It happens at basically every wedding I shoot. I walk into the room to start taking images of the bride getting ready, and the bride offers me a mimosa. After I leave to take images of the guys getting ready, I walk in and the groom offers me a beer. Then, the ceremony is about to start, and a groomsman offers me a shot out of the flask he has in his jacket. Lastly, we are at the reception and both sets of parents and the entire wedding party are offering drinks. I have to assume that most wedding photographers are faced with at least one of these events at every job. So, the question is: do you accept?
When first looking into this topic, I came across a Facebook post where someone asked this very question. When looking at the responses, a good amount of people asked back: “would you drink in an office job?” When I saw this comment, I could see why someone would like to compare wedding photography to a normal office job. You are a hired professional that is performing a job and should act in a professional way. But for me, the two are very different. A normal office job has rules and expectations that say you cannot drink. As a wedding photographer, part of the enjoyment is that it is not a normal day job. In addition, I know a good amount of people that work in an office environment that has a beer fridge in the break room.
One of the other arguments was that if the client doesn't like your images, they could sue you or not pay you, claiming you were drunk and did not perform. Again, I can see this as being a valid argument, but only to a certain extent. I asked a lawyer friend of mine if this was something that could actually happen and off the top of her head, she said probably not. In order for your contract to become invalid, there would have to be some form of gross misconduct. (Again, this was just an off the top of her head answer, and she said she could look into more if I needed, but I told her it was enough for this article. So, don't take this as solid legal advice).
The last argument I’ll mention was that the photographer should have 100% of their attention focused on what’s going on around them. I agree with this to a point, but using this as a reason as to why you shouldn't drink is similar to using it as a reason why the client shouldn't feed you (and we all saw how that idea was taken in the photo community). I feel like there are plenty of lulls in the day where it's acceptable to take a moment and grab a bite to eat, take a drink from your beverage of choice, then get back to work.
As you can probably tell, I’m all in favor of having a drink or two at a wedding. However, I do think that it’s all within reason. You need to be able to read your client and know whether the offer to have a drink is out of politeness or if they truly want you to join. You need to know if they are the drinking type, or if the cash bar is there just because it was set up by the venue. It also depends on how you run your business. If you are a straight-laced, get the job done and go home type of wedding photographer, then drinking on the job is probably out of the question for you. If you are the type that makes friends with your client and enjoys getting involved in the celebration mentality, then drinking might be something more acceptable. I’m not saying that you can't have fun and celebrate without a drink either. I’m saying that there are different ways you present yourself as a company, and depending on that presentation, it could look unprofessional to drink.
When I say that I think it’s ok to have a drink, I’m not saying that it’s ok to get drunk. There is a very big difference between the two. When reading comments on Facebook, it seemed that most people that were opposed to the idea either didn't drink, or said they “feel drunk after one beer.” So, obviously, if one beer gets you drunk, then common sense says don't drink. The way I look at the situation is like an office Christmas party. You are allowed to drink, but you are still representing your company, so represent your company well. I also think that drinking needs to be limited. Starting off first thing in the morning when the bride is getting ready is probably not a good idea. Drinking the entire reception and then grabbing a six pack to-go from the open bar is probably not a great idea either (I actually witnessed a videographer do this). My self-imposed rule is that I might have a beer with dinner (which is the same time I’m building a same-day slideshow), but most of the time, I wait until all the traditional first dances and tosses are finished. From here, the only thing left to photograph is the party dancing and the exit; this is also when I like to do some creative nighttime portraits of the bride and groom, and having a drink has been proven to help with creativity.
Even my camera likes to have a drink every so often.
In conclusion, I do think it’s ok to drink as a wedding photographer (or even as a wedding vendor), as long you do it within reason. Make sure it’s not going to be frowned upon by your clients, and make sure you stay within your appropriate limitations. One of the benefits of being a wedding photographer is being paid to have a good time, right? But my opinion aside, what do you think? Do you drink while you shoot a wedding? If you do drink while shooting a wedding, what rules do you have for yourself? Have you ever ran into issues or had any problems because of it? Sound off in the comments (but let's keep it cordial).
Obviously your insurer confuses photography with driving, and local road rules with contract law. Or maybe they don't and only you do.
