| food for thought… | 11.29.10 |
i am for the most part a positive girl…a glass is half full type of girl…but right now my glass if half empty….no, actually completely empty…i am a hungry photographer….not in a cute metaphorical kind of way…but actually hungry….starving….in need sustenance….let me see if i can explain…there is a dirty little secret in the wedding world…its called the “vendor meal”….i am calling out to all brides…and caterers….and anyone who may be listening….ladies…i am a passionate photographer….i love what i do….i can often go tirelessly for hours capturing the nuances & beauty of your wedding day….i will sometimes work for 8, 10 even 12 hours before taking a break…don’t get me wrong, i am not complaining about this…i LOVE being a photographer & will do just about anything to create beautiful images….the thing is when i finally do break, its usually for just a few minutes….and i am often ravenous….i am not sure quite how to describe the experience of coming face to face with a “vendor meal” but its very close to how it feels to be heart broken by the love of your life…it hurts…and words can’t really touch the way it feels…now a “vendor meal” can take all forms, from a soggy sandwich served next too garbage cans in the alley of a five star hotel, to cold pizza at a gorgeous estate, to the ever popular “box lunch” which is usually made at the crack of dawn & served in the evening & includes an array of barely edible nibbles….sometimes we are served a warm “vendor meal”, that is warm, yes, but also basically inedible….imagine lukewarm sliced turkey & soggy vegetables….i when i say inedible, i mean literally i cannot palate it, & instead of eating, i go hungry & wait until i get home or back to my hotel room & eat then…i realize this may sound a bit whiney…again this is not my intention….there have been a few occasions where i was fed wonderful food, i’ve been given the same plate of food the bride & groom were given, these beautiful moments are few & far between….if you still think i’m being too picky, think about this…a photographer is there to capture your wedding….if we are fed well, not only do we have fuel to go on, we also feel happy, appreciated & grateful…which means we can continue tirelessly  to photograph the things & people that are important to you…i also feel its important to emphasize here, that we do not need or want a long break to eat….we have no desire to experience your eight course meal….one edible plate of food will do…as a rule of thumb, if you do not want to eat it, probably we won’t want to either….i have never complained at a wedding & i would never want to distract a couple from enjoying every moment of their wedding day….that would be petty….but i’ve worked many a night hungry & with hurt feelings…photographers if you are out there, please chime in…and lastly, if a bride & groom are unaware of this, then of course they can not do anything to change it….and caterers, we are on the same team…we are all working together to create a memorable & beautiful day for a couple in love….some caterers are incredibly gracious about feeding us & others, not so much…ironically, the same people who will not feed us, are often the ones that want photographs of their food & the event…i am more than happy to share my images with anyone who worked on a wedding…just please share a little food with me, we are on the same team…my head is bowed, my heart is full & my belly is empty.
food for thought…i would love to hear your thoughts….xoxo
a little more sweetness....
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November 29th, 2010 at 1:18 am
Food feeds the soul!!
I just got married on October 10th and I made sure that everyone helping me make my day special (Photographer & her assistant, day of coordinator & her assistant, florist, pastor) had dinner and time to re-energize!! I grew up in a culture where we show our hospitality and friendship through the serving food. Also, if we had a guest in our home, even a worker (cable man, handy man) you offer them food & drinks. That is just how it is. To be honest, if you hire someone (i.e. photographer), and you do not treat him or her well (feed them), you should not expect that they will be happy working for you, and they may not do a good job. I can’t imagine this… sad face and my heart goes out to you!!
To all the Brides, don’t be cheap and make sure your vendors are taken care of…especially your photographer!!!!
P.S. I’ll share some food with you!! xxOO Janet
November 29th, 2010 at 2:43 am
As a bride to be I agree with you, how could I expect my vendors to work 10+ hours without a good meal and rest? Serving them a meal is the least I could do for their hard work in making my day so special.
November 29th, 2010 at 3:57 am
I am so amazed in what I just read! You took the words out of my mouth. One is so tired after a long day, that a good wholesome meal will just do the trick to give us that extra mileage. I fought many battles with function coordinators to look after every single vendor who has been working all day and I am sure will fight many more. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
November 29th, 2010 at 4:22 am
SO agree with you! I have had both, the delicious plate of wedding quality meal (followed by one of the incredibly expensive wedding cake cupcakes) and then I’ve also had a re-heated microwave veg lasagne, served in the deserted cold basement of the venue. I tell you, I wasn’t in the best frame of mind to go back upstairs and ‘make art’ after that.
November 29th, 2010 at 5:43 am
Thank you for bringing this up. You are absolutely correct and I couldn’t agree more. I’m sick of eating protein bars during weddings like they are going out of style!
November 29th, 2010 at 5:58 am
[...] morning, when I woke up, I found an incredible post on Kiss the Groom by the most amazing wedding photographer Elizabeth Mesinna. Â Her wedding photography style is [...]
November 29th, 2010 at 6:37 am
Thanks for shedding some light on a very sensitive subject.
November 29th, 2010 at 7:56 am
We agree and have the best couples. We have been fed well and many of our couples go out of their way just to make sure that we have time to eat, been fed the great meal they ordered and have drinks when we want them.
We do like to bring up this issue from day one with our couples and I think this helps. We too agree that we don’t need a bunch of time to eat but a good meal makes for great receptions photos ;o)
November 29th, 2010 at 7:56 am
I couldn’t agree more! I’ve been fortunate enough to tell clients specifically that I require a “hot meal and a seat nearby” but I suspect at some point I will face a vendor meal. I’ve written what I can into my contract to protect me (in that if you don’t feed me I will leave for an hour to get a hot meal). I truly believe the problem is the clients aren’t educated on what a vendor meal is and believe it’s okay, possibly because the venue tells them it’s all right, it’s done all the time and can save them a few dollars. I don’t know how we’re expected to eat a sandwich after working 10 hours on our feet. It’s just not enough food. I know when I finally sit down to eat after taking pictures all day, I’m starving!
November 29th, 2010 at 8:01 am
I serve about 12,000 photographers and a lot of them shoot weddings. The vendor meal is a topic of frequent conversation on our closed forums. To be honest, until I had this job I don’t know that I ever really thought about this and I’m sure that’s the challenge in the culture today. With this said, you’re right in everything you’re saying. There is really no excuse for not taking care of those who are taking care of us. Most venues discard the leftovers (and there are always leftovers). When someone is feeding 50 people or even 300 people, adding enough plates to make sure the folks who are working so hard have a great, hot meal is a no brainer. Seems like if you’re having fun you’ll do better work.
