Asking Friend To Shoot Engagement Photos

Just ask them. I am going with a good friend of mine who has a good camera and takes great photos. He's done a few photoshoots for me and all the photos turn out great so I'm not worried!

We had a friend of mine shoot our engagement photos and I love the way they turned out. This friend actually offered though when we were talking about hiring a photographer. I wouldn't post anything randomly. I would ask one of the friends who you think takes good pictures. I would just mention that you've seen some of the pictures they take and think they are great and ask if they would be willing to take some pics for you. We just wanted pictures for the STD. Not to commemorate anything for the rest of our lives. We didn't frame any or anything and I just couldn't justify spending $1000 on pictures people would just throw away.

I asked my childhood friend and BM, well more like she offered since she also photographed our Engagement Party photos. We paid her, provided transportation, a meal, and a thoughtful card. She took the photos on her professional cam and transferred them to my Mac. She does photography as a hobby and as a side hustle. She has an amazing portfolio and has been doing it for years. So it was a no brainer. Engagement photos are not a big deal, so you don't need to go the professional route (as is absolutely necessary for the wedding photos IMO). Anyway, I absolutely love our engagement photos. They were on the beach and couldn't be more romantic. We really only wanted them for the STDs and a slideshow the day of.

Regarding asking on FB, I wouldn't ask on FB that will stir up a lot of shit like people inviting themselves to your wedding and amateurs offering to shoot the photos for you. Just ask, only two possible responses. Also, most photography packages include a complimentary engagement shoot. So maybe you can do that.

Nothing wrong with asking a friend! My mom is doing our epics, she does photography on the side and the pictures would have so much more meaning to us.

My best friend from high school has a very good camera and does head shots and small photography gigs as a side job. We asked her to do our engagement photos, and she gave them to us as our "wedding gift". Now I can look back on these beautiful photos and they're even more sentimental because one of my oldest friends took them.

I agree with a PP that it is easiest to do this if you have a person or two in mind, and then you ask them directly. My FH also has a really nice camera, which we thought about giving to some artsy friends to take pictures of us. However, we felt more comfortable having someone who has done engagement sessions at least a few times before doing our photos. It might be best to have your wedding photographer do it (or even a different one who charges less?).

Hope that helps, and congratulations!

These posts annoy me.

Just because someone has a nice camera means sweet fuck all if they know nothing about framing and lighting. The new cameras are awesome because they automatically adjust for aperture, but if you cannot shoot the backside of a barn in a proper context or frame, what's the use of a fancypants camera?

I'll say it again for the certain few who didn't read my comments

(PS: Jessie- all my posts annoy you so not surprised there!)

We booked a great professional photographer for the wedding. The package we chose comes with one parent album so we wanted another.

The cost of a parent album is $500, because it's a mini replica of our big one, much higher quality than Shutterfly.

The engagement session through them does not come with any photos. To purchase photos is $50 PER DIGITAL IMAGE. Too Expensive.

The amateur photographers I've been recommended to by my Facebook friends cost WAY less than the cost of an extra parent album plus engagement photos.

For example, I found a great one for $300 that comes with digital photos.

As for my OP, I wasn't talking about any rando friend with a nice camera, I was talking about the friends who have done photography on the side or as a hobby, so I already know they can take great photos.

THIS IS NOT FOR THE WEDDING. This is just for the little engagement photoshoot. We don't have many pictures of ourselves so we thought it'd be nice to have some to use for the website, invitations, etc.

Mrs.Rosales2018 - I can do either Chicago area or the Peoria area.

Honestly if this is just about having some nice pictures of you two and wanting a friend to help out; just ask someone who you think likes to take pictures. And if they are close enough of a friend, don't bother with the monetary aspect as it makes it more business than a favour.

If it's a favour, with no money involved and a friend is more than willing, there is no pressure on them or you in case they don't turn out or something.

However if you have someone specific in mind and they do it on the side, just approach them directly and see if they are willing to do it and if you want to offer them money, just ask how much for their services.