Photographer gratuity question

Our engagement shoot was part of our photography package and we gave a smaller tip at the engagement shoot. We saved the larger tip for the wedding.

I plan to send a small gift for the engagement shoot then provide a larger tip (enough to cover both engagement and wedding) after the wedding. I just think its easier to work out as a tip of total cost since the engagement shoot is part of our overall package price.

I wouldn't tip until after the wedding. You could have a great engagement shoot but that doesn't mean they'll provide a great experience on your wedding day.

Don’t tip for anything until after the wedding is passed so you can objectively assess their performance. Which you can’t do on the wedding day. Sometimes vendors have great service leading up to the wedding and are a disaster on the wedding day. Some vendors are a dream to work with from the beginning to end. You have no way of knowing mid-planning.

Since the engagement shoot is apart of a larger wedding package, wait until all services have been rendered so you can tip accordingly.

Have you read posts from brides waiting months and months for photos? I wouldn’t tip the wedding photographer until AFTER you receive pictures back.

One of my bridesmaids is a wedding photographer and I've discussed this with her. I dont have any intention to tip our photographer. We're paying her almost $4,000 to provide a service. I tip waitresses that make $5 an hour, but expecting a tip on top of $4k is incredible IMO.


If after the wedding, we are completely blown away and feel we WANT to tip her, then we'll for sure do it. But I'm not going into it with any expectation to do so. Not in my contract 🤷🏻‍♀️