Asking best friend to be wedding photographer?

Photography is my passion, I'm not a professional, but I share this hobby with my best friend as well. We're both artists, and she and I have so many similar ideas and our creativity bounces off of one another. While she is supportive of my marriage, weddings just aren't for her, and I know that she would be miserable as a bridesmaid. I was thinking of asking her to be my wedding photographer, as I am on a tight budget and know she would love it. I have a professional camera she could use. The only thing that's stopping me from asking her is I keep reading what a mistake it is not to hire a professional. I trust her, and love the pictures she takes of me, she knows my insecurities and the features I love about myself. She knows my creative style as well. I'm having a hard time hiring someone I don't know, because these are my memories. What do you suggest? Should I ask her, or go with a professional?

Oh yeah, and I'm going to give her 500 bucks towards a guitar she's been saving for, is that fair?

If you trust and like what she does then go for it! Ask yourself this... if it wasn't your wedding would you trust her to do someones else? is she good enough to be professional? a lot of the stuff your reading about regrets of not getting a pro. is when some just gets there friend who has no idea what they are doing to take care of the photos. I seems you trust her, and you have the equipment, it will save you money..... and not all Professinals are perfect at least she knows why style you like. and youll get just what you want from her.... i think if you can really say to yourself "i trust her" then your good to go!

not much of a help but..... i think its sounds like you should go for it!

Definitely go with your friend. Really, with anyone, even a professional photographer, something could go wrong but what you don't get with a professional is the security in having someone know you that well and be able to capture your special day in a way you feel comfortable with. You've seen her work and know what she does better than you would with anyone else. I think it sounds like an amazing opportunity.

I did not hire a professional for my wedding and my pictures are amazing. The candid shots were fantastic. I hired a friend who loves taking pictures and was just starting photography school. I think your friend would be honored. Just remember, if the picture do not turn out the exact way you wanted, do not let it end the friendship. A wedding is a big deal and I know you will want really good pictures. Be sure of the quality of her work before deciding to ask her. Good luck in life and I hope your pictures turn out fantastic!

I had this same dilemma. After much agonizing I went with a very dear friend and he did me really proud. The photos were amazing and because he knew me very well and got to know my husband to be before the wedding day he really captured our personalities in the photos in a way that a professional, even a very competent one could never have done. Everybody who has seen our album has commented on this fact. You know her style, you even share it in many ways, I say go for it !

Ask her!!! My best friend asked another friend of ours to take the pics at her wedding and she loved them. This is because of all the things you said, they both were into photography together and had the same sort of eye. Besides a professional will not want you to give any ideas and direction, whereas your friend will probably welcome your suggestions of what you would really like. Congratulations!!

Go with your friend, she knows you well right? She'll do a great job! If you're on a tight budget don't bother getting a professional, everyone at your wedding will have cameras anyway so I'm sure there will be tons of beautiful pictures. Also the videographer, in my opinion, is more important.

I would go with a professional...Having a friend work for you is very risky. Its a big day and you dont want to get upset with a friend if their pictures dont turn out the way you want them. You can always ask your friend to take pictures too, it doesnt hurt! Ive heard so many people say there one big mistake on their wedding day was not having professsional pictures. Good luck!

You say she isn't the wedding type, so it doesn't seem that she would be upset about not bing an attendant, she knows you well, and has creativity to match your own. Sounds perfectly fine to me =] Go with your instincts on this one.

EDIT: $500 sounds perfectly fair to me.

Well I would ask her to be a bridesmaid first, since you are bfs.
As for photographs, maybe have her do the candid pics at the ceremony and reception, and still go to a professional photographer after the ceremony to have portraits done.

Go with a pro.. friends are nice to work with and all but i agree... professionals will not mess around.. what if something happends or you guys have a falling out? Is it worth risking your friendship to do business with a friend? A professional can just walk away whereas you might lose a close friend if there is any sort of conflict...

go with your friend. she won't **** you over and if you really don't like something, you can ask her to change it. do you like her work? if so, there's nothing to worry about. don't worry about what other people say.

