Tipping Engagement Photographer

Oops. We did not tip our photographer for our engagement pics. It was included in our wedding package and I was just going to tip her at the end of everything. Hopefully I didn't do anything bad! The girl is awesome and we have been emailing and chatting about non wedding related things. Like I just emailed her to say happy birthday and we were talking about her husband's job search in another one. So I don't think I upset her by not tipping at the engagement session!

I'm following because I was wondering the same thing. I was thinking we would just tip the photographer on the wedding day when we tip everyone else. Not sure if this is correct.

I don't think you did either. When I tried googling this all last night and this morning, most people said they didn't and a lot of photographers said they don't expect/receive tips, so I don't know if that's just the way I'm going to do it or not hahaha.

Ours has just been very understanding about weather, work schedules, etc. (our new one, our last one was a dick and thank God the company we hired just replaced him without us losing our deposit) so if the work reflected our other experiences, I wanted to give something. I've read that a well thought our card is always appreciated, too.

Rosa: I'm glad I'm not the only one!

Spazzy: Thanks for the input. When I was talking to my FILs/FH about it last night they didn't seem to have much input but my FFIL gave a good analogy that it'd be like tipping our server before we sat down and then have our drinks empty the entire meal.

My e-pics are this Thursday and I was wondering this exact thing.. Ours are included with the wedding package so I was just going to tip at the wedding when we pay them, but now i'm wondering if I should give them something this week..?

I was unsure about this too, and our photographer owns her business. I know you aren't supposed to tip business owners but that feels wrong too. I didn't give her a tip after our engagement session last week, although when we all got really hot and needed a break I bought her a bottle of water. (Big spender! LOL) I am planning to give her a tip anyway after the wedding but I don't know when or how. Our e-pics were included as part of the wedding package too.

Yep, ours are too.

I guess like any service, you don't tip until you receive the service/product, right? Like Spazzy said, she tipped and still got crap service.

I didn't tip after e-pics. Our session was included in our package, but no products. I spent way more on product than I would have for a tip, so my conscience is clear on this one lol.

I tend to over tip people before I get a product or my food, and I soon find out that I got screwed or my food was messed up, etc. Like, I rarely tip at Chipotle. But one time I tipped $10 (ordered about 5 meals online), showed up 15 minutes early to pick up, and ended up waiting over 30 minutes after my order was due for my order. Another place, I tipped 20% on a pick up order and had to wait over 45 minutes and then the guy handing it to me was rude and said he didn't believe me that I was waiting there that long.

Is your engagement session photographer your wedding photographer? I would tip the wedding day, if so. Because then you know what to expect with your quality when it comes time to the wedding.

I didn't tip. Maybe if I would've I would have a sneak peek or something back already....I'm so impatient....

We didn't tip after our e photos. The session is part of our wedding photography package so he will get a tip after the wedding.

As a professional photographer- i'll tell you I NEVER expect a tip. I've been tipped MAYBE 3 times at a wedding- and since I own my business, I usually pass the tip along to my second shooter (who's paid by the hour.)

I really don't think it's necessary.

I was hoping a photographer would comment on this, so I thank you!

We did tip our e pic photographer, but we hadn't planned on it. She owns her business. The only reason that we did was because we ran into someone who plays with fire and we saw the photographer pay her to do a trick for our photoshoot. We felt it was appropriate to help cover the cost. We tipped at the end of the session, before seeing the final product.

DH did tip ours for the wedding photos. I think he gave the main photog (who also did our Epix) $50 and the second shooter $100. The main photog was also the owner of the business and everything I found said that tipping was not necessary when they were the business owner. We did not give a tip after our engagement photos.

I'm just tipping at the wedding.

Our wedding photographer owns her business and so we are not planning to tip her.

If I was tipping my photographer, I would probably wait and mail a thank you card with a check after I had received my images and was happy with everything!

My sister took my e-pics so we didn't tip her, but she has never been (or expected to be) tipped for them.

I also agree with AnnaKay - i think it depends on if the person owns the business or works for a company, that makes a big difference in the pay they are getting for the day. (this may be the minority opinion)

Honestly, I haven't thought about it yet but since we have the contract and the full payment amount - we may just send her a thank you card and a little gift!

I just wanted to say I am so proud of you for biting the bullet and getting these done! I can't wait to see them!!! Also, there were a few shots I wanted to take for the e-pics but I was so nervous that I forgot all about them SO write yours down if you have any!