Bride insists that amateur photographer friend photograph her wedding for free: '[She] said it's "just clicking a button," and that's what friends do.'

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  • Wedding photographer checks his footage while snapping pictures during the wedding dinner, as shown by a model.
  • I do photography as a serious hobby, ive built up decent kit over the years and im good enough that people have started asking me to sh ot things for them. I dont do it professionally its something i love and pour my own time and
  • money into. A friend got engaged and asked if id "just do a few snaps" at her wedding as a friend, for free. I said yes happily, thinking it meant turning up with my camera and getting some nice candids alongside
  • Wedding photographer snaps a shot of the bride in an outdoor setting, as a model depicts.
  • enjoying the day. Since then it has quietly sinked into me effectively being her unpaid professional photographer. She now wants full coverage from morning prep right through to the evening,
  • an engagement shot beforehand, a long shot list she keeps adding to, edited albums afterwards. Shes even started talking about how i "have to" be in certain spots at certain times, meaning id basically be working the entire day rather than
  • Wedding photographer snaps a picture of a bride and groom, in a depiction by models.
  • attending as a guest. When i said that this is a huge amount of work and that id at least like to actually enjoy the day too or that real photographers charge a lot for exactly this, she brushed it off, said its
  • "just clicking a button" for me and that thats what friends do. She never offered a penny, not even towards travel or the cost of printing.
  • Now im weighing up whether to tell her plainly that i cant do the full professional job for free, that id be glad to take some casual photos as a guest but that what shes describing is a proper paid gig and that she should book an actual
  • photographer for the formal coverage. I know exactly how itll land, shell be hurt call me unsupportive and probably tell our friends i bailed on her big day.
  • AITA if i pulled back to just being a guest with a camera?
  • Couple pose for wedding photos in front of a large glass window, as depicted by models.
  • One person suggested they take it seriously enough to write up a proper contract

    Hackergirl19 You can tell her that you don't have a business license and make some stuff about liability insurance and it being a professional job and taking on uncomfortable financial responsibility if something goes wrong. I'm not sure how that would fly but sometimes I do that to
  • get out of things when I don't want to cause a rift if possible.
  • This person added that the contract could stipulate how long the photographer works

    Abystract-ism Write up a contract. Yes, I'm serious-outline what she gets for FREE -candid shots, 2 hours "work time", 10 shots edited. Tell her for anything else, she can hire someone.
  • Or give her an alternative contract where you do the whole wedding-all the hours, being in specific situations/places, and "x" hours of editing photos. Figure out what the cost would be for a stranger then subtract a "friends & family discount".
  • Here's an empathetic take

    mizzmacy NTA. But tell asap so she has enough time to look for a professional photographer within her budget. Do not let her use or guilt trip you. Her saying it's just clicking a button for the whole entire day is still considered work for photograpers.
  • She's trying to pinch pennies, but she's going to regret that

    Fit-Gas6744 Is the caterer free? Sure its only food. What about the Baker? Its only a cake. Venue? Its only a room. Dress n suits? Only clothes no big deal. Tell her to off and its her own fault for her own greed

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