I was disappointed with our photographer for the same reason. B & G also handled everything, and, according to them, the photographer was to ask our other son who important people were to get pictures of at the reception. After seeing the photos, it was obvious that she didn’t bother. There was only one picture of DH and I at the reception (we did take more formal pix before the ceremony), but none of other family at our table (DH"s siblings and spouses). There were alot more photos of bride’s family, but the photographer knew who they were from being at the MOB’s house while they were getting ready.
I can hardly imagine how many pics you’d be wading through, with 12 hours of shooting. Ymmv, but for me, only maybe 20-30 total would matter, touch mt heart, be the ones I turned to, over the years. Make sure those are clear to the photog.
My cautionary tale, may have already shared. Friend’s mother had months to live and everyone had a wretched relationship with the estranged father. Inviting him was just a polite thing.
Friend told the photog/videographer his mom was the priority. And that they cared zip for pictures of the dad. It wasn’t in writing. They got back scores of the father, one candid of Mom, and a passing image of her in the video. Dad was all over the pics and video. It burned.
Some things are worth dotting all the i’s, nagging about, or doing ourselves.
I had same reaction to wedding photos for D’s wedding last year as runnersmom and shellfell. The photos of my D & SIL are stunning, but there are very few photos in proportion to all taken with me in them and I didn’t care for most of them. I just wanted one or two good ones with D and it didn’t happen. Oh, well…
Lookingforward’s story just makes me sad.
Ditto on the disappointed photos. For my son’s wedding, a friend of the bride was the photographer; the B&G pictures are wonderful, the “let’s line up the families” pictures are ok. We were rushed through those as the sun was going down and it was getting hard to get the shots, plus the bride and groom wanted to go have their quiet time and get back to the cocktails. No pictures of the B&G with us alone, or with the grandparents.
I thought my daughter’s wedding would be different as I told her what pictures I wanted to make sure happened; well they didn’t! We did get the pictures with the B&G, and made sure they also took one with the grandparents, but that is all we got. The one photo of my husband walking her down the aisle was horrible! My husband looks like he is in the middle of a heart attack, not one of the happiest days of my daughter’s life 
No pictures of the grandparents walking down the aisle, no picture of the B&G during the Hora, and only one picture of me helping my daughter get into her dress, it was of my backside 
The photos of the bride and groom for both weddings were great, and it seems that is all they all wanted. Neither wanted the photos I had for my wedding, which included the table pictures, people dancing, etc… I still look through my album to see my friends and family; maybe the kids aren’t as sentimental! My SIL had her wedding ceremony and reception videoed back in the 70’s; she actually watches it about once a year.
Our photographer has a list that he uses of what most people (in his experience) want in group pictures for the wedding. We will look at that… and he has sued us to add anything we would like in addition. I want a picture of my sisters, the bride, and my niece…just our side women. We don’t have one at all…and this could be the only time we are all together. DD agrees.
Between the photographer and second shooter, he says they will take a couple thousand pictures…but then he will edit…and we I’ll get maybe 800…which still seems like a ton. There will be posed (his look very relaxed), as well as candids.
We have seen other collections he has done (three friends have used him in the last two years) and really like the work.
The pickiest my D was in all of her wedding planning? Choosing her photographer. He is wonderful, and he has already been in contact with me to let me know that I can feel free to communicate with him any time about anything. I have my fingers crossed that all will work out well with the pictures.
“It wasn’t in writing”. Too bad. I met with a photographer yesterday. I can give him a list of the shots I want to make sure he has. He will also do a quick little preview digitally near the end of the wedding for the B & G and family, so that any missed shots can be taken.
“He will also do a quick little preview digitally near the end of the wedding for the B & G and family, so that any missed shots can be taken.”
Sounds good in theory but how does this actually work in practice? Has anyone done this? I just find it hard to think I’d want to be pulled away from focusing on the party/reception to peruse some photos digitally with an eye towards what is missing, especially after a couple glasses of champagne. 
Folks you want may have left as well. I think this is why some folks take photos before the wedding, between wedding and reception and still more at recption, just to get all the desired posed shots. It’s much tougher once the reception starts rolling.