Great post…
November 29th, 2010 at 8:06 am
I’m a little in shock from reading this on YOUR blog, out of all people. My weddings are all in texas and I’m lucky enough to have been fed every time except one. A woman I began assisting for was also from California and said there she felt more like the “help” and was rarely given dinner… Come shoot a wedding in Texas and eat some bbq
November 29th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Great point about the caterers wanting photos after they haven’t fed you! Wow, the nerve… I’ve worked with a lot of great caterers and the problem isn’t usually that they don’t give us food – but they don’t give it to us at a time that would actually be helpful – like when the bride & groom are eating as opposed to when they’re dancing or walking around mingling with guests. I cant’ tell you how many times I’ve been 2 bites into a meal when they begin the first dance and my dinner is over. It’s so frustrating – and after already working 8 hours straight by that point – I get whiny too! The funny thing is that I’d actually rather be served a kids meal, if it’s available. You can’t go wrong with chicken fingers & fries, they come out first, and they’re easy to eat on the go. I’m kinda picky – I like steak well done, not medium rare – I can’t stomach another bland chicken dinner with asparagus. Honestly if they served me pizza, I’d be thrilled
November 29th, 2010 at 8:17 am
Thank you for bravely talking out loud about this. When I worked in California the dreaded box lunch vendor meal was heartbreaking. I would either get a box lunch with a white bun with orange process cheese that had obviously been frozen overnight then melted in the 100 degree weather (to the point where the cheese was bubbled) and given to me to eat in a corner or the family style meal which was plain chicken piled on a plate to be eaten beside the dumpster and washrooms behind a wooden wall so people couldn’t see me eat. I felt incredibly humiliated to have to beg for a meal. I’m quite shy and having to ask for my meal I was always made to feel like it was out of line to do so. On a wedding day there simply isn’t time to eat except when the guests are eating and more importantly to hydrate especially in the high heat temperatures. I would often get woozy to the point of near fainting when I went to stand up. I would be so sick by the time I could sit to eat something and then it would be something that was inedible. Not being picky inedible but something that would make me sick inedible. The locations that I worked at were not the kind of places that I could leave to get a meal elsewhere, they would be 20 minutes away from anything otherwise I would of gladly paid to eat anything elsewhere.
My clients were really generous and thoughtful couples and I honestly think they paid for a vendor meal and had no idea what I served. Who knows how much they paid for my bubbled cheese sandwich.
I am always happy to provide other vendors with images for their portfolio. I did find it somewhat hurtful to be given what I was given to eat in a manner where I felt I had to beg and was told to eat out of the view of the guests and then that same week be asked to provide prints for the caterer or wedding planner. There were times I was told I could eat if they had any left overs which consisted of cold chicken that was thrown out directly after I had a piece and I was never sure I would have even that. I tried to bring bottles of water and granola bars but in the heat the water quickly became too hot to drink and anything food like would melt and more importantly it was difficult to carry anything over and above the heavy bags of equipment that I needed with me at all times and there simply is not time to eat during a wedding where you need to capture all the moments.
Since moving to Canada I have been in awe of the way I have been treated. I’m always given a full plated hot meal. In fact I am asked in the weeks before the wedding what meal choice I would most like. The vendor table is a fully dressed table complete with buns and butter , jugs of water, salad and dessert. It is always placed thoughtfully out of the way but close enough that I can see and hear the action so if a spontaneous toast happens I can easily jump up and capture it. I can’t tell you how much this thoughtfulness has affected my job. I feel so grateful. After I’ve eaten I feel recharged and ready to capture the reception with a grateful heart and a happy belly.
I think with everything that is going on in planning all the details of the day a couple may not think to ask about a vendor meal. Here the wedding planners and the venues let the couples know that it is something to be considered and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. A meal is provided without me having to ask. Often times venues serve me first because they know that will allow me to be ready for the toasts that are often sprinkled throughout dinner. In the end the couple wins because I can capture all those important moments and be working to the best of my ability.
I love my job. It doesn’t feel like work to me and I am grateful for the love and moments that I get to be witness to every week-end. To me there is no other work that is more rewarding for me. Having a meal provided for me at a time that allows me to eat and not miss any moments allows me to feel recharged and do the best possible job for my clients which is what is most important to me at every wedding.
November 29th, 2010 at 8:28 am
Its in my contract that a vendor meal isn’t acceptable. Just this past friday I was seated at the table with the brides family enjoying some amazing chicken, and when I looked up I noticed the videographer and the DJ in the back eating subway! I felt So bad for them.
November 29th, 2010 at 8:29 am
I love this post it is do right on. This happens to me fairly often as well.weEnen I started out dong inexpensive weddings I always got to sit at a table with guests and got the full meal. Now that I shoot more expensive weddings more often than I’d like I eat in the kitchen and from a box it’s always a let down. A hot meal really helps recharge me during a long day in the way that a box never can.
November 29th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Hear, hear. If you’re willing to serve a lovely meal not only to the cousin you see twice a year, but also to his date whom you’ve never met, you should consider providing the same meal to your hard-working, memory-capturing photographer.
November 29th, 2010 at 8:41 am
hi elizabeth! i’m so surprised that you have had this problem. you should have stayed in vermont, as the venues and caterers are amazing here and for the most part take wonderful care of us. it’s ironic that the “fanciest” venues and out of state locations are the ones that tend to forget us. you might think about adding something to your contract about dinner, as perhaps the b + g assume you are being taken care of. i’m sure they would be shocked that you’re not!! i agree though…a well fed photographer is a happy photographer!! xo
November 29th, 2010 at 8:45 am
hello all…thanks for taking your time to share your thoughts….i actually do have it in my contract….that is why i created this post, hoping that a public discussion might bring the seeds of change…happy monday…xoxo
November 29th, 2010 at 8:48 am
I’ve tip toed around this subject on public forums (Facebook) as I, too am a hungry photographer. Not only about getting a “nice” vendor meal (like others have said, doesn’t have to be your 8 course meal) but WHEN we get to eat. I am pretty sure that if everyone understood that getting our meal at the best time for us to get back out and take photos, they would be on board. Instead, we are more often than not, fed after the guests and this couldn’t be worse timing.