It seems more obvious that you don't seem to understand the purpose of an example used to support a statement.
no kidding
There are a lot of cultural differences, too. If you're shooting a wedding in France or Italy and you're not drinking alcohol, that's considered a problem.
But as Andrew said, there's a huge difference between having a drink and being drunk. There's a time and a place for everything.
It's a relevant article, considering we are all faced with deciding whether to drink or not because the wedding party often invites us to drink while photographing the wedding. No reason to accuse someone you've never met of having a drinking problem.
I don't know about all this. I have def had some of the best memories of my career drinking with my clients after the reception work has been done.
I am not a wedding photographer but I did help my sister who is. We both refuse to drink anything alcohol related.
I shoot a lot of corporate happy hours and I almost always have a drink. The client expects it and it honestly makes all the attendees a lot more comfortable around me because they feel more like I'm "one of them".
I've shot weddings where I've been offered and accepted drinks and I've shot ones where I just drank water. In my mind it's not different from the food. Too much of the food will make me sick and unable to do my job, just like too much alcohol would. But one plate of steak and green beans doesn't cause any problems and neither does one glass of wine or a beer.
If a bride offers me a drink and someone else at her wedding sees me drinking it and gets offended well then too bad for them. Chances are they aren't someone I want to work with anyway.
If I was your client, I would definitely be offering you a drink. I would also make sure I had a photo of you drinking it. That way, if we ever had a dispute in future, I would nail you to the wall with a claim that you weren't sober on the job. Suddenly your insurer would walk away from you and you'd be on your own defending yourself against my claim. Suddenly your "moderation" doesn't look so moderate, does it?
Wow, you sound like really manipulative person. I probably wouldn't ever shoot your wedding because I would have gotten that gross manipulative vibe pretty quick and bounced.
Not to mention I now have it in writing that you are someone who is willing to fabricate evidence regarding intoxication for the purpose of committing potentially fraudulent insurance claims, so yeah, I'm not too worried.
Heh heh, actually I wouldn't. But plenty are quite willing to pick the low hanging fruit and naive young guys like you are ripe for the taking. If you think you will always be able to pick up people's "manipulative vibes" before you work for them, then you have some hard life lessons in front of you.
I bet you're a lot of fun at parties, huh?
I'll certainly have a beer or glass of wine at dinner if it is standard fare for the guests. After that, with some uncommon exceptions, I won't drink unless I am asked by the couple to stay and party (almost always)... BUT not until I have captured everything I need to, and I make it very clear I'm putting my equipment away and it won't come out again.
I have had some weddings where I have a room on site and the bride and groom are encouraging me to drink. I'll have some fun, but I know my limits and would never, ever get drunk at a job, even after I'm done.
Couples that genuinely want you to not just document the wedding but be a part of it are the most fun. Usually by the time the actual wedding rolls around you've gotten to know them pretty well, then you spend all day with them sharing moments that only their closest friends are privy to. After a few hours with bridal party, I'm part of inside jokes and they all know me by name, and if they want me to hang out and party because they like me then I am totally down.
I don't drink when I'm doing any photo job. Makes me tired. If it were my wedding, I'm unsure if I would be ok with a vendor having any drinks. What if 1 drink turns into 20? I have no idea if this person has problems with drinking, or how they will behave after drinking. I would hate to have my wedding photos ruined because the photographer was too drunk to do a good job. I realize this is unlikely to be the case, but it sure would suck to be unlucky enough for this to happen.
I get more people looking at me weirdly because I drink RedBull / Monster cans during the day to keep me going than from drinking a glass of wine at the reception.
Many people here in Switzerland and France don't understand if I don't drink any alcohol at the reception. It's almost considered rude to say no to the bride and groom if they offer you a drink! Toasting with water is a kind of a no-no here… people that say "it's not professional to drink on the job", how about it's not professional to say no to your client, huh?
And for those talking about having drinking problem, there is drinking and drinking…! I don't think Jason was saying to get smashed on the job and go home crawling with your camera full of beer.
yes! I specifically say "When I say that I think it’s ok to have a drink, I’m not saying that it’s ok to get drunk. There is a very big difference between the two".
