FI's Camera Giveaway idea in lou of photographer

[SDSteph]

So last night at the bar my FI and I were talking and wedding stuff came up. I mentioned that I have been thinking about the photographer stuff and I am not sure how I feel about it. I mean I want pictures but don't care or really want an album or TTD session and we dont have a briadal party to take pictures with after the ceromony....so here is what the FI came up with.

 

He sugessed we spend $1000 on a bunch of digital cameras and on the first night at our welcome diner and we do a drawing or giveaway for our guests but the people who recieve the cameras must take pictures the entire trip and surrender the memory card before they leave. That way we have like 20 eyes around for 5 days rather than a few for the ceromony. What do you think? Could this work?

 

[roxmysockz]

Think this sounds like a fab idea!! And I bet your pictures will be awesome from it too! xx

[Cindy*]

My caution would be to make sure that these are people who want to take photos and will actually take "serious pictures". Friends of ours did a dw elopement and then had a big AHR when they came home. They put out a series of cameras for people to take pictures during the reception. Well, after the reception when they developed them, they were pretty unhappy. There were no real pictures of the bride and groom, it was mainly all people taking pictures of themselves and friends or drunken pics.

[jajajaja]

I would be cautious too because of what Cindy said. My friend had a bunch of cameras at her wedding and the same thing happened. Some people just aren't huge picture takers too and others go crazy. For example, I just went on a weeklong vacation with our friends. I came home with 144 pictures- they took 900+. I forgot my camera half the time.

 

I haven't printed up one wedding picture either; however, I don't regret spending money on a pro to capture those moments. Everyone's priorities are different though. I'd just hate for you to regret it cause it's not something you can easily re-do.

[jajajaja]

Oh- and most of your guests will have digital cameras and give you the pics for free anyways. We ended up with a lot of candid shots from our guests. A drawing for a camera is a nice bonus though, but just wanted to point out that you will probably get lots of pics either way!

[Erika J]

I would be very wary of this idea.

 

Wedding photographers train for years (and some still dont get it right) to capture the right moments from the right angles in the right light etc.

 

Additionally they spend the time cropping and editing the photos so they are just right, and have a trained "eye" for doing it.

 

My other concern is do you think you can have enough people to take the serious pics you want? Or on the flip side, do you think some guests will go too far and be roaming all over during the ceremony trying to get shots? Or you have a bunch of shots from your guests vantage point of sitting in thier seat?

 

I just think back to all my lovely friend from this site, and how I anxiously await FB pics to show up and just get more excited for the pro pics, cause you can see what the bride looks like .. kinda.. in friends pics, but get the "feeling" of the wedding from the pro pics.

[carolina24]

i'm sorry hon but i have to go against this. you might say now that you don't really care about pics and that you don't have a wedding party to take pics with, but this is your wedding we're talking about!!! i'm really scared that you'd regret it later on.

 

i mean pics of the kiss, his face when you're walking down the aisle, the ring exchange and pics of the two of you after and with your guests. no matter how good the digital cameras are or how much your guests enjoy taking pics, it'll never replace a professional.

 

plus your guests might feel like they have to capture those "perfect moments" and as a guest i would be a little stressed by this. they want to be able to enjoy the ceremony and reception, not be ready to snap a great shot.

 

lighting is also a huge deal in photography. check out this thread, it shows a big difference b/t certain lighting and how angels affect the results even during the same time of day...

 

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...31/index2.html

 

i always hear that your wedding day goes by super fast and you don't remember a lot of it....so of course the pics are going to be your memories. just a thought!!

[SDSteph]

Thanks for all of the advise and great points that I never thought about. We are def going to still be discussing this often for sure. Not sure how to make it work out the best. I know we wont get photographer quality photos, and I love seeing all of the pic on here!

[autjo]

My friends are picture whores and we ended up with over 5000 pics from everyone's vacation and their versions of our wedding. These are priceless, and fun, and make me smile everytime I look at them (and were free because everyone already had digital cameras). If your friends and family don't have cameras then a drawing would be really cool.

 

BUT.... I wouldn't trade my pro pics for anything. People either have an eye for a picture or they don't. Do you really want to chance not getting one of you and FI's first kiss? Do you really want to ask your guests to pay attention to their camera and shot instead of listening to your vows? Like Rachel, all of our priorities are different, but you can't recreate a DW just to get a missed photo op. I'm now addicted to pro pictures and want someone to capture every important moment in my life LOL

 

A lot of photogs will just give you a DVD of your pics so you don't have to pay for albums and prints and stuff that you don't want. And they will tailor their shooting time to your needs. Even the photogs included in the wedding packages are usually pretty good.

[MissNatalie18]

I wouldn't suggest this idea either. I think that your guests want to enjoy your wedding and they may feel pressure and a lot of stress if you are counting on them to take these special shots. Also, everyone will come with a digital cameral anyways. What about emailing your guests and asking if one of them would be interested in being the designated photographer...you would be surprised, my Dad loves taking photos, so he would be inclined to say yes, where I would never want that responsibility. I bet one of your guests loves taking shots and would offer to do it for you. Just remember that they are not a professional, and you can't really have any expectations or hold a grudge if the pics don't turn out the way you had hoped. My sister brought her friend who is a photographer (it is his hobby) and she was devestated, she hated the pictures and felt she couldn't get upset with him because he was her friend.

 

I hope it all works out for you!