There is one particular venue that completely disrespects photographers by insisting that they only eat after every last guest has been through the buffet line. It’s not about eating after the guests but the timing couldn’t be worse! The best time for us to eat is when the bride and groom are eating – the ONE time it’s not cool to take a person’s photo is when they are eating. So, when we are allowed to eat? It’s usually when important activities need to be photographed – parent dances, toasts, cake cutting, open dancing. I’m sitting there trying to get nourishment to sustain me ( and mind you, I’ve been running on an oatmeal bar for the past 7 hours) when I’m tapped to shoot because the flower girl is dancing with the ring bearer – NOT to be missed! Get out there! and now my plate is cold, essentially leaving me hungry for the night. Now I will not get home until 1 or 2 am at which point, I have to make my dinner? NICE.
Or how about the time when I did try to eat with the guests and they dumped my plate into the trash right in front of me? *shudder* This same venue has continuously denied me a meal for going on 11 years and I know that all my brides and grooms paid for me to have one. How much does that add up to?
The sandwhich (we unaffectionately call them “bandwhiches” since they are usually bought for the band, too) meal…with chips? What are we, in kindergarten? Ugh, and the bread is usually too hard to bite into. And frankly, chips are just not going to be the healthiest thing for me either.
I’ve actually bought my own meal from a venue once so I could get a salad or something fresh as the pizza they brought looked like it had been run over in the driveway.
I just got married, just had all my vendors as guests since they are my friends, too. I couldn’t imagine not feeding them well as I know what it takes to do their job. And they need this. I need this. But I continue anyways, still trying to figure out how to win this mini behind the scenes battle.
Oh, and the venue that never feeds us? Just called and wrote a letter to me looking for images. NICE!
November 29th, 2010 at 8:51 am
You have so wonderfully expressed what we have all felt. Thank you for taking this little secret out of the vendor box so gracefully.
November 29th, 2010 at 9:06 am
This is shocking to me! Being based in the South, this has never been a problem. No matter what city I’m in, I am always fed well…I usually have the mother or father of the bride checking on me to make sure I’ve eaten and gotten enough. Most of the time, they try to get me to drink with them too (which I’m not above, in the right situation).
I suppose this is just a regional/cultural difference, but it really makes me thankful for our legendary “southern hospitality”!
November 29th, 2010 at 9:16 am
its a sad practice. the people who really need education are the venues/caterers. most of them dont realize when youre shooting a wedding youve been working for 12hrs before dinner even starts. it really is a slap in the face when youve been pouring your heart and sould into a wedding and the venue sticks you in a utility closet with a day old turkey sandwich. i know the feeling. my couples know i need a hot meal and they are always great about it. but the venues, particularly the fanciest ones, don’t know and don’t care, which is sad.
November 29th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Oh, thank you for so gracefully expressing what so many photographers feel. I don’t shoot weddings anymore, but I have “fond” memories of vendors meals. Probably the most surprising meal was a “salad” composed entirely of iceberg lettuce (nothing else, just the lettuce) and a stale roll. That I was to eat in the server’s hallway.
At least in my experience, there seemed to be a reverse curve – the more budget-minded a couple was, the more thoughtful and considerate they were about making sure I was adequately fed. High-end weddings were usually, though not always, the most stratified as far as Guest vs Help.
I wonder how many of the couples who paid for vendor meals realized what their vendors were actually served? I hope the answer is not many…
November 29th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Thank you for speaking of this so gracefully. It is a tireless fight over here on the east coast. many venues do take care of you but many do not.
We had a venue threaten the bride that they would throw out her DJ out, cousin of the bride, because he complained about the green turkey and fishy smelling tuna they brought us. The DJ was not rude just adamant about getting fed.The venue proceeded to confront the bride in the middle of her wedding. I was mortified that they would have the gaul to do that. The bride profusely apologized in which I told her to not worry about it and to enjoy her day. Needless to say the venue had nothing else for us.
Another 5 star hotel forces us to go to the basement cafeteria to get a drink. The bartenders in the reception room refuse to give us water. I worked this with another photographer and they actually missed the parent dances because they had not had any water for 5 hours. Luckily I stayed behind just in case. This is a definite problem that I think is more on the caterers and venues than on the couple. It’s in my contract, we have a conversation about it. Many times the venues say we’ll handle it in which couples who do this once in a lifetime defer to the experts who do this every weekend. I have heard every excuse in the book for not serving vendors such as, we need to make sure the guests are fed and have enough food, the bride didnt pay for a meal, the waiters ate the leftovers.
Thank you for being gracious as I think many of us get riled up about this source of contention. all of us have stories.
November 29th, 2010 at 10:01 am
I don’t think anyone could have written this better… I’ve contemplated writing a similar blog post after going hungry after a wedding, sharing a half a sandwich with my second photographer, or getting only a soggy salad for dinner… But I could never gather the appropriate words. And then there are the weddings where I have gotten to eat the amazing 5 star dinner that the guests enjoy… And I couldn’t be happier. Especially since I’m the kind of person that needs to eat every 3-4 hours or I start to get a migraine and feel like I’m going to pass out. Thank you for writing this!
November 29th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Matt & I fed everyone that was involved with the wedding or at least offered… i.e. the photographers, dj, officiant, band, everyone… The same hot food our guests were invited to. That would be just strange and I think, rude to eat in front of all those hardworkers who had been working all day, evening and night. At the end of the reception, I think it was actually Matt & I that didn’t eat much at all.
Going hungry is no fun at all and it’s not healthy either. Not thinking ahead and offering a good meal is really not being very appreciative at all.
November 29th, 2010 at 10:24 am
I love this Elizabeth and I love the way you have worded it.
I would never say anything to a couple because it seems petty but it is a reality that we are human beings trying to do a wonderful job of creating amazing images that our couples will cherish forever. Our jobs are so much easier when we have a belly full of edible food.
It does make us feel appreciated.
November 29th, 2010 at 10:31 am
I have never heard of this “vendor meal.” I am shocked. The worst thing that happens to us vendors (in our small Canadian city, mind you) is that we are placed at table #13 at nearly every wedding. Luckily we are much less superstitious than hungry/appreciative of a lovely meal! I hope this custom of a poorly prepared vendor meal is reversed or improved soon. Best of luck. Cheers.
