What would you do?

[bigsarg7]

Finally after years of photographing weddings, I have actually been asked by a relative to attend as guest. However, today I received a phone call and was asked if I could set all my studio gear up and operate a Photo Booth. Now, I really don't want to work at this wedding. My husband and I were both invited and were looking forward to letting our hair down. I have been asked and haven't answered. It will be an unpaid gig if were to do it, and would take up a fair bit of time and the way he was talking is that it would be set up in another room therefore keeping me away from family and friends.

I have thought of maybe setting up my backdrop and lights sticking a standard point and shoot on a tripod and letting others man it. However, my lights are expensive and I don't want them damaged and would be stressed not being nearby.

So im in a dilemma. If I speak to family they're like just do it, but I know I am going to get stuck working….. tell me what would you do?

[chrisk]

tough call for you. it sucks that you are put in this position and its wrong and insensitive for them to do that.
the only thing i can think of to help would be a compromise where you have say a 2 hour window and then close the booth after that. at least that way you "limit the damage" to your free time so to speak.

i'd probably do it but only for a window of time, not all night.

[Matt. K]

Flip a coin.

[Wink]

Don't do it.

Everyone at that wedding will be having a good time except for you. You'll be working. Working for nothing.

Just explain that you appreciate being asked, but you'd just like to spend time with your husband and enjoy their special day.

[bigsarg7]

We'll I'm still struggling with my decision. Hmmm need more time to think it over I think.

[Matt. K]

What about a compromise. Tell them you're not prepared to shoot the wedding formally but you'll 'sling' your camera and shoot a few casual shots. That's what I generally do. I use those occasions to sharpen my own skills, and it gives me something to do during some fairly boring speeches.

[zafra52]

In your case, I would wonder if the reason why I was invited is because
they appreciate my camera and my skills as a photographer rather than
my friendship. However, putting this feeling aside I believe Rooz's
suggestion is a good solution if you don't want to hurt their feelings.
They hopefully may realise that what they asked was not appropriate
if they know you are a professional photographer. In your negotiation
you may even add "...oh good! I wasn't sure what to get you as a present
so 2 hours of photographs..." Do you think it would work? Matt's suggestion
may work if they haven't already engaged a professional photographer.

I discourage you letting others using your equipment for two reasons
that you already know. First your equipment is expensive and you use it
to earn a living. Second, people may hurt themselves using your equipment
without supervision and I don't think your insurance would cover them - but,
I may be wrong.

Someone approached me a year or so ago asking me to take the wedding
photos and as in payment I would be provided with the food. I replied
that I was flared but that my photographic skills were not all that good
and it would be unfair for the bride and groom to depend on them. I
then advised the father of the bride that a professional wedding
photographer should be the choice because he/she would have professional
equipment, skills and experience handling the guests and the bridal party
and although it might be regarded as expensive it should be costed in
the event - the food and drinks you are going to provide will be eventually
forgotten, but the professional photographs are likely to last a lifetime
and nowadays longer than marriage itself. He thanked me for the advice
and hasn't spoken to me since - good riddance!

[sirhc55]

Just say a big fat NO. Tell them you have a wedding to go too and can not back out of it.

[Mj]

So I would provide them some recommendations for companies that specialise in photo booths... they are setup with possible rough use in mind that normal studio lighting cannot deal with.
In the past I have offered to provide a second set of images for the ceremony and taken the typical before images but given a list of people I would recommend for the paid work.
These days almost all their friends will be wielding a camera of some sort... tell em to encourage all their friends to go for broke at the reception... I hate doing those anyway.

[gstark]

tough call for you. it sucks that you are put in this position and its wrong and insensitive for them to do that.

Exactly.

Politely decline. Then decline the wedding invitation and go out somewhere nice with your husband for dinner. Enjoy some "you" time.

[Geoff M]

Agree, a tough call especially as it is a relative. In your position I would decline the job purely based on the fact that you normally derive an income from doing the very same.


Geoff

[bigsarg7]

Well after a lot of thinking and discussing with my husband. I have now spoken with my cousin and discussed the pricing of hiring a Photo Booth (quite expensive actually) and other options for the night that would allow the evenings guest to be photographed and moments captured.
I suggested the option of leaving his laptop with a card reader and or cable on a table near the exit area and request the guests to be kind enough to load their images from their cameras and phones from the evening on the computer and the added option of buying a few cheap digital cameras (say $100) and place them on a table and request guests take photographs through out the evening and loading onto the computer etc.

The couple have hired another professional renown photographer to photograph the day, however I don't think the photographer will be attending the reception and this would then explain why I have been asked to set up my gear and take some official pics.

So thank you everyone for your input. It made me think of an alternative and a decent alternative in my opinion. I will undoubtedly take my camera and get a few snaps as I can never resist the temptation. However, I am looking forward to not having the pressure of capturing "the" images of the day. I love what I do, but it will be nice to relax and enjoy some time out, not working and to top it off without my kids!

Thanks again.

[Wink]

Even though a loath Instagram some of our friends had what I thought was a good idea recently...

Normally people get disposable cameras for the guests which prove to be a huge expense once they're developed, so on the invitation they included a hashtag for their wedding and asked people to add it to all the shots they put on Instagram from the day.

[bigsarg7]

actually i've been to quite a few engagements, birthdays and other special occasions where they too have used the # so they could make a collage out of everyones images to have on display. Instagram is like an online polaroid storage device where you can now order prints. Pretty clever really. But then again in 20 years from now and all our kids are grown up will they become upset their images have been all over the internet of them growing up..... just a thought.