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Super March 2016

Should I tip our engagement photographer?

ChelsM, on May 22, 2015 at 3:28 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 6

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FH and I just had our engagement photographs taken (finally), and we should have them delivered on a USB early next week. It was really cheap (like, $100 for 3 hours cheap) because he loves what he does and doesn't think of it as work. We're using the engagements to see if we want to use him for the wedding. My question is if we should tip him for the engagement pictures? I just feel like $100 isn't enough- he drove a decent amount to get to the location, walked all over the place with us, and is going so far as to send us a template in Photoshop for our STD's. If we do go with him for the wedding, I won't feel as bad about it because we'll likely give him something extra for being awesome on top of his fee. But if we don't go with him, should we tip? It's within our means to do an extra like $25-$50, since most people in our area charge at least $250 for 3 hrs. Or should we just thank our lucky stars he's so affordable? ETA: he haven't paid anything yet, not until he delivers.

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6 Comments

Latest activity by annakay511, on May 22, 2015 at 4:44 PM

Master May 2015
Beth · on May 22, 2015 at 3:31 PM
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I feel like at this point, sending him a tip (if you choose not to go with him) would be awkward. If you had asked before the shoot, I might have said to tip him there. But now, I think it would just be a little weird.
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Master October 2015
FutureMrsCrane · on May 22, 2015 at 3:31 PM
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If your photographer owns the business, I don't think you're really obligated to tip them.. That being said, our engagement photographer only charged us $100 (she's just starting out and wanted experience). We ended up giving her a check for $130, so I guess we technically tipped her.
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Super March 2016
ChelsM · on May 22, 2015 at 3:32 PM
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Well we haven't paid him yet, we'll do that when we get the images (his idea, not ours). You're right, I wouldn't send him the tip after fill payment was already made, that would be weird. That's why I'm asking now, before we do pay him. I should have mentioned that, thanks!
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Master June 2015
SimpleSeamstress · on May 22, 2015 at 3:53 PM
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Snap! I never thought to tip my photographer. I guess I can make up for it at the wedding. This cheat sheet for TK says that tipping the photographer is optional, so you are probably in the clear.

https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-vendor-tipping-cheat-sheet
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Master June 2015
SimpleSeamstress · on May 22, 2015 at 3:56 PM
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I wanted to add a quote from Martha Stewart's website:

Photographers, Videographers, Florists, and Wedding Coordinators
For people who own their own businesses, as many of these vendors do, tipping isn't necessary. "They've already negotiated their fees and expect only that amount of money," says Jeremy Faryar of LIFEstories Film, a New York City videography company that specializes in weddings. For photographers, videographers, and florists who do not own their own businesses, tip $30 to $50; wedding coordinators should be given about $50 to $100.
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Master July 2015
annakay511 · on May 22, 2015 at 4:44 PM
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@SimpleSeamstress thanks for that!! My photographer owns her own company and our videographer does not, and I wasn't sure about tipping...
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