How come bar tenders get more respect than wedding photographers at weddings?

Question

Wedding Photographers are treated like crap. Bartenders get the red carpet treatment. Why? http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9gnMiDKv7tE8GIA.gGjzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBsNXZtZnJjBHNlYwNwcm9mBHZ0aWQDSTk5OV83Mw--/SIG=12rbtl1au/EXP=1153241418/**http%3a//www.workshop.org/pages/photography/images/zucker_lady_in_red.jpg

Answer 1

I agree with Ipswhitz and in part with this_girl_is. I, too, am (was) a professional wedding photographer.

Professional photographers who are PROFESSIONAL are NOT a**holes. The bad image some people have of photographers are from 1)amateurs, friends hired to do wedding pics, etc 2) photographers who claim to be professional, but have an unprofessional, egotistical, "I am God" attitude/complex.

As Ipswich said, a really professional photographer has already built a relationship with the bride and groom, and the photog has been paid good money to preserve this (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime event. After the cake is eaten, the gifts opened, the bar runs dry, the guests leave, the tuxedos returned, etc, etc, what is left? The only thing that will remain for generations will be the photographs.

For those of you who said you don't like a camera stuck in your face, either it was an amateur or perhaps YOU interfered with the photographer, and were too ignorant to know that you did.

I am a retired professional photographer, and when I photographed a wedding, I did not try to attract attention to me. I was not the reason for the wedding and reception. It was my job to photograph the wedding. That's all.

I considered myself as nothing more than the hired help.

Often a polite, professional photographer must deal with rude guests. Dealing with these inconsiderate people can be as delicate as the Secretary of State dealing with venemous countries.

As for myself, 99.9% of the weddings I photographed I felt I was respected and people were polite to me. Oh, yes, there were some guests who were a**holes, but you just have to consider the source and move on.

As far as the cost of weddings, allow me to let you in on a few things. First, we don't get a 40 hr work week and paid for 40 hours.

Secondly, these are just a few of the costs we must pay out of the money we receive for doing a wedding:

camera insurance
film
processing
proofs
proof album
wedding album
indemnification insurance
postage
gas/mileage
membership in PPA or some other organization
business cards
brochures
and more.........

If someone pays $2,000 for a wedding, the photog does not keep $2,000. All those expenses listed above are taken out of that money. Oh, sure, photogs make money. NO one is in business to LOSE money. But the point is there are expenses to be paid and the photog gets a part of the money, not all of it.

The next time you attend a wedding, keep in mind the photog has a big responsibility and is under a lot of pressure. There is no need to be rude to a photographer who is doing his job unless the photog is rude himself.

Don't get in the way of the photographer, unless you are made of plain glass and can be clearly seen through.

You are there to enjoy yourselves. The photographer is there to work. Please allow him/her to do so and don't interfere.

Thanks.

Answer 2

Wow,

I'm not sure what you are talking about. I'm the third most important person at any wedding I photograph. Mainly because I'm the most expensive person to have their. Respect is given when it's due. If you don't earn the respect of the bride and groom then you shouldn't be photographing weddings.

I enter every wedding with a previous relationship that I've built with the bride (and sometimes the groom). This makes the atmosphere much better and more relaxing. The couple is also much more willing to cooperate with you.

So, if you aren't getting the respect you deserve, then you don't deserve the respect you want.

Answer 3

I don't think its that bartenders get more respect, I think its that they get more attention. Photographers try to be unseen to get those candid images. Bartenders are people you always go back to, talk to, etc. Photographers aren't supposed to be the ones getting all the attention. I guarantee the bride and groom have more respect for the photographer becsause they are paying thousands to have him/her there. They are putting all their trust into the photographer. If the photographer messes up, they will be devistated. If a bartender messes up who cares- drinks are free anyway. Another thing, a lot of people think of all photographers as if they are paparazzi. They think photograpers have bad intentions which is Not the case with wedding photographers.

Answer 4

Probably because bartenders give them the drinks and photographers seem annoying to people! I don't think that way, I'm just guessing that's probably how many people think.

Answer 5

Why do you think? Because people want to drink at weddings. They treat the bartender nice and they think the drinks will come quickly.

Answer 6

Alchohol makes the world go 'round and wedding photographers are obnoxious a**holes.

Answer 7

because bartenders can get you drunk and all photographers do is charge u a fortune for a picture that ur eventually gonna throw away,unless ur my mom.

Answer 8

think about it...photographers get in the way and no one wants to mess with the photos during the event, they just want it all perfect after the fact. during thevent they just want to have fun, laugh it up and drink.

Answer 9

They control the booze! Simple.

Answer 10

People hate getting their pics taken but love getting drunk, quite simple, eh?