentions so...

My other half is a professional photographer trying to move into weddings. He needs to get a portfolio together and is willing to offer his services in exchange for being able to use the photo's on his web site and advertising stuff.

My question is would anyone actually risk having their photo's taken by someone who has never done it before (I mean a wedding not take a photograph ) I was a wedding planner for 10 years and worked with hundreds of photographers so should be able to keep him straight on shots needed etc.

What questions would you be asking and can you see any pitfalls from him offerring something like this?

Hope it's ok to post this here?

Nikki x

superfran_uk

I've been told by a professional photographer that anyone who can afford to offer their services for free isn't worth trusting... Time isn't free and if they were any good at it they'd be charging... She was quite convincing. Maybe he would do better to photograph some family weddings etc, then come up with a portfolio and charge a reasonable amount rather than free.

Dizzie77

My view is that everyone has to start somewhere.....
but I would look at photographing friends/family weddings as a favour (maybe in addition to an "official" photographer) and ask if the photos can be used to build the portfolio.

There may well be people who will use a free photographer - I know that I found one being advertised on a local offers site, and she said that it was to build her portfolio, so I don't see any harm in trying.

I guess that your OH needs to let people know WHY he isn't charging them though, so they are prepared for the photos maybe not being quite as high a standard?

frannyann

I think if I had no budget at all, I would use a free one rather than not have one at all. I am with others, maybe if he does some family weddings to help. However its often suggested here that if people can't afford a phototgraph to try local colleges to see if a student wants to do it.

Oh and Hello by the way!

frannyann

Meant to add, what area are you in Nikki?

minerva_windsong

Does he have a portfolio of his other work? If it were me I'd like to see that first and possibly go along to one of his shoots, especially one that involved large groups of people, to see what his style was like before I hired him. But that's because my mum has stressed to both myself and my sisters to get the best photographers we can, whatever it takes, as a family friend (non-professional) took her wedding pictures and she absolutely hates them.

superfran_uk

I personally wouldn't because if they were naff you'd have no comeback. The same as having a friend do something - unless you trust them completely be aware it could end in tears!

frannyann

Oh I've just thought of something!! How about aiming for the people like me, who can only afford to have part of the day photographed? We have photographer until 6pm, but if I could have afforded it I would have had them snapping until about 9pm, maybe offer that 'fill in' service to start with??

Stephb1986_2

I would along side a professional photographer double photos as both of them won't have the exact same shot it does good for me and for them

Steph xx

Wishfairy2010

Thanks folks - that's the kind of constructive input I was after!

He was a fashion photographer and has done some freelance stuff for newspapers and mags so he isn't a complete novice. Recently he's doing portraits but has some really fresh ideas for weddings. I suppose I'm a little wedding obcessed with spending such a lot of time around brides.

We can't really use family or friends as they've all had their weddings many moons ago. And working alongside a 'professional' is often frowned upon by the pro's - funny bunch photographers lol!

I know when I did it I used my FIL but it meant that he wasn't really part of the celebration and I wasn't at all happy with the photographs either.

He's also love to do some 'trash the dress' style shots but so far no one is willing to model for him (no surprise there really).

Oh, and we're in the Forest of Dean - between Gloucester and Bristol.

Yellowbug

I would happily use someone for free, but would want to see a portfolio if their other photography work first
You wouldnt want to go ahead without seeing some evidence that they could atleast take nice photos of other situations