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We regularly receive emails from photographers trying to branch out into destination weddings, asking us to post about their free DW photography services. Couples have to cover airfare and hotel expenses, but all photography services and images are provided free of charge.
I was chatting with Mr. Bee about whether we should post such offers, and he mentioned that it sounded like a great way for a photographer to get a free vacation. If he were building his portfolio, that’s the way he’d do it. 
While we’d love to help up and coming photographers as well as brides who might benefit from free photography services, we also can’t bear responsiblity for the quality of photos or services rendered. So we’d like to hear your thoughts. Why do you think so many photographers are offering free destination wedding photography? And should we post these offers?
I think you should post them because some brides could benefit just as much as the photographer would. But post a disclaimer with each free offer post that absolves you of responsibility for the quality of images and that you have not checked out the vendor or some such thing.
As with any photographer a bride & groom might book, I believe the onus is on them to check out the photographer’s portfolio & style, make sure you get along with them before signing any contract and agreeing to any costs. I wouldn’t hold you responsible for a store’s product if you had posted about them having a sale on Weddingbee, so I don’t see why it should be any different for photography services.
I love this! I definitely think it’s a great way to build a portfolio and get a fun trip for the photographer - and I think us brides are smart enough to research whether we like their style. You could include a little disclaimer re: you not vouching for quality at the top of any such posts. (Maybe you could do a weekly roundup of these and/or post them somewhere like the sample sales?)
My fiance is actually doing this right now. He is a professional photographer but does not have a wedding portfolio yet. So, he is doing a few weddings free to build one. He is using craigslist and getting lots of responses. So, I’m not sure that weddingbee would be offering something brides can’t find in other places. And I like that Weddingbee does not have lots of vendor ads.
On the other hand, besides craigslist, I don’t know anywhere else my fiance could offer his free photography services, and I’m sure there are more brides who would benefit from them. Maybe you could create a separate section of weddingbee for this kind of thing? But then, there are also other items that maybe then should get similar space- past brides selling used wedding accessories, leftover decorations, etc. cheap?
Post them. Free photogs as well as pay ones have portfolios that people can look at before they decide if they want to enter contests.
I am doing a DW and we are helping a photog build his portfolio. We met the photog at a wedding in Indiana, loved his work and the slideshow he did of the ceremony at the reception. We asked if he had a passport at the reception.
I had been around him for a couple of days with other wedding events and hit it off with him. Now he had his wife are coming to our DW in exchange for air and lodging. We are also paying $500 and getting a week of coverage, yes a WEEK of coverage. We get a photog we like and are helping him build his portfolio in Costa Rica. He and his wife get to leave the U. S. for the first time and travel with our guests, this acts as a safety net for them and they get to build their portfolio.
It is win-win. I know not all photogs are of a high caliber. Brides should look at galleries and ask to see a full set of photos submitted to a recent couple just like they would with any photog they are considering. Then proceed with the contest if they want.
I kind’a think offers like these are half-assed (excuse my French). If a photographer really wants to build their portfolio, why not offer a free package without the destination wedding component? Or offer free photography with optional packages for the prints/albums for sale? It just seems like more like a gimmic to get a free vacation. However, if you do post these, I would caution brides to reimburse the travel fees upon receipt of the pictures or at least not pay 100% of the travel fees up front in case it turns out to be a ruse. JMO.
I agree w/ Red.
I can see both ways - on one hand it seems a little fishy that they’re getting a free trip out of it, but the photogs also have material costs that they’re covering (the prints, albums, labor), so it’s not like they’re taking full advantage of a bride. But I think it could potentially look like a conflict of interest. Maybe you can put them in the ‘More’ section with a disclaimer that previous posts have mentioned.
I think you should post them. I’m sure it’s looks wierd outside of the DW world, but it’s 100% common AND appreciated in the destination wedding world. It’s not a “free vacation.” It’s compensation in the FORM of a vacation. 
And like the PP said–most brides aren’t dumb enough to not do research on the photog they are paying, no matter if they are paying travel expenses or paying a standard fee at a standard wedding.
HTH!
I am having a destination wedding in Las Vegas early next year. Many of the photographers that I have contacted would not charge an extra fee for the travel expenses as they are tax write offs. I think that photographers such as the ones you are concerned about are trying to get a free vacation.
I think this would be another great reason to create a message board feature. You could have one giant disclaimer (maybe that pops up when you click on that link) at the top of the board that says you are doing no advocating, just providing a service. Very similar to the reasons we discussed a few months ago about not being able to be sued because you provide the avenue, not the content.
What about OTHER vendors wanting to break into the wedding industry? Personally, I think you should post the information/ads but I think you should do the same for some who wants to get into wedding coordination industry- LIKE ME!!!
Anyone need a day of coordinator for their wedding in Orange County? If so email me @ jaimebb@yahoo.com.
Mrs. Bee- I’ll send YOU and email later!! Maybe you can help me by posting my ad.
i personally think its the photog’s way of getting a free all expensed vacay. if they really want to build up their portfolio, do it from your hometown. you don’t necessarily have to travel far away to take pictures.
also, i understand planning a wedding is very expensive, (we’re all planning one) but if the quality of the pictures come out bad, who’s to blame?
I should add–I think it’s also important to note and realize that these are not usually vacations. Most photographers ask for four nights of accomodations–one of which would be arrival at the location to scout lighting etc, one of which would be rehearsal and rehearsal dinner coverage, one of which would be full coverage on the wedding day, and one of which would be departure.
I’m not sure it’s much of a vacation for them, but it IS a way to have beautiful and unique pictures in their portfolio.
please, please do! if not as posting, at least as an e-mail to me 
i’ve just started planning a DW and one of the most addictive activities is browsing photographer websites. i’ve found so many photogs that i’d love to have for my wedding, but i just can’t bear the idea of paying for both the fees AND the travel. so, every great photographer i find is bittersweet, because i probably won’t be able to use him or her. i really, really don’t want to “settle” for the small pool of photographers located at the destination.
as for your concern about the quality of the referrals, i don’t think your readers would be so silly as to blindly follow whatever offers you post without doing some checking of the photographer’s portfolio and references.
I agree with Red –
Brides should make sure to have a contract written up before hand, and maybe check some references, so you actually have some photos after the fact. (So you don’t pay all expenses for photog. then get crappy or no pics).
I think there is a big difference between a regular photog building a portfolio and a DW photog. DW photogs should already have experience with conventional weddings. They should have a portfolio. Photogs building those type of portfolios should stay home.
Aspiring DW photogs seem to already have a handle on weddings at home. They just need a DW break to get into that side of the business.
I personally don’t like ads. I read weddingbee for the content. Like any other business, they should have to pay for advertising. When a business is opening up, what do they do? Take out an ad in the local paper. This may just be the ‘journalist’ in me, but I think that should be paid for, not just given out. While I’m sure it is a great opportunity to build up a portfolio, do it by actually paying for advertising. If you do it for photogs, then eventually you’ll be expected to do it for everyone (see post above about coordinator).
I guess I would want to make sure these were established photographers, not newbies trying to start their portfolio on a destination wedding…newbies should first try to assist/apprentice a professional photographer in their area before moving onto something like a destination wedding.
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Mrs. Bee, New York Age and Occupation: 29, Weddingbee Publisher Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Internet Engagement Date: May 7, 2004 Wedding Date: March 5, 2005 Venue: Westside Loft, New York About Me: Yes, my name really is Bee! I love my blogging, wikis, and tabasco sauce!
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