November 29th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Thank you for wording the issue so perfectly! Sometimes I’ve been treated by the catering staff like it’s a privilege that we’re being fed at all. After inquiring about the whereabouts at my food at one venue, I had a waitress say to me that “the help” always eats last, even if it’s after we’re done shooting. At another high-end venue, my assistant and I were never fed at all. And at yet another very nice venue, the band, who had been playing for 2 hours, while we were going on hour 9, ate all the food from the vendor buffet before we even got to the room. The stories go on and on. There are venues that handle vendor meals very appropriately, but unfortunately the bad experiences outweigh the good.
November 29th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Beautifully written as always…
This is a sensitive subject for many because what we do is all about building relationships and referrals. Though I may have a contract that states a ‘hot meal’ that never guarantees in the heat of the shoot that I am going to get it. Ultimately I am trusting the planner or catering manager to look out for me. And that’s where I’ve been most disappointed. Hopefully this post might turn on a few light bulbs for our industry. And I’ll also just put it out there… in general, the more high end the shoot, the crappy the food (at least in California).
There is a 5 star caterer in Northern California who has beautiful food, but they have this awful policy of only setting a table for the planner… and the rest of the crew are fed troughs of mashed potatoes and inedible chicken by the trash cans. It’s an archaic mindset and it divides what should be a team effort. So all this venting to say…. BRAVO! Thank you for a great thought-provoking post!
November 29th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Also… from reading the responses, I think I’m going to move to Canada now!
November 29th, 2010 at 11:08 am
I was told recently by a coordinator when I asked in advance for vendor meals for my crew “We have NEVER provided meals for the florist!” – like, how could I even ask. But with an install that starts at 9 am and goes till 7pm, with certain members staying on to strike after 1am? Now I ask all crew member to pack their own lunches, or more often I send one person out to buy a hot meal for everyone…
Honestly. I learned the best lessons in graciousness and gratitude from my own mother who always made iced tea or lemonade for someone painting, cleaning, or working at our house. Then she made them lunch, invited them inside, gave them a seat at the dining room table.
We don’t expect much – but a nice vendor meal goes so much farther than the actual calories. It is a personal way of saying “thank you, we appreciate you, we notice your efforts and what you are doing, we value you and your service.”
I would love to see a change in the industry on this.
November 29th, 2010 at 11:11 am
and here I thought I was the only one eating protein bars and 5 hour energy drinks on Saturday’s.
Great post!!!
November 29th, 2010 at 11:18 am
I second this! I have shot NYE weddings at five star hotels and been given a brown bag with a sandwich and a can of soda after having worked 10 straight hours without lunch…and to be surrounded by such abundance! It’s now in my contract too, that I and my assistant have access to the same food as the guests or we retain the right to leave the reception to procure suitable food for up to 90 mins. And you said it, we don’t need much of a break, and I don’t even need a table setting… just a full tummy.
November 29th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Thank you for posting this. As a vegetarian, I have the additional problem of requesting that I receive a vegetarian meal. The usualy “boxed lunch” vendor meal of a biscuit lunchmeat sandwich and a bag of Lay’s potato chips just doesn’t cut it. Fortunately, we cater to mostly high-end clients. So, we rarely see a vendor meal like this.
But… perhaps our biggest issue is just one of timing — WHEN we get our food. It is not uncommon (and almost expected) that the venue will serve the bride and groom first, the guests next, and the vendors last. No problem. UNLESS… the bride and groom expect to eat and then pop up and walk table to table greeting the guests while they are eating and geteting a photo taken at each table — while my meal gets cold. If the couples expect to have photographs taken of the b/g going table to table during dinner, the photographer MUST be served at the same time as the couple so that they can be done at the same time and, thus, available to resume shooting.
November 29th, 2010 at 11:43 am
I have the ‘hot meal’ clause in the agreement, but it still makes me laugh many of the finest hotels still have the chafing dish of nasty overcooked pasta and the crackers/cheese left over from cocktail hour (I’m talking to you, Four Seasons Hotel in Boston.) I found out they charge the client $85 per vendor meal! The bride asked if we were fed and I told her what they had prepared for us, and she marched into the kitchen and had them make a plate of what their guests were having for us. If only more brides knew that we live on protein bars and water for 10 hours…
November 29th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Thank you for bringing this up!! As a bride to be, I really needed to be reminded of this! I will make an extra effort to make sure my fabulous photographer is well-fed. don’t be afraid to post stuff like this! It shouldn’t be a sensitive subject. I live and work in the South and if everyone isn’t offered good food including the vendors, we’ve failed at our event. Thanks
November 29th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Wonderful post Elizabeth. It is so good to have someone like you shed some much needed light on this subject. A photographer is one of the most important people on a bride and groom’s wedding day, and treating them (or any other vendor) like a “servant” and with disrespect is just wrong. It is not right to let someone go hungry for 8+ hours. If we as vendors were working a 9-5 job, a company is required by law to give us a break and time to eat. At a wedding where we are working 8, 10, or even 12+ hours it is only right for them to feed us and feed us hot, edible, and nourishing food. It seems like it would be a matter of simple human kindness and moral responsibility, but as you have explained, so many photographers go hungry on a wedding day while being surrounded by great abundance. It is quite cruel isn’t it?
Thank you again Elizabeth for opening up this dialogue.
November 29th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
ALL of my vendors got fed one of the options that guests were fed. Happy vendors make for a kick ass wedding.
November 29th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I too have it in my contract to feed us with the guests what they are offered, however (only) once before that happened I received a “vendor meal” at a five star hotel and to my amazement, it was DELICIOUS! If that was how all vendor meals are, there would be no problem! But the change in my contract did come from that experience, as we were seated in a completely separate conference-style room from the ballroom! How were the photographers (I’m the cinematographer), & myself to know when to come back? Fortunately we had a GREAT DJ/Emcee who constantly peeked in and updated us (also to grab a bite of his own meal). But we honestly weren’t welcome in the room while they ate. Too bizarre. That’s when my contract changed.
Thanks for addressing this!
