Should You Tip Your Wedding Photographer?
In a world where it seems like everyone is asking you to tip, it can be difficult to decide when you will tip and more importantly - when you won't tip. As a wedding photographer, allow me to give you my personal opinion into this much debated topic from the vendor perspective.
The short answer - it's completely up to you whether or not to tip your photographer and no photographer should expect you to or make you feel like you have to. You have already spent a lot of money on this day and it is not necessary to add "tip the photographer" onto that bill. However, I know that that answer can feel a little unhelpful, so I'll give some insight into the wedding industry, focusing on photography, to help you make your own informed answer.
Wedding Photography Package Pricing
There are two types of wedding photography businesses - self-run businesses and studios.
Self-run businesses, more often than not, are owner-operated and are almost 100% self-run where the same person is communicating with you, taking and editing your photos. Self-run business set their own prices and therefore, should not rely on any sort of tips. Studios are larger entities wherein one or more people are photographing weddings under the name of the studio and then deliver the unedited images to the studio for editing. Photographers working for a studio are contracted employees, meaning they do not necessarily set their own rates and what they make is significantly less than what you paid for the service.
At the time this blog is written, July of 2024, Abby E Kane Photography is a completely self-run business - thus I set my own prices and never expect or rely on tips.
If you work with an associate photographer or studio for your wedding, tipping is generally more encouraged since those photographers are making less than those working for their own businesses. However, again, it is totally up to you and you should not feel obligated to tip anyone, regardless of their business type/affiliation.
Was Exceptional Service Provided?
Since tipping isn't a "standard practice" for wedding vendors, an important question to ask yourself is whether you felt like their service went above & beyond enough to provide more compensation for it? It's OK if the answer is no or if you'd like to wait and see photos to decide. You can be happy with someone's service and not feel like it deserved extra money. There are also other ways to thank your photographer (outlined below).
Exceptional service might include staying beyond contracted hours in order to make sure you get all the photos you want (wedding days often run late), providing things like tissues/bobby pins/sunscreen, doing jobs beyond photography on the day-of, and many other unique scenarios that may happen.
Common Practices - What are Others Doing?
Every photographer will have a different experience with being tipped and I've heard a wide range of answers.
At full-day weddings, I estimate I receive a tip anywhere from 40-50% of the time and I rarely receive a tip for elopements & portrait sessions.
When I have received a cash tip, it normally comes in a sealed envelope at the end of the wedding and has been anywhere from $50-$300. I have also received envelopes at the beginning of the day and Venmo's after the day-of. Again, it's totally up to you how & how much you tip if you do choose to give one.
Other Ways to Thank Your Photographer
Cash & other monetary tips are not the only way to thank your photographer for their hard work!
- 5-Star Reviews - posting 5-star reviews online is one of the easiest & biggest ways you can you thank your photographer. Having a public record that other people are happy with your service & final product is so important for wedding vendors credibility when new clients are vetting them. I accept reviews on Google, The Knot, and Wedding Wire if you'd like to leave me a review.
- Word-of-Mouth Recommendations - giving our contact information to your friends & family when they are in need of a photographer is also so valuable! Approximately 50% of my business in 2023/2024 has been from client referrals - so sharing your kind words & praise really goes a long way.
- Sending a text - just letting us know that you are happy with your photos will always mean a lot to any photographer. Please send me a text or email to tell me that you love your photos or even to show me how you're using them (on your walls, phone wallpaper, invitations, etc).
- Tagging Us On Instagram - similar to word-of-mouth recommendations, tagging us when you post any photos from your session or wedding is so helpful in spreading the word about our business!
Other Opinions
Many others have opinions & perspectives on this topic! Check out what they had to say on: Zola, BRIDES, and The Knot.
Conclusions
Tipping is not a standard practice for wedding photographers, no matter how much you may see it being pushed online. You should only tip your photographer if you feel like they went above & beyond and most importantly, if you want to.
Personally, I am most happy if I receive a happy text/email and a 5-star review on Google and/or The Knot. This not only helps me & my business grow so much, but it makes me very happy to know how clients feel about their experience & photos.