Pregnant and photographing weddings

[murph1]

Not sure if this is the right place to post - but hoping someone out there could help me!!

I am pregnant with my first, so everything is a new experience to me right now!! I have had two different requests for wedding photography in the month of December. I will be 7 months pregnant at the time. Both are small weddings. I am initially thinking "no", but has anyone else been in this position? Were you able to take on the weddings?

[L Stegall]

It will really depend on how you are feeling, but my sister's wedding photographer was pregnant and was not feeling well and the pictures reflected that. She also cut out early. On the other hand, I'm sure plenty of people have done fine under similar circumstances.

[Jessica Merritt]

Having never been pregnant myself, I have no idea whether or not it's a good idea to shoot at 7 months.

But, if you do choose to accept the work, it's a good idea to make sure you have a clause in your contract/warn your clients that there is a possibility you will be sending a different photographer to shoot the wedding. And then definitely charge so that if you send someone else (and pay them), you will still be profitable. Same goes for processing if you have to step out of that as well.

[lscottpht]

I haven't been in that position, but Erin Kathleen, from our forum, has done it during her pregnancies. I think she might have been up to 8 months pregnant shooting them. You might contact her.

[srwatters]

Leslie is correct. Talk to Erin. She knows her stuff.

[bondarnes]

Book the weddings for enough money to hire an experienced second shooter. Then you only need to show up and coordinate everything. If you feel up to shooting, great. If not, then just see that everything gets covered.

[JenJohnson79]

I shot a wedding at 8 months and 3 weeks pregnant with my third child. . . no biggie. But I had an easy pregnancy. As long as you're feeling good, you should be fine.

[C!LLY]

I've never photographed a wedding, but I've been pregnant twice and did things right up til the end with both, including surfing with the first. I like the idea of having someone cover if needed. That is the route I would go.

[MicWayWal]

My wife was my assistant and second shooter and usually worked harder than me at weddings during all three of our pregnancies, and the first one was with twins. Her Dr. told her if she felt like it she could do anything she normally does up until the birth except fly and jog. So go for it, but have a reliable backup for your peace of mind for your brides sanity.

[andyz]

If you haven't already, you might invest in a cheap suitcase roller that you can strap equipment to if you're used to moving shoulder bags or backpacks to your events.

[toverman]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Book the weddings for enough money to hire an experienced second shooter. Then you only need to show up and coordinate everything. If you feel up to shooting, great. If not, then just see that everything gets covered.

+1

The most important thing in the long run is taking care of yourself and that baby, so make sure any clients you take on are well cared for in case you're not up for it.

[Jenny Z]

Depends on how your pregnancy is going. As mentioned earlier, Erin Kathleen is great at shooting all the way through (jealous!!) whereas I felt like I needed to stop second shooting at around 4 months, because it was just killing my back so much.

[bondarnes]

With our last child I shot a wedding four hours into labor. Everyone was saying how can you be so calm and even doing this? My answer was, my wife was at the hospital and in good hands. She doesn't need me yet and I need to make enough money here to pay the medical bills. I finished the wedding and still got to the hospital six hours ahead of the baby.

[murph1]

Thank you so much everyone for the advice!!!!

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

With our last child I shot a wedding four hours into labor. Everyone was saying how can you be so calm and even doing this? My answer was, my wife was at the hospital and in good hands. She doesn't need me yet and I need to make enough money here to pay the medical bills. I finished the wedding and still got to the hospital six hours ahead of the baby.

ROFLMAO... thanks Don!


I think - to the OP - that you have to evaluate yourself honestly. I'm the type that worked full time right up until I delivered... so I would do it. HOWEVER, I have friends who are miserable sick throughout their pregnancy... who I adore...but tend to think are slightly...less than resilient. A cold knocks them out for days... so pregnancy, with all it's changes... demolishes them.

SO evaluate yourself...and then do what the other folks told you about a 2nd shooter. ;-)