November 29th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Excellent. I’m so glad I’m not the only one with hurt feelings after being served a soggy turkey sandwich and an apple in a box
. Clearly, the couple does not intend or probably even know that we’re being fed yucky food, but it’s hard to educate them without sounding overly demanding about what caterers offer as “dinner” to vendors who have already worked a full day by the time dinner comes around. I think your post hit the nail on the head. And if I was lucky enough to have Elizabeth Messina at my wedding, I would probably buy you a table made of gold and have a masseuse flown in to rub your feet while you dined on delicious accouterments from the finest chef 
.
November 29th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
AMEN! I for one will still eat the “vendor meal” just because I don’t eat all day long at a wedding. But it’s SO NICE to receive the same meal that the guests get!!
November 29th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
What? I’ve never even heard of vendor meal. I’ve attended, coordinated, etc. several occasions in my lifetime, and we always feed musicians/photographers, etc. first. This is sad, I hope that your soapbox speech proves to change the view of things…I’m still just shocked, boxed lunch? Maybe it’s my hispanic heritage but that just doesn’t happen.
Cynthia
p.s. your photographs are spectacular!
November 29th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Could not have said it myself. That boxed lunch is also why I like to keep my back stocked with fruit strips and granola bars. As a wedding planner, I make it part of my job to educate my clients on etiquette for vendor meals – and 99 out of 100 completely agree with me. Sometimes they just need someone to bring it up – because they usually have no idea!
November 29th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Elizabeth,
I am so glad you wrote this!!! You said everything so softly and kindly…..I hope it gets heard!! (How true that getting a cold meal is like having your heart broken) I have been shooting for 20 years now, and this comes up more often than you think! Back when Julie Skarratt was my assistant, she was often the one who had to go find us some food. Once she launched her own career of high-end weddings, she was the one who taught me to “put it in my contract”…..because clearly we had been cheated a few too many times. But still, this is not enough…..the caterer is rarely aware of your contract, and the bride likely had a few other things on her mind.
I once nearly passed out at a hot summer wedding with no food and not enough water. I could get away with it when I was 20-something. Not any more. This is not a joke.
Imagine my SHOCK at not being fed (me+my 3 other shooters+2 assistants) at a recent multi-million dollar event with 400+ guests and a 15 hour shoot day! I’m not talking about a bad vendor meal….I’m talking NO MEAL, not even a scrap… during 15+ hours shooting!! Given the level of the event, I never even thought I’d have to ask…..but thank goodness I have been around the block a few times. I had about 6 power bars in my camera bag and that is all my staff and I ate. Paul Korver sent out for pizzas for his people at the same event…by the time I heard about them, apparently 30 of them were GONE (the catering staff was starving too). The guests ate a 5 course meal….followed by a hora….which of course means we are not eating AFTER the guests.
My point is: you never know when you WON’T be fed, so prepare for the worst. It usually happens when you expect it least, and that can be the worst situation of all. One of hte best meals I ever ate was served at a tiny corporate event I shot where I didn’t expect or even really need a meal. Go figure!
My best advice to all photographers….protect yourself and carry protein bars! Your heart will be broken, but at least you won’t die.
xoxo Tanya
November 29th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Thank you for bringing this topic up for discussion. I often think we are the only ones dealing with this and to know that we are not alone isn’t necessarily good (because that means it is happening way too often) but it’s comforting to know that maybe there’s more that can be done to remedy it. We too have it in our contract and we too have experienced the same of what most people are describing, sometimes we are treated generously and thoughtfully and other times we are treated so poorly you’d think we were less than human.
I’m not sure if there’s a singular solution to this dilemma but we do have it in our contract. If that fails and no meal (vendor or otherwise) has been planned for us, we’ll often circumvent things by simply talking to someone on the wait staff and asking about some food. Often times it’s no sweat off their back to help someone out, this also can sometimes apply if the vendor meal is simply inedible. While this is not an overall solution it’s helped us out in those moments of total starvation with several more hours of work/photography ahead.
I guess my only thought is maybe better communication overall between the client/photographer/venue or caterer before the wedding date arrives. I know this isn’t always a realistic option and we don’t want to seem overly demanding but maybe it’s as simple as stating that we need a full/hot meal to be served at the same time as the bride and groom or we will leave the premises in order to eat. Period.
Just my two cents and again thanks for bringing this topic to light and helping me realize that I’m not the only one facing this issue.
November 29th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
thank you for a excellent article on what is but shouldnt be a sensitive topic. our friends who have been wedding photographers for 25+ years never had this problem in the past, so i wonder what changed and when.
our worst experience – bride and groom “forgot” about “meal” in contract, venue said there is nothing for us, attempted to order wedges from bar menu, bar staff said had to order from restaurant, chef said too late to order, asked chef to make us anything hot, chef refused, kind waitress made us dip and turkish bread plate which we ate on the lawn at 10pm after a 12 hour day.
our best experience – 5 star venue set us a table on the deck, with all the trimmings, to enjoy 4 courses as per brides family request. brides family also organised schedule to allow us time to sit and enjoy the amazing menu. father of the bride didnt realise we were on the deck away from the guests and had us moved into the main area to “be a part of the celebration”. although we apologised to the wait staff for having to move us
it was lovely to be treated so well. 14 hour day, we were the last to leave.
thanks again elizabeth, would love to share this
November 29th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
We have it clearly stated in our contract that “all photographers will eat along with the client and their guests.” We have no time limits and commonly put in VERY long days. Simply put – a hungry photographer is a photographer who is not 100% on task. There is nothing worse that having to pull off “magic” for the client when you are starving to death and having to watch all the other people eat. It should be noted as well, that we state that this is “not to cop a free meal” and we will gladly pay for it upon request.
This seems like a no-brainer to me and anyone who would not consider following this, to be honest . . . I don’t think we would want as a client.
Excellent post !!!
November 29th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
I can’t agree more…thanks for sharing…I am lucky, I only had one vendor meal so far (knock, knock)…and it was “BAD”…and like you have said…hurting…
November 29th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Thank you, thank you! Though I retired from wedding photography in 2008, I have many memories of long nights with my blood sugar dropping off the cliff, stomach growling and feeling … well, just as you described. After 10 years or so I just gave in and started bringing my own food to be on the safe side. But my own food was never hot, never a plated meal that would warm me body and soul.
