Why Wedding Photographers Have an Exclusivity Clause

You’ve seen it before - in your friend’s wedding post in Facebook group, in an article online, or even on a long Reddit rant. Someone has already gone through the hard work of consultation, reviewing, portfolio-viewing, and booking a photographer for their big event… and then has an idea for other photos that can be taken outside of that first photographer’s scope! Maybe they want more candid photos, maybe they have an idea of a separate style or photos on details, or maybe they just want someone to take formal portraits of their guests!

Usually, the problem sounds a little like this:

“I’ve already hired a photographer, but now I want to hire an extra one for XYZ ...and I can’t do that because of my contract! What should I do?”

— Someone online

Many photographers, myself included, have an exclusivity clause in their contract which makes it difficult for couples/clients to hire another photography company - and this more or less the point (please don’t stop reading here - I promise there is a reason)!

An exclusivity clause typically looks something like this:

“It is understood that no other photographer, amateur or professional, shall be allowed to photograph at the wedding while the Photographer is working, and that any breach of this agreement will constitute a reason for non-completion of hired work”

Which basically means - if you hire a second photographer/team, the first one is allowed to leave.

Seems harsh, right? 


What if I told you that we have many good reasons for including this clause (often including hard-won lessons)? And that it’s also about protecting you and your relationship with your photographer so everything can be delivered to your expectations?

Don’t worry - we’re not really talking about guests!
(though we do kinda wish they’d relax and enjoy the ceremony, too)

So, let’s get into it — 

Why do many photographers have an exclusivity clause in their contract?

1. To minimize external impact on our work

2. To prevent brand confusion + protect reputations

3. To protect your investment

Reason #1:
Impact on our work + deliverables

The first, and maybe most important reason: 
Photo teams will inevitably get in each others’ way.

Even when they’re both experienced professionals. Even if one of them says, “Oh don’t worry, we’ll never get in (lead photographer)’s way!”. Even if they both try really hard not to interrupt each other.  This is because they are likely going for all the same big photos. Center-aisle first kiss, ceremony exit, speeches and reactions, you name it. This typically isn’t as much of a big deal between photographers and videographers, as we’re used to playing as a team and working around each other (and we have fundamentally different things we’re looking for). It’s also not as big of a deal if the lead photographer hires their own second or even third photographer, because they’ve already discussed a game plan and have clearly established hierarchies for who will be photographing what. If there are two separate lead photographers running their own companies… there is no hierarchy, no game plan, and no well oiled machine to follow - which greatly impacts what each photographer delivers. 

Let me say that again - this effects the quality of work from BOTH photographers!

On top of all of that, you are taking already limited portrait time during a very busy day, and essentially cutting it in half. If there are two teams each trying to pose you, prompt you, or get the angles they need in order to deliver their best work - you will no longer have time to relax into the day, get comfortable with someone’s photo style, or have enough time to get the best out of your hired vendors!

As for the after-math, it can add hours and hours of editing time to each gallery (all that time spent removing someone who was vying for the same spot!) which could increase your delivery times. 

Last but not least - it can physically harm one of the photographers or their gear.

Quick story time! Once upon a time at a wedding where I did not enforce this clause, there was another professional photographer hired to take detail photos. I felt that it was no big deal, we weren’t going to get in each other’s way, and it seemed distant enough from what me and my team were doing…. but boy was I wrong!** During portraits, this person was so close behind me, shooting over my shoulder that - when I took a single step back, they happened to be stepping forward and physically ran into me, causing me to almost drop my gear. Thankfully, I keep my cameras physically strapped to me - but could you imagine how bad it would have been if one of my cameras broke because a different photographer simply couldn’t stick to their word and not photograph people? Because someone got too excited and tried to get all of the couple’s photos, completely disregarding prior agreements and personal space?

This is my point — shit happens. 
And it’s much easier to prevent when the photographers are at least on the same team!

** A quick caveat! 
Many elevated weddings have detail photographers specific to the planner, decor company, etc - and it works out just fine…if that’s their main job. Someone photographing only the decor or set-up, and then leaving, should never be in the way of the couple’s hired professional. Truthfully, they’ll likely leave the venue long before the couple and their photographer arrive! The main problem arises when the hired detail photographer is mainly a portrait or wedding photographer, whose main instinct is to photograph the people.

Reason #2:
Brand confusion + Reputation

Brand confusion can happen in a few ways, but are all equally important when it comes to running a successful, trusted, and transparent business.

1. Several photos get uploaded online and to social media, and suddenly planners/vendors/couples are tagging the wrong photographer in the photos, clients can’t tell who did what, etc. Suddenly, it seams like each photographer might not have consistent editing (after all! The photos will look different) - which can ruin trust with a business. Editing consistency is one of the key factors in trusting a professional photographer! 
   

2. Brand confusion causes us to lose out on work. I know it’s not fun to think about — but photographers are still small business owners, and our work very much depends on showcasing wedding images online. When multiple photographers are tagged, or when the wrong one gets credited for a photo — a couple might end up hiring Photographer A, thinking they’re Photographer B. As another downfall, this couple will only end up disappointed in what they get if it’s not the photographer they thought they were hiring! Of course we’d all hope that a couple would realize before hiring that there was a tagging/crediting mishap — but again…. shit happens. 
   Life is busy, and sometimes nuances aren’t caught until it’s too late.

3. In-person actions and attitudes can cause brand confusion, and lead to mistrust (or even negative reviews)! If Photographer A’s specialty is being a fly-on-the-wall or unseen documenter, and Photographer B is all up in everyone’s face - suddenly guests may think Photographer A isn’t being forthright with their approach. Another example: say Photographer B has been photographing large group candids all day, and people remember having these taken. When Photographer A goes to deliver the gallery, people will be sorely disappointed to find that none of those images are in the gallery (how are they supposed to know it was an entirely different company?). Or, worst of all, what if Photographer B is just a straight up jerk to your wedding guests… who then blame it all on Photographer A’s company?

Reason #3:
To protect your investment

Wedding photographers are expensive. There - I said it! 
We know we’re an investment, and most of us do our best to honor that in a way that makes everything feel more than worth it for you - we want you to be happy with the money you’ve spent on us!

With more and more other vendors photographing your day for their own social media/marketing, it can be easy to get someone who starts to get in the way of your hired professional (or worse - someone who doesn’t have the experience to know proper etiquette and decorum for respectfully photographing couples/families during the day).

These non-photographer photographers can leave a bad taste, make your guests less likely to interact with the hired photographer that you’ve invested in (because - hey! - the DJ’s assistant already took that candid of them), and could additionally get in the way of your professional’s photos. This effectively worsens the final result you receive, and therefore the money you’ve invested in us. 

We don’t want you to deal with that!

“What should I do instead?”

Instead of going through all the work of hiring a separate photo company, all you need to do is communicate with the one you already have! Be clear with the photographer you’ve booked about goals, expectations, and any additional photo coverage you'd like!

If you need extra candids, a cocktail-hour portrait photographer, or someone to make sure there are photos of your reception set-up before you arrive… Let your photographer hire a trusted team member!

(Bonus! The gallery delivery will be much more consistent and easier for you to keep track of!)

Read more about the different types of photographers on a wedding day!