When a photographer gets married...

I would post this in the wedding discussion forum, but I want the opinion of all types of photographers, not just wedding photogs.

So here's the story.

My fiancee and I are getting married at the end of this september. We will have been engaged for 5 months when we tie the knot, and were not interested in having a long engagement – after all, that's why I asked her to marry me, to be married!

Everything is pretty much arranged, going for a <50 person affair and a relaxed not too formal atmosphere. One problem: photographer. We have tried almost every good photographer that is both local or within a reasonable travel distance of where we are getting married (Tofino, BC), and no one has availability to book us. There are lots of "photographers" willing to do it for cheap, but we aren't trying to save pennies, we are trying to have nice photos taken...and those cheapos don't take nice photos, despite their best efforts to put together some sort of website.

In fact, it has gotten to the point where I KNOW I could take better photos than the photographers who are available (not a people photographer myself, but have done enough to know what I'm doing), but the problem is I am the one getting married.

Has anyone been to a wedding, or had their own wedding where a) they took photos themselves (setup with lights, tripod, and everything, and had someone else press the button), b) provided a few insured rental cameras to guests and a "scavenger hunt" of shots for them to take, and then gotten the photos afterwards c) any other ideas?

Many thanks for any and all input!

PS. this was inspiring http://manilacamerasty​le.com …ng-photos-with-a-fujifilm

I can't see what is so inspiring about that link. They didn't spend anything on photography & it shows.

Providing cameras to guests have generally been a waste of time and expense! This input as the result of having three married daughters, all of whom left disposable film cameras on each table at the reception, and all of whom said that few keepers resulted from this.
Unless you have very mature (read 'boring') guests, I would NOT accept the risk of rental dSLRs or point and shoots on the tables, or you will find yourself paying for them all (and no cameras in your possession, in the end).

sheawyatt wrote in post #14630959
In fact, it has gotten to the point where I KNOW I could take better photos than the photographers who are available (not a people photographer myself, but have done enough to know what I'm doing), but the problem is I am the one getting married.


PS. this was inspiring http://manilacamerasty​le.com …ng-photos-with-a-fujifilm

No problem, what you need is a stand-in double. Your stand-in does the wedding and you photograph it.

^ lolz

There is a good reason why people have ~1 year long engagements...that tends to be the lead time for decent venues and service providers.

I'd cross my fingers and keep looking.

Or change your date.

What's your budget? I'll give it a crack!!!

I can put ya in contact with a fellow that lives out there in BC that is pretty good if you care to PM me.

That's a tough one. When you're getting married you should be in the moment not you taking photos of your moment. I would suggest taking a step down from picking the cream of the crop photographer and look for someone who style agrees with your taste. Interview and and get their prescriptive and let them know what kind of shots you'd like to see.

YOUR GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!

Get a pro and enjoy the day. DONT YOU setup lights or tripods or cameras, just forget about photos and soak in the day and let another photog do the job.

lensfreak wrote in post #14633459
YOUR GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!

Get a pro and enjoy the day. DONT YOU setup lights or tripods or cameras, just forget about photos and soak in the day and let another photog do the job.

This. I hired a great pro that I knew so that I didn't have to worry about the day and I could just celebrate the love with my wife.


What day are you getting married and what's your budget? I've got some contacts up there.

Congratulations on your engagement! Hope you find a good photog that can shoot your wedding.

At your wedding, you need to be 100% there in the moment. You can't be taking pictures. Your bride rightfully expects that she will be the center of your attention and not by being viewed with a camera between you.

I will be the groom's father at a wedding a year from now. Even so, I don't anticipate having any opportunity to take shots.

MesserschmittMan wrote in post #14631412
I can't see what is so inspiring about that link. They didn't spend anything on photography & it shows.

You must have missed the part where they are so dirt poor that they have $10 rings....I figured if they can figure something out, I (who can afford a photographer but can't find one), should be able to.

Wilt wrote in post #14631744
Providing cameras to guests have generally been a waste of time and expense! This input as the result of having three married daughters, all of whom left disposable film cameras on each table at the reception, and all of whom said that few keepers resulted from this.
Unless you have very mature (read 'boring') guests, I would NOT accept the risk of rental dSLRs or point and shoots on the tables, or you will find yourself paying for them all (and no cameras in your possession, in the end).

Thanks Wilt for your experience. What do you think about buying used digital P&S (lots of 2/3 year old powershots go for <$100) where I could buy enough for every table for $1000. Whatever survives the wedding I could then resell.

rick_reno wrote in post #14632006
No problem, what you need is a stand-in double. Your stand-in does the wedding and you photograph it.

Best suggestion so far

jonagtalon wrote in post #14632131
That's a tough one. When you're getting married you should be in the moment not you taking photos of your moment. I would suggest taking a step down from picking the cream of the crop photographer and look for someone who style agrees with your taste. Interview and and get their prescriptive and let them know what kind of shots you'd like to see.

Good idea, problem is the photographers who are available are cream of the cr@p, I've talked to almost everyone from the best to the acceptable, and none are available.

lensfreak wrote in post #14633459
YOUR GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!

Get a pro and enjoy the day. DONT YOU setup lights or tripods or cameras, just forget about photos and soak in the day and let another photog do the job.

Did you miss the part about not being able to find a decent Pro to do the job? If I hire a person I can't trust to get great photos I won't be able to enjoy the day, because I'll know that they aren't getting the shots.


Thanks for the ideas everyone, keep them coming please.

Don't forget you need to have memory and batteries for all those cameras, too. By the time you get through with all that expense in addition to the cameras, you have much more money on the line. Not sure if your guests have small children, but if they do a lot of photos will simply be due to the camera being used as diversions. Frankly I have little faith in cameras on the tables; it sounds like a good idea, but results are disappointing.

Take that $1000+ you would be spent on p&s and add it to your photography budget and fly some pro in from out of the area.