Venue Photographer wants to take some shots...

I was hired to shoot a wedding saturday and I was informed that the venue photographer want to get some photos during the ceremony and the reception because they put in new flooring and new lighting. I find it annoying that they would ask. I said no to the ceremony because me and my assistant would be shooting from different perspectives and they would get in our way. I did offer to give the venue a shot that I take during the ceremony. I asked that they stay out of our way during the reception. They should only need three or four shots anyway. I am hoping that they do stay out of our way. I plan on talking to the venue photographer before the wedding.

Anyone have similar experiences? Do you think I am handling it well?

nevermind, totally misread it. lol

tfizzle wrote in post #12117604
So they want to be in the shots for business purposes and promoting? I'd say take the shots if, and only if, you have time but let them know what a regular rate is for "releasing" the shots for promotional use.

They should know that you are there for the family/bride and not there for them. I'd suggest that if they want shots that you'll add in 30 min. to the beginning of the time that you need to be there and they can do that then but you will charge regular rates for such services.

Actually the venue wants their photographer to take the photos for them. I only offered to give them one web sized watermarked shot for their website of the ceremony because I don't want them to be in our way during the ceremony.

sarahashleyphotos wrote in post #12117634
Actually the venue wants their photographer to take the photos for them. I only offered to give them one web sized watermarked shot for their website of the ceremony because I don't want them to be in our way during the ceremony.

yah, just re-read it and somehow didn't "catch" what you were saying.

I'd just say, "I'll give you some photos out of good-will from the ceremony. Just leave your venue photographers out of the way so that we don't have to work over each other".

Build a relationship with them and if they use your photos to have it link back/credit to your business. A local venue does that and the photographers names are all over the place so if someone wants to get married there and sees the venue website the photographers are marketed by default.

I agree with PP. Tell them you will give them images for free for use on their website but that you'd prefer their photographer not be there. Explain that you have the exclusive contract for that event so having another photographer there is a breech of your contract and may affect your work and the product your client receives. I also think you have the right to preserve "creative ownership" of the day or whatever you want to call it. Having another photographer there would just be annoying.

bnlearle wrote in post #12117640
I advise against this. In this business, I've found that you will make almost no money on charging for this stuff -- but you will make MUCH MORE money if you give it away freely to vendors.

If you shoot 30 weddings and have taken care of all the vendors at that wedding by giving them images? You're bound to have a good amount of referrals from that.

_______________

San Diego Wedding Photographer (blog)
Twitter -- Facebook
the Raddest Photo Trip Ever!!!
Come on the next one Dec 1st-14th 2011!!!!!

I thought that the venue wanted their employees to have their own "photoshoot" while the wedding was going on. As in, "We want promotional shots of our employees within the venue and if you can swing a session like that in during a wedding we'd be grateful".

I have no problem with giving away photos of the ceremony I'm going to be taking photos of. I would, however, have a problem with a place wanting for me to photograph their employees/builders using the venue when I'm there for a wedding.

I'm not sure why I read it wrong and thought that the venue wanted him to do what I was thinking. bleh

bnlearle wrote in post #12117640
I advise against this. In this business, I've found that you will make almost no money on charging for this stuff -- but you will make MUCH MORE money if you give it away freely to vendors.

If you shoot 30 weddings and have taken care of all the vendors at that wedding by giving them images? You're bound to have a good amount of referrals from that.

_______________

San Diego Wedding Photographer (blog)
Twitter -- Facebook
the Raddest Photo Trip Ever!!!
Come on the next one Dec 1st-14th 2011!!!!!

+1

The really well established photographers near me dont do wedding fayres and hardly seem to advertise, crucially though they have great relationships with venues and other vendors and that is enough for them to fill their calendar ... a very nice position to be in.

I had a florist recently trying to buy some photos from my site from a wedding we had both been involved in. I gave her the 10 prints for her portfolio free of charge and only watermarked the final one in the series. She in turn took 2 dozen brochures off me to hand out at a local wedding fayre they were doing .... already had one booking from it and another inquiry for a date we were already booked for.

Total cost about £30 and well worthwhile.