Printing photos at a wedding...Yay or Nay?

I got this Idea to take my printer to a wedding I'm supposed to help shoot, and offer to print photos on the spot.
If it were acceptable by the B&G, I wouldn't mind charging $5 per 5x7.

I also thought of offering a package to the B&G to pre-pay for so many pics, and pass them out to guests throughout the night, as 'thank you' gifts or whatever.

Is this a good Idea?
Has it been done?
Thanks in advance for your responses!

who's going to take pics while you're busy dealing with the printer?

S-Man wrote in post #4921655
I got this Idea to take my printer to a wedding I'm supposed to help shoot, and offer to print photos on the spot.
If it were acceptable by the B&G, I wouldn't mind charging $5 per 5x7.

I also thought of offering a package to the B&G to pre-pay for so many pics, and pass them out to guests throughout the night, as 'thank you' gifts or whatever.

Is this a good Idea?
Has it been done?
Thanks in advance for your responses!

I'm going to be assisting as a second shooter. Idealy the primary shooter would be shooting and I'd be printing, or, if it were one standard picture, say of the B&G I could set to print 'x' number of copies and go back to shooting.

I vote no. It's not a carnival ride where you make a run through and then pick up your picture at the end...... I dont know, I just dont like the idea.

August 15 Photography wrote in post #4921805
I vote no. It's not a carnival ride where you make a run through and then pick up your picture at the end...... I dont know, I just dont like the idea.

That's what I was thinking...it kind of mocks the occasion, making it like you said, kind of a carnival ride...

In the classifieds forum, there's a 'photo booth' a guy is selling and he says he books alot because of it...

Any other observations?

August 15 Photography wrote in post #4921805
I vote no. It's not a carnival ride where you make a run through and then pick up your picture at the end...... I dont know, I just dont like the idea.

Couldn't agree more.

I wouldn't do it, I don't have time, and if I have a 2nd shooter I want them shooting not messing around with a printer.

Like you said in your original post, if you offer the service and the Bride & Groom accepts, then why not?
I print some 4x6's to put in folios to present to the B&G (I do this in the back seat of the car on the way to the reception) and they love it. The parents end up showing them to everybody. People come up to us and tell us how wonderful it is to be able to see some photos from earlier in the day. I've had family and friends ask to purchase some to take with them. I've been thinking about having another assistant ther to print. The guests don't think of it as a carnival attraction as much as a wonderful service and convenience.

I think it is really up to the B&G. It is their day and they can have what they want.

It would be a bit tacky to have the printer visible though. I would keep it out of site were the actually printing is going on.

August 15 Photography wrote in post #4921805
I vote no. It's not a carnival ride where you make a run through and then pick up your picture at the end...... I dont know, I just dont like the idea.

I agree.

A more elegant solution might be to ask B&G if you could set up a web-gallery ahead of time, leave a small (tasteful) flyer on the tables or somewhere, pointing them to the web gallery, letting know images would be up in a couple days... they could then purchase from there.... just an idea.

Corny. Waste of time. I doubt anyone will buy photos when they know they can buy the same images later without interrupting their imbibement process. If you want to show off the images, make a slideshow and display it somewhere people can gather without having it forced on them.

Im not wedding photog but the last weeding i went to, in the hall they had photog running around each table taking pictures then return with them printed in a little holder. I f you wanted it you paid $15 for it if not they wasted there time, ink and paper. I found it to be worthless and a waste of material. I think you are better off just shotting them leaving. Keep it traditional. Thats my 2 cent.

S.E.V. wrote in post #4924650
Im not wedding photog but the last weeding i went to, in the hall they had photog running around each table taking pictures then return with them printed in a little holder. I f you wanted it you paid $15 for it if not they wasted there time, ink and paper. I found it to be worthless and a waste of material. I think you are better off just shotting them leaving. Keep it traditional. Thats my 2 cent.

This is something I see done at a novelty restaurant ( Harley Davidson Cafe in Las Vegas ) not at a wedding.

August 15 Photography wrote in post #4925213
This is something I see done at a novelty restaurant ( Harley Davidson Cafe in Las Vegas ) not at a wedding.

I know but this wedding had it, i think it might of actually been the hall the was doing it other then the wedding photog. But anyways i think keeping it og and stick with just plain photography at the wedding.

I agree with Tim. If I have a second shooter/assistant at a wedding with me I want them to do things to add to the value of the overall wedding shoot. Selling a 5x7 to uncle Harvey does nothing for the bride and groom. It just seems all too gimicky to me.