Should My Friend Be Our Wedding Photographer?

When you have a friend who is a photographer, it’s natural to wonder whether you should just ask them to shoot your wedding. Before you do though, there are a few things you should consider first.

It’s always great when someone you love, and trust offers to pitch in and help you save some money. However, allowing someone you know to shoot your wedding is not always a good idea, and for good reasons.

If you are quite set on having your friend shoot your big day, you first need to look at what kind of photographer they are. Do they specialize in magazine and product shoots? Then you probably shouldn’t have them shoot your wedding. You need a wedding photographer for your big day if you want the best results.

If they happen to be a wedding photographer, consider their style. Not all wedding photographers have the same style and not all couples like the same styles. What type of wedding photos do you want, and can your friend deliver?

Then there’s the case of guest versus wedding photographer. Are you happy for this friend to be more of an employee than a guest on the day? As the photographer, they won’t be able to join in the festivities until much later. And if you want photos of the reception, they won’t be able to enjoy themselves very much at all. This is something you should consider before you agree to hire them.

If you decide that you would prefer not to hire your friend even though they have insisted they want to help, know that this is your decision. There is no need to go ahead with the offer out of guilt. These are your wedding photos, so you should feel completely comfortable with and confident in your photographer.