I think it would be a great idea to ask her. She is someone that you are comfortable with, which is important when finding a photographer. I think its a win win for all involved

If you trust your friend, then go for it... She could simply amaze you, with the amount of beautiful and funny images she captures on the day and during the night... Trust your instincts...

If you know she does good work you should have nothing to worry about.

Ok, I know a lot of people have already answered, but I just wanted to chime in that your friend sounds like a great choice!
I also want to add that hiring a "professional" doesn't guarantee great photos and service. I went to two friends' weddings where the "pro" photographers left a lot to be desired. The first one positioned people so strangely, sitting at all these odd heights and angles. So in the picture, I look HUGE because I'm sitting in the front, on a chair higher than the bridesmaids behind me, who in comparison look tiny. Ughh!
The second photographer was really unorganized- he had us all come out for pics in the middle of eating dessert. It was really hot and sunny out, and he was taking forever to position people. So, many of us ended up sitting in the sun for 30 minutes, and were only in 1 or 2 photos that took 3 minutes to take.

Anyway, sorry for the long rant. I just wanted to emphasize that you should go with your friend, because you already know and trust her work!

if you love your friend's work then i think it would be great to ask her, especially if you think that she would enjoy the role. also it is nice that she knows what you like and what your style is since she will take all that into consideration when shooting her pictures. if you trust her then i say go for it. keep in mind however that as your photographer she will not be able to be a part of the party as much as if she was simply a guest. if you and her both do not care about this then i think its a great ide

In the best interest of both of you, go with a professional, and simply check out their portfolio carefully to fit your "style." She sounds like where i am in my own photography, and this isn't the time to test her in a new format and setting. Weddings are a different ballgame. She doesn't posess the experience of the timing which is important. Where to be and when and what makes the best memories in images isn't something simply being creative and having a "good eye" can give her. Their are tons of entire books devoted solely to wedding photography. It is a "major" in "photography school," and shouldn't be taken lightly. My cousin was married recently and she brought up the idea, but i would never have been able to get over it if something hadn't turned out right or simply not captured everything the right way. Do not do it for your own sake, and do not do it for her sake! She should understand! This is your life and possibly the most important day in it, and you want the best you can get to help you remember it the way it should be! And on a side note, though she may "know your likes/dislikes, goodside/badside" kinda thing, don't rule out the outsider's ability to see in an unbiased manner! Good luck and Congrats! -Rob, Seattle

I think asking your friend to do it is a great idea for all the above reasons you have pointed out.
And dont fret about not hiring a professional photographer- nearly every one I know who has hired a professional one has spent thousands of dollars and havent been happy with the photos becuse they didnt come out casual and relaxed, as they should, alot of them came out posed and very un-natural looking.
You know she has the skills to work the camera AND she knows what you would want, to me that makes way more reason to have her do it than to get someone else..and im sure she will be honoured to do it for you :)

ask her! It is only in the past 30 years or so that everyone has become so obsessed with having a "princess wedding" and using professionals for everything. It is a safe bet that your own parents or friends of theirs did not have a professional photographer. I got married in 1978 and my high school photography teacher took my pictures and they turned out great. While they are not glitzy or soft focus or any of the other specialty photo's, they are real and they capture every moment of the wedding from friends perspective with lots of candid shots as well as the usual posed shots. I think it would be a lovely way of showing your friend that you really care about her feelings by allowing her to take part in your wedding in a way that is meaningful to her.

Sure, you can ask her. But be prepared to give her something nice as a thank you. You said you were on a tight budget, so maybe you can't afford to pay her much. But you could make her something beautiful, or buy her something you know she'd love.

Also, don't let her being your photographer screw up your friendship. We brides tend to get stressed out and want everything to be perfect. She's still human. She's gong to take some pictures you may not care for. Try your hardest not to criticize her. Accept her work for what it is. And as you said, she is NOT a professional. She will not have the lighting, tools, etc a pro would use.

Also - if she declines, then say thanks anyway and move on to finding someone else.