Hiring photographer outside of your studio for wedding

I am posting anonymously only for this question because of the nature of the question. I am a frequent

participant in PN under my real name. I hope you all understand why I've chosen to post this anonymously.

 

I am recently engaged. The studio I work for as a photographer/digital artist only shoots in-studio portraits,

absolutely no weddings. The photographers I work with shoot weddings casually (ie family, friends, very low

budget sympathy weddings, etc) outside of the studio as favors, but that's all.

 

I think the photographers I work with are good photographers, but I can't say I would choose them if I were just

someone off the street looking for a wedding photographer. Knowing what I do about photography, I can pretty

well say I wouldn't. Having seen event work they have done, I doubt I would be happy with a lot of shots.

 

The owner of the studio offered to let me use the grounds for my ceremony. I have considered this, along with a

public park in town and other locations. When the conversation turned to who would be shooting it, I mentioned

that I was considering my friend, who only shoots weddings, as the photographer. I have talked to the owner of

the studio about venturing into weddings and album design as a partnership with this photographer and she was

fine with the idea as long as I didn't compete with our studio's business (which we wouldn't).

 

The owner said that she was uncomfortable with another photographer outside of the studio shooting my wedding.

She then made an implication that it was her right to tell me whether I could hire outside of the studio or not.

She then definitively said that if the ceremony was on her property, she couldn't allow it (which I understand

and would comply with).

 

My question is this- If I have my wedding ceremony off of studio grounds, is it truly unacceptable for me to hire

who I want, a photographer not associated with our studio, especially if I have considered a part-time

partnership with that photographer?

 

I have also considered saying that this photographer offered to shoot the wedding and asking the photographer(s)

at my studio if they would shoot candids, etc.

 

I really feel stuck- I mean this is my wedding. I want a specific style and quality and I am unsure if the

photographers at the studio I work for can deliver that given the nature of the event. I would prefer tried and

tested experience over a casual event shooter. But that leaves me ticking off the owner of the studio.

 

Any words of wisdom?

It's certainly your right to choose whom you want, but whether it's wise to do so is a question that only you can answer. The very fact that you feel the need to post here anonymously for this sorta answers your question, doesn't it?

 

The only way out of this dilemma is the degree to which you can claim that your exceedingly close friendship with the external photographer overrides the resentment of your co-workers (and your boss) that you don't choose them.

To be more clear- the wedding will be next summer. The partnership could or could not (probably not fully) be

actualized by then. We are mostly in the "casual conversation" stage at this point. It is not a definite

agreement between us, but something we are considering.

Yes, I'd say do whatever you want and be honest with your employer about hiring someone else. Tell them what you have told us, that you have a particular style of photography in mind and you know someone who can get it for you. You don't owe them any other explanation nor do you owe them your business. You can also say (if you're inviting them) that you want them to enjoy their day as your guests.

 

I would definitely plan on having the wedding at some other venue, though. Don't even leave yourself open to anyone pulling the rug out from under your feet on short notice if they change their mind about the venue at the last minute due to petulance or the control issues that your boss seems to have.

1. You are getting married.<BR>

2. You want a wedding photographer to shoot the wedding.<BR>

3. None of the photgraphers at your studio are wedding photographers.<p>

 

It seems to me that 2. should be the overriding factor.

Sticky situation...your employer's business doesn't do weddings, but, they seem to want to control some aspect of

your wedding.

 

It doesn't solve your immediate problem, but, if I was in your shoes, I'd start looking for another job. I

wouldn't leave in a huff, but, I'd be making other plans (easy for me to say...I'm not the soon-to-be newly wed)

and "get the heck outa there".

 

Other than that, I agree with Christine.

 

Best Wishes, Congratulations and Good Luck to you and your Bride-To-Be!

 

Cheers! Jay

Since your wedding is a year away, consider that lots of things can happen in that time. You might have a different job, this partnership venture might work out, your studio might hire a great wedding/event photog or maybe one of the current ones gets really good, etc.

 

My point, don't rush a decision. You certainly need a location -- and it looks like this studio might not be your best first option -- so secure the venue first. Then you have lots of time before you really have to make a decision that may affect your future employment, if indeed you are still working for this company at all.

It's your wedding, you (and your fiancee) get to choose. Period.

