Tipping is a common practice at the end of a service to show your appreciation. But do you tip photographers at weddings?
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Tipping wedding photographers at weddings is optional. You are not obliged to tip your wedding photographer. In fact, most, if not all, wedding photographers do not expect tips from their respective clients.
Are you supposed to tip your wedding photographer?
Whether or not to tip your wedding photographer is your choice. While tipping is a great business etiquette, you’re not obliged or expected to tip any photographer at your wedding.
This is because they are often self-employed, that is, business owners, and it is not proper etiquette to give tips to the owners of businesses. Therefore, if you desire to tip, we suggest giving it to the assistant photographer or trainee. Nonetheless, you can tip the main photographer if you want. It is your choice to make.
Furthermore, wedding photographers do not usually expect tips from their clients because they are often hired for weddings and receive upfront payments of at least half or 70% of the agreed cost. The fees charged by wedding photographers and paid by the couples often include the cost of covering the event and post-processing the deliverables before they are delivered.
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The price also includes the photographer’s travel expenses to and fro your wedding arena, accommodation (if necessary), and other miscellaneous charges, which might even contain extra profit.
Typically, the cost of hiring an average wedding photographer is quite expensive, ranging from $2,000 to $8,000, depending on their level of expertise or experience. This rate is enough reason why photographers do not expect tips from their clients at weddings.
Furthermore, whether to tip photographers at weddings will also depend on how they prefer to be paid for their services. If a photographer decides to charge for their time at the wedding and the length of the post-processing phase, there might be no need for tipping because they will be compensated with an hourly rate which includes travel and preparation time before the event.
In contrast, if the photographers charge a flat low fee to cover your wedding, then it is expected to tip them after they have completed the task. But the tipping should be based on how well they fulfilled your expectations. If the photographer goes over and beyond to provide you with the best pictures and clips, you might want to appreciate the efforts by tipping 10% or 20%.
While you are not mandated to tip photographers at weddings due to certain factors, such as the high costs of their services, there are other great reasons why you should tip. One of these reasons is to appreciate them for choosing to be present at your wedding. Professional wedding photographers often get several requests, especially during the holiday season when weddings seem to be rampant.
Another reason is to encourage the photographer to provide you with the best piece of work. Wedding photography requires a lot of work. Thus, photographers tend to give proper attention to the works of couples who pay more or tip them.
But tipping and rate do not determine the quality of the work you will receive from them. The quality of your wedding pictures and video is often determined by the photographers’ experience and tools.
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So whether to tip or not is entirely your decision to make. You are expected to pay your wedding photographer only the agreed fees and nothing more. And even the photographer is aware of this fact.
In conclusion, tipping is a great way to appreciate your wedding photographer’s efforts at your wedding. If you can, you should give a little tip regardless of whatever amount you originally paid for the task. This way, you can build a long-lasting business relationship (which will be beneficial to you) with the photographer.
Finally, while tipping is a great etiquette, you should not tip photographers at weddings if you do not feel like doing it.