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This topic in the How To Choose Your Rhode Island Wedding Photographer Series may seem like a strange one. It’s something that hardly anyone gives much thought to because there’s so many other things to take care of with your wedding. Here’s the deal, simplified and broken down:
1) Your wedding photographer is a human.
2) Humans need to eat.
3) Humans can’t efficiently work and eat at the same time.
4) When your wedding photographer is eating, they are not taking photographs.
Make the Most of It
With that newfound revelation, what scenario do you think would allow you to make the most of your photographer’s time (that you’re paying for, remember)?
1) Once all your guests receive the main course, allow your photographer to get some food. While people are being served, your photographer is mulling around because photos of people chewing are not wedding album material. Now your wedding photographer is sitting down to eat dinner while people are getting dessert. While dessert is going out, people start heading to the dance floor. The wedding marches on, but your photographer just got his fork.
2) Have your photographer get their food first, or at least toward the beginning of the serving cycle. This allows your wedding photographer to finish their meal before your guests. What that means is that your photographer is ready to photograph when things are actually happening, rather than being tied up with eating.
Obviously, scenario two works out better for everyone. Why is it, then, that scenario one is the one that plays out at every single wedding?
Yes, your guests are important. No, your photographer is not (should not be) a diva. We’re not asking to get our food first because we think we deserve to before everyone else. We’re asking so that we can efficiently do our job and you can get the most out of your wedding photography investment. This benefits you.
How To Fix It
It’s on you to talk with your caterer and/or venue. Let them know how you want things to work out. You’re the boss of your event. Simply tell them that you prefer to let the photographers eat at the beginning of the serve cycle. Otherwise, the default is for vendors to get their meals when all the guests are essentially finished with dinner.
One Last Thing
At risk of sounding greedy, there is one more thing I should mention. If you pay the same price for a vendor meal as you do for your guest (if so, thank you very much, we wholeheartedly appreciate it), then make sure your caterer is actually providing it. Sometimes caterers will cut corners and serve all your vendors a tray of sandwiches while your guests munch on filet mignon. Hey – vendors are people too, right? Get what you paid for.
Series information
Next we’ll be talking about the same day slideshow. What is it and why do you want it?
If you missed the intro to this series, you can catch it right here – How To Choose Your Rhode Island Wedding Photographer Series Introduction.