 

Look at the owner of the Studio like a hospital and the shooters there like doctors. If you have an important and exacting condition (wedding) and none of the docs are specialists in that area, you not only deserve but require someone who is qualified and specializes in what you specifically need. If you're associated with a person who doesn't understand this situation, they're concerned with something other than your best and highest good. I don't like to associate with folks like that.

Can you tell your studio that you don't want to mix up business with your private life? I think it's your privacy, so you should do whatever you want and they should understand that.

Don't use the studio grounds as they'll see themselves as having done you a favor, and you'll then be in their debt. You want a certain style, so hire whomever you want to deliver that style. Your studio has no say in the matter, and if they feel they should have any influence over your personal life, you should set them straight or move on. I recently saw some wedding photos that astonished me as to their style, originality and quality. I do a certain type of photography quite well, but it would be impossible for me to shoot something "on the side" in a different speciality, with that kind of result. It absolutely pays to hire somebody who's a professional at doing what you want done.

I can see why your employer wouldn't necessarily want you using the studio grounds for your wedding and bringing in an outside photographer; however, I think it would be unacceptable for the studio owner to attempt to control who you hire beyond those limitations. What would happen if every car dealership forced their employees to only drive their cars? What if retailers made their employees only wear their clothes? I say hire whomever you would like and be done with it. Try not to tread on toes or hurt feelings, but if the studio owner is attempting to meddle beyond "If you want to shoot it on our grounds you must use one of our photographers" I would set her straight, as nicely as possible. Just let her know that you really like your friend's work and you are hiring him/her because he/she IS your friend and not as a slight to any of the photographers at the studio.

Thank you all for your input. Most of what was expressed echoes my feelings about the situation. I believe in honesty, so I will be upfront with my employer about whatever I decide to do.

 

Thank you all again.

Invite the other photographers/ employer as guests, and say that it is important to you that they enjoy this wonderful celebration - and get the photographer you want. This assuming you like your co-workers;)

Or maybe she will be flexible if you have her photographers as guests and open up to outside work? Just a thought?

I do plan on having everyone at the studio invited as guests, and assuming I get through this without stepping

on too many toes, I expect most will attend. We've all known each other in some capacity for years.

 

In thinking about this more, I see that I would be apt to say something wrong to someone if I did let one of our

photographers shoot the wedding and wasn't happy with the wedding pictures. And that brings up the question-

which one would it be anyway? All three? Half the time two of the three want to kill each other anyway, so that

wouldn't work. I can't see much teamwork happening.

 

All in all, I see the easiest way out of this is to hire someone outside of the studio and to be honest to my

employer about why- I want a wedding photographer for my wedding, and none of the people at the studio are

wedding photographers. Plain and simple. I don't see how this can be debated. No matter how much you wish it

true, they don't have the experience to deliver what I want.

 

My only remaining question is whether or not to allow/encourage/discourage any of the photographers to take

"unofficial" photos during the wedding/reception (this assuming the photographer I hire understands the situation.)

 

<Insert big sigh here>

 

I'll figure it out.

 

Thanks again for all of the advice.

"In the years I have worked with you, developed relationships with each and every one of you, I would be personally devastated if you were present at this joyous occasion and I looked back on my photo album and saw you in a capacity other than sharing the love that I have meticulously planned and thought out for this special day."

OH - and No cameras from pros at the wedding. Digital p&s on tables maybe. Points is for people to have fun. You may not be able to get rid of the narcissism of their professions; however, you can gen the tools out of their hands long enough for some fun. Might actually be cool back at the office when all photog's had the same cheap p/s digital cameras and were forced to expound upon creative experience/ inspiration. Other thin, there will be a limited number exposures so they will have to get back to the social gathering. GOOD LUCK!

It' your wedding you get to choose and that is it............ if you don't think your co-workers can give you what you are looking for then find the one who will end of story.

You're the bride, it's your day, hire anyone you'd like. Reminds me of the comercial for a mortgage lending company....she's explaining to the bank rep that she is going with Company X, he states: "but Karen you work here!" she squirms a little and then replies: "yeah, awkward isn't it?!" Really was a great comercial :-)

I'd think beyond the present. Marriages last longer than photographers working for studios.

If the studio you work for doesn't do weddings and obviously everyone there knows they're not trained as wedding

photographers why would they be upset if you wanted a trained wedding photographer to do your wedding? Wow, doesn't

sound like a group of people I'd want to work with. They should be the first to suggest having someone, of your preference,

established as an expert to do what they can't or at least are not trained to do.

 

J