The other thing I would always ask, and on rare occasion receive, was to have my food when the head table was served, not after everyone else has been served. Why my clients would ask … because, once the bride and groom are finished eating they are up and about and I want to be there making images. The few minutes they sit to eat their entree is really the very best time for me to eat as well.
Again, thanks for your wonderful post!
November 29th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
So well said, but if YOU can’t get fed is there hope for any of us?
November 29th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Right on, Elizabeth. This is an issue that we all face – and is so frustrating. After putting so much of myself and my artistic passion into every wedding I shoot, I am always hurt when I am not treated well (via food) when it comes to the 10 min break I will take over an 8-10 hour day. I also have a “meal clause” in my contract, but often it is ignored. I agree that weddings are a team effort and we should all be treated as equal members of the team – in spirit and in food!
November 29th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Elizabeth!! I did a similar post a while back, good for you saying something, too. It’s BULL! http://thealisters.typepad.com/sparkliatti/2008/10/sparkliatti-les.html
November 29th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
OMG! Can’t believe what you (and other photogs) have been thru. I thought that is basic courtesy for the couple to feed the whole team well. Shame on those who did not!
November 29th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Many of my clients have been very gracious, especially when I was pregnant this past year, but you have explained this very correctly! Something about what we do {I’m not quite sure what} makes me RAVENOUS by the end of the evening. To be honest, even though I’m invited to capture the wedding day I often feel like an uninvited beggar when I eat… it can be a very awkward dinner!
November 30th, 2010 at 3:30 am
Our photographer was able to sit at a table and enjoy the same meal we did at the same time
Unfortunately she took our hospitality too far and ended up drinking way too much wine and some of our guests complained about her. We were very sad to see a ‘professional’ act in such a manner.
And Elizabeth, I am so sad to hear of some thoughtlessness on the bride/groom and food vendors’ part. They always make extra food, how silly of them to not offer to extend it to, who I think is the most important vendor of all..the photographer!
November 30th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Oh I’m so with you!! Thanks for talking about this!! I’ve shared this on my FB fanpage.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:26 am
Elizabeth,
Great post…and I cannot agree more. The professional team needs to be treated just that~ like PROFESSIONALS. My job as a planner is to make sure each one gets a great hot meal AND a needed break! Much of this falls on the planner to educate the client of what is needed and provide a realistic timeline to energize and care for her team. On offsite events I always provide a well lit area with a table, linen, dishes and silverware. If cold a heater or two depending on how many vendors are eating at one time. I am usually the first to arrive and the last to leave an event. I try and make sure the team has food before me. If they are happy it is a win~win for me. As they are my repeat customers. The power of referrals is the best advertizing!
Even though this is mentioned in the contracts…clients don’t read this always and so it falls on the planner to make sure this is communicated and added to the caterers final contract for the client to include in their final payments.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:04 am
so wonderful to read everyone’s comments….and i really appreciate the planners & brides who shared their insights…thank you all so much….xoxo
November 30th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Right On Elizabeth…this is of the utmost importance…I have seen horrid blogposts on The Knot, etc., where brides resentfully and angrily post about photographers “expecting” to be fed. I have, for the most part, been so lucky with this, but I have to say that the people who didn’t feed us, or who fed us poorly, stand out in my mind, and not in the best way. We work soooo hard – carrying 25 pounds of cameras for 10 hours, attention riveted the entire time – it is no joke to acknowledge that work with a decent meal. I will never forget the mother of one of my clients handing me 1/2 of a soppy tuna sandwich at 11am, at a New York wedding I was flown in to shoot, and being told “just keep this for your dinner”. (I actually had a little chat with her and ended up having an amazing meal, with the added bonus of not getting poisoned by old mayo cooking in July heat all day)…however…those little chats should never, ever happen. Still, I always keep a cache of power bars, just in case…
XOXO Love you bunny…
November 30th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Dearest Elizabeth… I couldn’t have put this better if I tried. Seriously, THANK YOU for posting this. Now if only I could guarantee that ALL brides and caterers read this…that would be fabulous.
November 30th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Thank you for bringing this up Elizabeth, my meals have run the entire gamut, the most memorable was upon opening my “vendor meal” I discovered someone had taken a big bite out of my sandwich, yes big teeth marks. I ended eating a large chunk of brie that I pulled from a garbage bag.
November 30th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
[...] Elizabeth Messina talks hungry photographers [...]
November 30th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
I really cannot add anything more to this discussion other than to say that you are absolutely right and that I couldn’t agree more.
I work in the wedding industry as a photographer AND a musician (not on the same night, LOL). As a photographer, my contract states that I am to be fed a hot meal (it’s different as a musician because I may not be needed until dinner is over). If a bride/groom don’t want to feed me, then they can let me leave the premises (missing those oh-so-important moments like speeches, toasts, and kisses), while I grab something proper to eat. Thankfully, I’ve never had an issue with this. My clients have been more than happy to oblige, as long as I educate them from the get-go about what needs to happen.
No one wants to eat a crappy meal. Why? Because it makes you feel like a piece of crap! And as a professional photographer working tirelessly all day, you’re not a piece of crap! Far from! It’s a simple gesture to ensure that every vendor gets treated right. A vendor meal is degrading. Yes, I’m sure there are a few instances when the vendor meal is better than the meal served at dinner (hey, it happens) but that’s besides the point. I think education is key. I’m not saying that I would ever purposely do a poor job if that ever happened to me. But everyone knows that there’s a circle of love … and if you treat your guests AND vendors well, they will, in turn, repay the gesture ten fold.
Thank you for writing this article! I think there are a lot of brides/grooms who just don’t stop and think about the people that are working for them, but we’re human beings too! Hopefully, more professionals in the wedding industry read this article and change their policies and demand a little respect for themselves by setting a precedent about being treated properly as a wedding vendor in this day and age.
November 30th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Hi Elizabeth,
It’s unfortunate but having worked as a catering and events manager for a hotel chain, many brides gave me the “I’ve paid them for a service, and I have to feed them too?” My response was ABSOLUTELY!!! If they weren’t willing to pay, we always kept extra food on hand to make sure the vendors were taken care of properly whenever they were ready to eat. I would personally be embarrassed that Elizabeth Messina came to take pictures of my wedding and she and her team didn’t get a good meal!