When I was married eons back, we did have some photos prior to the ceremony, done at church immediately after ceremony, some between wedding and reception and more at reception. I was happy with the shots we got and so was H.
We actually asked our photographer to take less pictures the last hour of the reception…and he agrees. By that time…many of the older guests have left, and the friends of the bride and groom, and younger relatives…don’t exactly look their best…shoes off, no ties, hair falling down, makeup not fresh. Etc. we want some of that…but really…not a lot.
Our photographer says he only stays to the end to capture the bride and groom leaving…which he says is an important moment. We agree.
We had great luck with our photographers. Each of them had a second shooter and provided 8 hours of coverage; each of them requested a list of desired shots in advance. In the heat of the moment, some shots didn’t happen. Some did happen but weren’t worth the time and effort spent corralling people and getting them away from the cocktail hour or the dance floor, lol.
One shot we hadn’t done for my older ds’ weddings that’s among my favorites from d3’s wedding: they did a “first look” shot of me seeing her in her dress. Such a nice moment to have always. There was also a “first look” shot of the bridesmaids seeing her (her two sisters were bridesmaids and helped her dress - this shot was of the other bridesmaids).
The reception photos didn’t include a shot of each table. @snowball, I remember those, too! But I haven’t seen them in recent albums, so maybe that’s something people would have to request specifically today. The photogs captured moments I was unaware of, though (in some cases, blissfully so).
Adding - they also got some very nice shots of the reception venue before people arrived, and since I was in a fog for much of the day, it’s nice to see what the place looked like. I didn’t think about the flowers or table settings on the day of, but now I can say, “yes, those were worth what they cost.”
They also took a nice picture of the display of family wedding pictures (parents, grandparents, sibs, etc.). I was glad because it took quite a bit of effort to assemble the photos and I didn’t see the display even once during the reception!
Honestly…I’m not sure I want pictures of every table. We will be seating people together with like interests…but in many cases…this will be the first time some of them have met.
As an example…I was at a wedding a year ago…and we knew one other couple at our table. The others were VERY nice, and friendly, and we had a terrific time! BUT I’m not sire the parents of the bride (we were all friends of the brides family) really needed a picture of 8 random people most of whom never saw each other before…and won’t see each other again.
Now…I WILL give the photographer the table numbers of relatives.
Yes, be sure the photographer knows who the family members and “must get” people are! Our photographer wanted someone from the wedding party to follow along and tell him who to shoot. We did give him a detailed list, not that he particularly followed it.
“Our photographer wanted someone from the wedding party to follow along and tell him who to shoot.”
Who wants to spend time at a wedding being that person, though?
In our case, the photographer was to ask my other son who the important people were to get photos of. He didn’t need to follow her around, just answer her questions. But I don’t think she ever did that considering who was left out of photos.
Photographer at Ds’s wedding a few weeks ago took three group shots:
Bride and all of her relatives
Groom and all of his relatives
Bride and groom and all of their friends, classmates, colleagues.
So the three pix included everyone. Of course, it was a relatively small wedding (66 people) so it was quite do-able.
doschicos, exactly. At least the guy wasn’t hugely expensive. He was probably annoyed with me because I had my camera with me (not as snazzy as his), but I was taking different pictures and stayed far out of his range.
At the Bar Mitzvah, I did ask the photographer to take a picture of each table. That way, I knew everyone would at least be in a picture.
Moving on to hotel blocks and guest reservations.
We reserved rooms…we sent out Save the Dates. We sent emails to all out of town guests with a link to the hotel.
We have a limited amount of rooms blocked off right now. The hotel will add rooms IF we fill up. Every month they send me a list of who has reserved…and I can see how many rooms are left.
Wedding is on Memorial Day weekend, and in the area are a couple of prep school graduations, and other events. The are always full (we put this in the email to the out of town guests).
I know it’s a 7 months away…and invitations won’t get sent until after the first of the year…but…this hotel only asks for a credit card to hold the room…no penalty for cancelling (that was in the email too).
I’m guessing…I should just put this out of my mind!! If folks can’t get rooms at this place, they will just have to go elsewhere. Right?