Family Photographer Vs Professional

If they're going to be at your wedding as a guest you can just say you want them to enjoy themselves as a guest and not working the event.

I wasn't planning on it :/ She was my aunts old roommate, so I'm not personally close to her.

If you have been communicating through email I would just send a quick note saying "We have decided to go in a different direction with our wedding, thank you so much for taking the time to speak/meet with us. We will no longer require your services."

I sent a similar note when I decided not to have a DOC due to our budget after emailing and having a phone consultation. I felt really bad but she is a professional and took it very well.

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This - we've sent a few "we've decided to go in a different direction" emails ourselves, and it's gone over fine. Definitely just be firm but nice about it

It would be time for the wedding white lie for me lol. I'd probably say something along the lines of "we've actually already signed with another photographer" or "a friend of ours referred their previous photographer to us and we got a discount" or something like that

If you're not comfortable with the "we decided to go in another direction," or if she asks why, I agree with Amber, time for a white lie. Perhaps tell her your venue referred you to a regular photographer they use and it was important for you to have someone familiar with you venue!

Okay, yes I like those ideas, thank you!

We had to do this! We told the family friend that we had gotten a discount on a photographer at a bridal show so we didn't want to pass it up, it was some what true - we got a discount for booking the photographer and DJ from the same company. We had the family friend do our engagement photos though

To back up your no thank you, if theyre already on your guest list, you can tell them you want them to enjoy the party not work it.

Also you can tell them you are using a professional who has worked at your venue too (everyone has told me its important to use a photographer that knows your place cause of light conditions, angles etc. Thats the excuse ive used when ppl offered their services or recommended their photographers

if that doesnt work you can alwaya blame your fh - say he wants a professional theres been quite a few times my fiance vetoed something in the past too.

These are great too, I will definitely be using some of these! haha Thanks Ladies!

Professional - hands down. I've seen so many of my friend's get married and have their friends/family do the services and their friends/family think becasue they are doing it cheaper and "helping you out" they can be late on giving you back the products you paid for. 1 of my friends who got married 2 years ago had 2 friends do it and 1 of their friends (photographer) lost the most important pictures (1st dance, walking down aisle, etc). Also, another 1 of my friends hired 1 of their friends as a photographer & videographer and it took them 4 months to get the photos back and 6 months to get the video back. One of my friends was gonna do my hair and backed out a month ago - last time I ask a friend to do anything for me professionally, left a bad taste in my mouth. My point is be careful asking friends and family as it can cause more problems. I would say hire a professional.