November 30th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
i’m glad to know that we filled your belly on our big day! xoxoxo
November 30th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
I always read your blog and am just catching up after Thanksgiving! I feel the SAME way! Like you said, if the photographer is happy– the chances are the photos will be better than when we are deprived and dying of hunger! There have been times that I have felt so weak — after shooting for a long time and not eating in probably 10-12 hours. Keep the photographer happy and you (the client) will be happy!
Nice Post Elizabeth
December 1st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Hilarious. One very popular 5 start venue in Brisbane are sticklers for this! There is not even a chair to sit on during the long reception (so I usually take it upon myself to sit on the floor).
On one particular occasion just to top things off we were served a dinner in an old store room surrounded and squished in by hundreds of stacked chairs (surely this is a health and safety issue?). One of the waiters came in as ask that we pick up our dinners and move for a moment so he could get something out of the back of the room. We laughed thinking “Surely he is having us on…” He was not. We picked up our plates, shuffled out, then back in to finish our meal!
5 star? Perhaps not the common photographer!
December 1st, 2010 at 8:09 am
I couldn’t agree more. My husband is a wedding photographer, and I can’t tell you how many times he has come home from a wedding exhausted and starving either due to lack of food or lack of time to consume food.
Thanks for bringing attention to this. : )
December 1st, 2010 at 8:59 am
I could not agree more with your words- your writing tells the truth with passion and honesty, to truly feel affectionate and inspired one must be taken care of- we so often show our affections with food, hugs, smiles and generosity- all of these things to make beautiful photographs should be exchanged at the wedding–it is after all a love ritual!!!! FEEL THE LOVE and Share all aspects of the day with the people that are working very hard to make it memorable!!! feed the vendors — with love!!!
December 1st, 2010 at 9:01 am
This happens to us all the time
For that exact reason I’ve been forced to always carry at least 6 granola bars in my camera bag at all times, and usually also take an appetite suppressing medicine so the thought of food doesn’t even enter my mind while I’m working.
At two weddings this year we were informed that “a vendor meal was not paid for, but we’ll see what we can do.” Both caterers kindly ended up serving us what the guests ate and we were very appreciative
December 1st, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Love how you write and I agree! We discuss this a lot with our group of photog friends here. Protein bar doesn’t match up when you see and smell the food they’re enjoying, and then we get depressed and all i think of is finding somewhere fast to eat…forget shooting, lol! thanks for this post, will share! =)
December 1st, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Awesome post & well said! It is sad but true how things go behind the scenes of weddings…not only the food, but the timing of when we get it. I hope this makes more in the industry aware. Thanks for speaking about it
December 1st, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Thank you sp much for this. We deal with it all the time. It is even in our contract that we need to eat. We try to explain that we also need to be in the room with them so we don’t miss anything, we don’t need all 8 course- true. And we certainly don’t need favors. But we do need a place to sit. Some folks seem to think we don’t mind standing for 5 hours straight at their reception. Mostly we too have been lucky. We often work with a particular planner and she tries to arrange a “vendor table”. This is great. But what I find so surprising is how many venues just won’t allow us a good meal or allow the couple to seat us. We don’t pretend to be guests. We know we are not. But we are the artists in charge of capturing the biggest day of your life!
Cathie
December 2nd, 2010 at 7:56 pm
I think this is so sad! On my wedding day I had a table for my photographer with my side of the family so they could take a break and they got fed exactly what all my guests and my husband and I ate. I couldn’t imagine letting them starve after all their hard work!!!!
December 5th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Kudos to you Elisabeth! A well composed and artful prose for a somewhat frustrating topic. Yes, I have this stated in my contract: “A plated meal is appreciated
” Nearly 100% of the time the response from Bride prior to the wedding on the wedding notes is “of course” we wouldn’t think of anything else. Actually I am fortunate that I get to work with some outstanding venues in our area, however the few time in which I experience the exact same thing that you mention is an uneducated caterer / staff who feels that we should be fed after ever one else…. which is quite unrealistic as that is when we go back to work. Honestly, it’s a dance sometimes between being forthright and patient. Thanks for a great topic.
December 6th, 2010 at 2:45 am
I’m so glad to read how you so eloquently put things for us photographers about this issue. I feel ashamed to be called human if this is how human beings continue to act with one another over food and the cost of a decent plate for what should be a very special guest who should always be treated with respect, dignity and kindness. Â I’m just getting back into weddings right now, after almost gone for ten years from the industry, and just covered a wedding last week where my feelings on this were hurt. Â I felt like you said, too petty to bring it up to the bride and groom and got a true reality check on how insignificant people sometimes think of us. I thought days like this were over, but I guess I’m wrong and more talk about this should always be in all our contracts and client meetings. What made me feel unappreciated in my case was the fact that I had thrown in a very expensive upgrade (a free video coverage) to my package for this couple because I knew her family and wanted to be generous and giving with them. To make a long story short, the first thing this couple did to my surprise is ask me not to bring with me the third guest they had approved because they felt they didn’t want to pay for another meal because it was all costing them too much already. All I could think of is how cheap everything felt at that moment and somewhat betrayed. I couldn’t believe my ears. Â I couldn’t believe why she had not stopped to think for a second that here I was saving her $1,500 off the top of her budget since she would not be paying for this videographer and one more meal was such a low price to pay in exchange for this generosity of me. It goes to say, always expect the least from people so your expectations are better met in life, and not the other way around. Â Bridal parties should think twice about what they are getting in value from us photographers and remember that it’s because of us that they will have great memories within their photographs to look at forever. Food in the tummy makes everyone happier and more giving and it is the best way of saying “Thank You” for being by my side and in this very important day of our lives.
December 6th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
well said…
December 6th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
There is nothing more frustrating than seeing others dished up fantastic food and being given rubbish yourself especially when you have been going all day. I have been lucky with the majority of my weddings so far but I do make a point of saying that they need to include me in the numbers they give the caterers.
December 7th, 2010 at 12:25 am
Love this post! Makes me think of the handful of times I’ve actually been seated with/near the guests of the wedding and how easy it was to get some good shots between bites! Everyone needs a chance to recharge in order to do their best and a little good food goes a long long way.