True story - I shot a wedding and the bridal party wanted me to have a drink with them. It was a blast, I was involved with the group, was able to get some good images being in with the group, and I later booked 4 other weddings from the then non-married bridesmaids.
True. But I'd rather drink a glass of wine than get my customer angry if that's all it takes. And who doesn't enjoy a good wine? :)
I used to refuse drinking. But one day the bride's dad (the one who hired me) said: I'll never pay a man who refuse a shot.
Imagine if he offered a shot to someone in addiction treatment.
Imagine if he didn't.
Not trying to stir up any trouble. It was just a thought.
Me either. I just get annoyed with the "but imagine this bad scenario!" comments. You can do that with anything. "Oh look, that nice man is giving kids candy for free!" "But what if one of those kids has a peanut allergy??" See what I mean?
Sorry to have annoyed you with my comment. I'm learning sometimes I should just keep my thoughts to myself, but I know many people who are in alcohol addiction treatment and I have sat through many al-anon meetings myself. For me a client trying to bully someone into drinking really strikes a nerve with me.
I'm not, no0s), this wouldn't have been a question. We felt lucky if we got to eat from the same buffet line as the guests (too many Arby's sandwiches, even at upscale locations, will do that to you). Booze was the reward AFTER the exit photos were taken, lightstands were broken down and the SUV with gear in tow was far, far way from the wedding location. And it made that six pack of Heinie taste even better...
We live and work on the east coast of Canada with a laid back maritime mentality. We drink at weddings. Some bartenders know what we drink and make em before we even ask. In most places we get drinks on the house. We've drank, we've smoked and we've partied hard with our clients on the job and off the job. Do we get hosed at a low key, affair? No. Do we pour tequila straight from the bottle into our mouths in Mexico? Hell yes. It's part of what makes us us and if that offends certain people then they probably shouldn't book us anyway. We certainly wouldn't judge someone who says drinking is 100% wrong. That makes sense to them and their business model and our opinion of how they chose to operate should be of no concern to them. Slainte!
I don't do wedding photography, but today's auto-do-everything DSLRs make it so easy. Just frame and shoot with auto-focus, auto-white balance, and auto-exposure handling ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. Now, it may be considered malpractice if the photographer were shooting film with manual focus lenses.
Okay, that's a joke.
I like beer; I basically quit hard liquor and mixed drinks in college. Although I will have a shot of tequila or one of Bert's margaritas with my close "lake friends". I did learn from a medical doctor that a shot of ouzo cures the hiccups.
C'mon Fstoppers! I love your work, but a 1000-word blog post for a photographer to say, "I’m all in favor of having a drink or two at a wedding"? Shall we all get back to more important things now?
They release several articles a day, every day. Not everything has to be super serious, and this is a legitimate question, as proven by the plethora of vastly different responses.
Fun (non wedding) story: A couple of years ago I covered an A&M/LSU game in college station and I drove up the night before the game because one of my best friends was doing his ring dunk. We partied until 2am then woke up the next day and tailgated all morning. By the time I needed to go in and shoot the actual game I had consumed my share of drinks, thank God I had a monopod. The really funny thing is that it was one of the best games I ever shot and I had multiple images from that game go full spread in the Sports Illustrated SEC Preview issue the next season.
I am constantly asked this at every turn at a wedding. With 12 years background in bartending, its usually tough to say no, however, much the same as when I was bartending, when I stay busy I drink less. That is usually my only guideline. If your wedding reception is slow and boring, I may have a drink or three, but if it is lively and happening, I just hardly stop to grab a drink. No matter the circumstance, I usually succumb to a couple of the offers towards the end of the night. If i follow some of the party to the bar afterwards... well that's just game on! I also agree with you... some drinks definitely help the creative process!
I'd prefer Cannabis myself. A nice bowl full out in the lot before starting fires those creative juices up nicely. Makes it a lot easier to deal with drunks too.
Oh get off your "high" horse.
I said nothing about your comment being untrue. I was simply making a comment regarding the judgemental nature of your comment.
Where are you getting your facts from?
I've been smoking cannabis for 38 years. It is neither dangerous nor harmful. You are greatly mistaken and/or ill informed. Your sense is too lacking for it to be common.
And you never doing it does? Wow!
"The most obvious immediate side-effect of marijuana smoking is a distorted sense of time, place and judgement."
