Photographer meal

My vendors are eating in a separate room from the guests. asked to be served first (right after the bride and groom) so they can eat quickly and get back to work.

This is a great question that I hadn't thought about! I'd love to know what your photographer says when you hear back from her or if others share their experience on this!

View Quoted Comment ^ same ! I hadn’t thought of this either. I would like to know this as well.

View Quoted Comment I guess this makes sense as many people do not need pictures of guest eating. We have our photographer for 8 hours. I didn’t even consider when they would eat.

Thank you for asking this question Kelly!

View Quoted Comment Do you have a second photographer? They usually will alternative at some point during the reception. This is also another reason why the wedding timeline is shared with all vendors. They will step away discreetly in between events (first dances, speeches, cake cutting). We didn’t even notice when our photographers took their meal breaks as the night progressed on quickly.

We’re having two photographers but they’ll be getting their meals directly after us so they can eat and get back to it. No one wants to have their picture taken while stuffing food in their mouth anyway

View Quoted Comment Yes, we do have two photographers. I never would have thought about that. Just when I thought I’d thought of everything there’s something else. Thank you for the insight.

Update: My photographer got back to me. She will have an assistant and they'll eat quickly. During meals they take still shots, like of rings or of decorations.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for your response Kelly!

View Quoted Comment You’re welcome. Your planner will put together a time line for you 2 weeks prior. It’s truly nothing you need to worry yourself with. Don’t stress it! 😃

View Quoted Comment Thanks a lot Skb!!

Give them a break, feed them a meal, etc. guests don’t want to be photographed while eating anyway. Plus wouldn’t you need a break after being on your feet for 6+ hours?

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It's not a question of them getting a break or getting fed. Of course I'm going to feed them. My question was if the hour they spend eating counted toward their 6 hours.

View Quoted Comment Gotcha! Yes it is.

Talk to the photographer to see what they typically do. This is their livelihood that they do every weekend.


Also it’s recommended that vendors eat in the same room as guests so they don’t miss vital moments they are hired to be part of. Some venues don’t have a hidden corner to put them in and it’s a health department violation to have them set up in the kitchen where some magazines suggest you seat them.

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As I said, she got back to me. She won't spend an hour eating with everyone else. She'll eat, then take what she calls design photos. I'm not trying to cheat her, I just wanted to know how to handle what I thought was going to be an hour of paid time with no work. Turns out that's not the case.

View Quoted Comment Yes it does, but they won't take an hour to eat. Maybe 15 minutes tops, then they'll take detail/scenery shots while the guests eat.

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Thanks. My photographer got back to me saying this. I was under the impression she and her assistant would sit and eat with everyone else, which would take at least an hour.

In the 19 years I have been in the industry, I have never seen dinner take an hour (unless the venue/caterer completely drops the ball). Generally, dinner takes 20-35 minutes. Your vendors will eat quickly and get ready to work again. As a vendor, I can tell you, we appreciate a minute to sit and throw some food down our throats!