December 7th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Thankfully, we have only had one similar experience, but the problem was with the caterer, the couple had payed for our meals, but the caterer complained that they (the couple) had been very cheap on everything and we could only eat IF there was food left after the guests had been served, and then had the cheek to ask us to “just email me a few pictures of the food, we need them for the website…” So my husband (co-shooter) said, ok, so we’re coming round to your restaurant next weekend, with a few of our extended family, you’re cool with giving us a free seafood buffet, right? Right… that was the end of that conversation.
December 8th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
I can’t believe this happened to YOU, Elizabeth Messina. I hold you in such high regard I just guess I thought these things did not happen to you. It happened to me two maybe three times. I felt the exact way you described. Heartbroken, hurt and feeling unappreciated. THANK YOU for writing this! It really makes you wonder about people… how they can treat people working to hard to make everything look so beautiful … anyway…. you said it so much better than I could. But I agree with you 100%.
December 9th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
So true. I’ve been on both sides of the fence, and sadly it really is the more modest events where we get treated like family and at the more expensive events we are seen as “the help”. This is a disgusting situation.
Two of the worst vendor meals I’ve ever eaten were at two of the most premiere event spaces in the city. After the valet parking attendant shouted the F word at me because I wanted to unload the carload of equipment we needed to bring in. Instead we had to schlep it on our backs from 5 blocks away where we could find parking in a garage. By that time the bride and groom were looking for us and I felt terrible that we were behind schedule. At dinner time, the guests each had a lobster and a portion of filet mignon on their plates – as vendors they herded us aside after dinner was over and set up a folding table in the corner of the kitchen. We were given cold pasta and sauce a full dinner plate of butter. No bread. Just a giant plate of butter. And a pitcher of water with 3 cups (there were 5 of us including the video guys). Before we could finish our coagulating rigatoni – they came took the folding table down and we had to sit with our plates on our laps or just leave.
The other terrible vendor meal experience was at a very upscale event at christmas time. The time of GIVING. The guests had a 4 course meal and I was sequestered into an empty room down the hall where I was given 2 pieces of dry toast and 1 single slice of lunchmeat. And a warm pickle. I had to go BUY a can of pop at the bar to get something to drink.
We are vendors, not servants. We are VENDORS, not slaves. Just because you are paying us to be there does not mean you OWN us. In the same aspect, is there anyone on earth that would take an office job that did not allow bathroom breaks or lunch breaks for 12+ hours just because they were getting paid to work? No. That would be inhumane.
It always hurts my feelings when I pass by the dessert table and snatch a cookie to stuff in my mouth so I can chew while I shoot the action on the dance floor and I get dirty looks from people as though I’ve just stolen something or somehow tainted the food area. I haven’t put it in my contract yet because I’m afraid I’ll look like diva. But I can tell you I’ve done my best work when I’ve felt the most love from my clients.
December 12th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I’m right there with you, Elizabeth. I get cranky when I’m not fed, or when I have to wait so long I’m about to fall over. Feed me beautiful food and the creative juices will keep flowing…
December 14th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
my wedding photographer sat next at our table, right next to me and my husband and our parents and grandparents. she not only ate what we ate, but ate with us. she was privy to the inside details and touches of our wedding- dinner included!
December 16th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Oh wow Elizabeth … so graciously written and very much to the point. Your words sum up exactly how I’m sure all photographers in the industry feel – including us. We always leave a wedding amazingly happy and cared for when we have been provided with a great, palatable meal. I will be sharing your post! ♥
December 17th, 2010 at 12:41 am
I have a question for all of you experienced photographers out there. At our wedding, we’re having heavy (and fun!) stations all evening. I had thought my vendors could just eat from them like the guests, but do I need to have a plate actually prepared by the caterer? I don’t know if the timing is such that they would prefer to have a meal and time away. Or is this something I should just ask our photographer, DJ, and planner?
Many thanks!
December 19th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Just had lunch with Janie @ The Brides Cafe and she told me about this post. I had to read it for myself. If you heard a faint slow clap building into thunderous applause…that was me in Virginia! My husband and I could not agree more. Thank you for poignant and tactful post on such a tactless practice. Cheers to the tide of change.
December 21st, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Oh my…. I’m a wedding photographer as well and now, I’m planning my own wedding and that’s how I ended up in your website
Well, I have to tell you, you just repeated what goes around my mind and the minds of many of my photographer friends here in NYC and in every place I ever worked. Geeez! It can be really hard to work and keep up and make pretty photos when you are about to eat the bride’s toes! haha! I don’t like the word “hate” but sometimes I do hate. Some caterers are mean and some couples don’t even know what’s going on behind the scenes. It makes me sad to admit that more than once I had to talk to the couple about this. I can go hungry, but it is embarrassing to have my assistants starve or have them eat some crappy cold food that I promise, even my dogs would find disgusting.
Thank you for putting it out there. I will make sure to share this masterpiece of a blog post with a few of them.
Hugs from NYC
December 21st, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Add the meal to your contracts
for yourself and your assistant.
And I know what you mean! been there done that, not fun.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:57 am
That is exactly right Lucy. Everything should be put in the contract and then people pay more attention because if they don’t they’ll pay more and we all know that most couples want everything but they don not want to pay more for it. haha.
I am a wedding planner and designer and I ALWAYS include vendor meals (same as couple is or at least decent) in my contract and suggest all vendors do the same
So far, so good
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Well said! Thanks for sharing this!
January 20th, 2011 at 8:26 am
Please girl, no need to be so mild mannered and apologetic about this subject! FACT, you have to eat, on a paid commercial shoot, you’ll work round 4 to 5 hours then break for food, in between you can snack and drink all you want, why should it be different on a wedding? I know of photographers who have just upped and left the reception when they weren’t given a meal, I’d probably to the same! One thing is for sure, you can’t photograph people while they are eating, you get thrown with stuff or they look at you real mad like, so best to join them!
I’m also pretty sure you don’t work a straight physical 10 hour day without ever taking a break for something to eat!?
What are we supposed to do if there is no food for us and no-one informed us of that, order a pizza?
May 21st, 2011 at 8:36 pm
you may want to read my blog post about this VERY topic!
http://www.norman-photography.com/blog/a-commentary/
January 24th, 2012 at 9:28 am
ahh yes, we are ALL on the same page!
http://www.norman-photography.com/blog/a-commentary/
January 24th, 2012 at 10:04 am
GREAT post – hallelujah from a photographer!!