what is a wedding photographer surpose to take pictures of?

Question

i hired a photographer for my wedding and he did not take any of the important pictures. he told me he dident take pictures of my family because he might not have liked how they looked at the time. he did not post any photos of my dad giving me away even though i have the picture, of him taking a picture. i had him for 6 hours and all my photos are of the same things. he got more of other people than me and my husband. he admitted he found some photos and sent me two but he calims he has no other ones. how can he take pictures for 6 hours and have over a 100 of the same photos. what are they surpose to take pictures of? he took pictures of my bridesmaid with out a head just her holding flowers.... is that normal? any photographers out there know of this is right?

Answer 1

Reread your contract. My photographer had a list that I was to go through. It had everything and you crossed out what you didnt want (for ex I dont have a brother so I crossed out bride with bro). But it had a list of Bride with each bridesmaid, Bride with groomsmen, Bride with parents, B with family (incl. sibs), B with each groomsmen, B with grandparents. Groom with all of the above. B&G with each set of parents. Whole wedding party. The list went on and on of the posed shots.

The wedding shots depends on the churches rules. How close can they get, can the photographer walk around during the ceremony, can the photographer even enter the church during the ceremony? At the least I think you get a few shots during the ceremony, the entrance with dad, the kiss, the exit.

However the reception shots are way more spontaneous. Of course all major events (first dance, father-bride, mother-groom, cake cutting, bouquet toss, toasts) but there are no set rules. You should be allowed to grab your photographer any time and ask for several shots--like Oh get this one of all my sororiety sisters, or great-grandpa and his sis who are almost 100.

We had an antique car we got several pictures with as we arrived at the ceremony. The entrances at the reception and did a fake exit (we werent ready to leave when the photographers contract was over--so we went outside, lit sparklers, the photographer left and we partied a few more hours)

How many pictures does your contract include? I know I had my photographer for 5 hours and in that time, we had 2 books of proofs. Over 600 pics: some black and white, most color, most digital but not all. A good mixture.

You should have a lot of the guests but mostly the pictures should be of the 2 of you interacting with all your guests. I have pictures of my sticking my tongue out. Since you don't know which pictures will turn out, you should have 5 or more of each thing. I think I have 20 of my first dance, each time we turned.

Yes a picture of your bridesmaid's flowers is normal. Just like a picture of the wedding rings and perhaps the program. Often they get a picture of a plate of food. Most brides want pictures of their flowers. Plus the pictures of the guests are great b/c you missed a lot of great events while you were doing other stuff. But if you got that and DIDN'T get pictures of any people and have very few of YOU than yes you should complain and get some of your money back. Most of the time you will get to see the proofs and that is before the photographer has edited them. So if your problem is it's not cropped or signs in the background, that stuff can be edited/airbrushed out. However, if you got hundreds of pictures and you just don't like them--you are probably out of luck. Photography is an "artistic" pursuit. So therefore if you got good pictures and a good number, but not of a particular 2nd cousin that you never mentioned--that's not in the contract.

In the legal system there is a lot of "you get what you pay for" and if you paid a small amount, the judge might think he did do 6 hours worth of work.

Answer 2

This guy was not a photographer in the sense of what they are supposed to do at a wedding. Pictures of the couple together, and of the ceremony, of relatives with the couple, the wedding party of bridemaids and groomsmen, and Dad giving the bride away and of them walking the aisle all are pretty standard to be expected in a package. Other things that could be shot would be of the reception, certain guests, etc. If you didn't have an agreement on those things to be shot, then he should have known better if he was any kind of experienced photographer, since these are pretty standard. If you're unhappy, take him to small claims court if he refuses to refund your money.

Answer 3

No this is not right. You hired him to take pictures of your wedding. This includes important highlights: (this is not an all inclusive list)
- Bride getting ready, alone in your dress.
- Bride with mother, MOH, bridesmaids, parents.
- Groom alone, with best man, with groomsmen etc.
- The kiss, lighting of unity candle, ring and vow exchange
- Bride + Groom
- The first dance
- Cake cutting, cake table
- Father Daughter Dance
- Bouquet Toss
- Groom throwing garter
- Bride and Groom leaving reception

It is not normal for the focus of the pictures to be of the people who attended your wedding. It's supposed to be about you, your husband and family. If you did not get the pics you agreed upon -- get your money back and report the photographers to the Better Business Bureau.
http://welcome.bbb.org/

Answer 4

The traditionally things photographers might shoot are:

bride getting ready
bridal portraits
bride with mom and dad
bride with bridesmaids
groom getting ready
groom portraits and w/ groomsmen
groom at wedding site before bride walks down aisle
every person who walks down the aisle
bride walking down aisle
ceremony including the **kiss**
Bridal party portraits after ceremony
Bride and Groom with minister
bride and Groom with family portraits
entrance to reception
speeches
first dance
bouquet toss
details of the day including flowers, the rings, decor, etc
and candids

You should always give your photographer a shot list for the day and let him/her know what the important moments for them to catch are. It just sounds like you hired an inexperienced photographer who took creative license.

Answer 5

Sounds like he was trying to be artsy fartsy....
My photographer handed me a list of photos that are normally done, and there is extra spot for me to put anything that might not be on the list. And he said i can hand it to him the day of, and he will do his best to get them all.
you got ripped off.
That Sucks!!

Answer 6

When you are interviewing any vendor for your wedding you should prepare a list of questions of what is included and what is not. blissweddings.com has a wedding planner that you can print off of the computer and so you have in writing who the vendor is by name, what he is offering and the price he is going to charge you so when problems arise, such in your case, you have in writing what he promised.

Answer 7

I think your photographer was trying way too hard to be artistic and enhance his own portfolio than actually trying to capture your wedding.

Demand a refund.

Answer 8

today with digital cameras, they can take thousands of photos and it doesn't cost any more...it sounds like you got taken advantage but an incompetent photographer...sorry

Answer 9

I hope you haven't paid him for this travesty of a service.

Answer 10

u lose -- u hired him -- u owe him -- but u did not tell him what u wanted in the beginning -- u should have investigated him and asked for references -- dummie!!!