Preposterous and Reefer Madness propaganda. Here is what I have thought of all studies, even those on cannabis. Over half of them are BS! John Oliver explains it perfectly in a recent broadcast. Take the twenty minutes to watch it.
Telling me that I'm unqualified to discuss it only shows how close minded you are for not listening to people like me, which is vast majority of people around the world, including politicians and clergy.
https://youtu.be/0Rnq1NpHdmw
For me, I never drink on the job. I was at a film festival covering the red carpet and awards dinner, and all I had was a coke even though people kept asking me if I wanted to have a drink. Same at the last wedding I shot. After the job is done then I can have a drink if I want to.
I also think having an alcoholic drink is different than having a meal for the photographer, so I have to disagree with Jason's statement, "...using this as a reason as to why you shouldn't drink is similar to using it as a reason why the client shouldn't feed you..." Beer you can do without for the day, food you need, especially if you're pulling a 12-18 hour day.
In my eye, and this is just my opinion, I see it as being unprofessional to drink on the job, even a little.
I brief my crew before a shoot, and I cannot overemphasize that never to drink on the job. Even if the groom or the parents insist, you have have turn down the offer politely.
I see no problem with a few round if you can handle it. Being drunk is a big NO NO, Me I am dry due to medical reason
Interesting thread. Isn't the hard work, the serious ceremony photography is over by the time the party starts? The wedding is a wrap and to shoot pix at the party is not a very dangerous task so having a drink or two is not a big issue. If you were a photographer at a race track or road rally or on the sidelines of an NFL game you might want to "stay frosty" to not get squished by a tire or a fullback and drink after.
Obviously too many drinks can be a problem, but that's true outside the photo world too. I guess there's a more social aspect to shooting wedding parties because it;s a celebration, not really for the photographer, DJ, Caterer, or wedding planner as they are hired to be there and aren;t guests but the lines do get fuzzy.
I have done corporate events, and the tricky thing with corp events you never know who is watching and what they think, if the boss of the boss of the person who hires me sees me having a couple drinks he/she may wonder why is the photographer drinking? It may or may not be a problem, it's gone both ways.
Really, so all you guys that have a drink at the wedding also get to sleep over.... don't you drive home afterwards?
Drinking doesn't mean drunk. The average human metabolizes the equivalent of one drink per hour. Over the course of a 12 hour day, a couple of drinks is going to affect you less than the fatigue will.
Considering most of the drinking will happen at the end of the day, its unlikely you would metabolise the alcohol enough before the end of the night. Driving with any alcohol in the body is irresponsible and just plain stupid. Not only is it dangerous its business suicide. Getting a drink driving conviction, at least here in the UK, can result in losing your driving license. Not being able to get yourself to and from a job under your own steam can be expensive and unreliable... Im not a drink snob, I enjoy a drink like anyone, but I just cannot see the point of taking the risk.
again, drinking is not drunk. one beer, possibly two beers in your system doesn't affect driving ability and is perfectly legal if your BAC is less than 0.08 %
I suppose a couple of drinks makes you a better Photographer, just like a couple of drinks will improve your driving too...tell that to the family of the guy you hit when you miss the stop sign.... seriously, you work a 12 hour day, aren't you tired enough. A drink is only going to make you worse, not better.
Easy there, tee-totaler. Everything I said in my response is a fact. One beer will not affect an average human at all.
I nearly always drink throughout the day. I have a high tolerance for alcohol and know my limits well. I also don't work an office job specifically because of the freedom to do business exactly how I want.
The vast majority of couples I shoot with hire me because they know my personality matches up with theirs in addition to my skills. I don't keep up with them by any means, but with groomsmen especially, I find that having a beer with them equalizes you in their eyes. We build a better rapport, translating into better pictures with typically the most difficult group of the wedding (other than the mothers!).
The photographer I seconded under for years would feed me beers himself throughout the day.
If aperture is still aperture and shutter speed is still shutter speed and your creativity is not pushing in the wrong direction then enjoy the event
i love beer and alcohol, but when I'm working i don't drink anything, i like keep it professional, its the perception of the other guest with a drink in your hand on the job and their perception is reality, drunk or not drunk. work is work and play is play.