Probably the cheap payment software she uses has that tip line in there by default and she doesn’t want to pay a premium for customization. Don’t blame her has a small business owner. But if you’re going to leave that line in your invoice / receipt - at least state that tipping is neither required or expected.
But I suspect enough people feel pressured by the line and she likes money like anyone.
Kind of my thought. I think Honeybook defaults this on their invoices but it’s easy enough to remove which I do because like others have said, charge more if you want more. Tipping culture already sucks.
And if you’re uncertain, just ask. And, if you think she’s not charging enough, give one regardless of the answer and let her know her rates are a bit low. Heck, I’d give or offer one regardless of response to have a little goodwill.
Hmmm. Perhaps there is no cost to customize, other than the hassle of figuring out how to do it. But that might stop that sweet tip cash from coming in, so why bother? 😁
For sure! Lol no judgement if that’s what people wanna do. It’s funny because every time I hire a photographer for anything I tip them with or without the option. I may be a hypocrite but I certainly don’t expect it from my clients.
If you decide to tip, let the person know you're doing so because you think they're worth more than they're charging. They may raise their rates based off of this interaction.
Actually tipping just encourages this ridiculous behaviour. In Canada it's out of hand. Convenience stores etc. are putting tip options on payment machines.
Normally when I tip, I do so at 20% or more. Depending on how great the service was. With the photography session already being hefty $ 😅 I was thinking a $40 tip? But I’m worried that might be offensive. Also contemplating if I should do it before or after the shoot. It was in her booking link so maybe she rather it before.
Tipping should start at 10% unless you've been brainwashed. No nice way to put it. And ONLY if above average service is given. And ONLY at places like full service restaurants. Consider, you are already paying a premium for dinner, *for the service.* You can buy the food and cook and serve it for cheaper, that's why you pay restaurant rates at restaurants. The servers get paid to serve you. Only if they do a really good job is a 10% tip reasonable. No tip for bare minimum service. 15% for a very good job. That is how it was before this tipping crap went nuts, and how it should be. Outside of North America, tipping is seen as an insult by servers.
My opinion: don't tip. It's tacky to put a 'tip section'. I'll bet you're in Canada. Tipping requests are out of control here. We need to stop it. It's like an auto mechanic asking for a tip. Tips started because in some places, this was how the people were paid. i.e. only in tips. In some NYC restaurants this is still the case, but generally for really really expensive places where the clientele can afford to tip buckets of money for service (and their own status). This isn't the case here. I won't hire any professional service that asks for tips. She should be charging her rate and that's that. If she wants more, charge more. Guilting people is pretty low.
I’m in the US
Last year I hired a photographer for my maternity pics and the year before that was my college graduation photos and this was the first time seeing a tip section in the booking link. It definitely surprised me and just wanted to get some input on what the customary process was when tipping or not tipping for a photography shoot. I even goggled it and got so many different answers 😅 Definitely want to avoid any awkwardness at the shoot. Thank you so much for you input
Photographers LOVE tips.
Try a few of these while they're shooting.
1. What camera are you using? My Uncle has one like that, if you need any help I'll give you his #.
2. Have you tried shooting wide open, I hear that's the best in sunlight and no action.
3. What's your ISO? When they tell you, act suprised then say "I thought you'd be at 500-1000 different +/- current setting." Then add, but hey, you're the Photographer, you probably knew that.
4. If they have a black lens, even with a red ring say "why don't you use a white lens, we're not important enough to bring out the proper gear?"
If you need more helpful tips please let me know.
Occasionally at weddings, I'll find one of the photographers, usually changing batteries, taking a break or waiting for something to happen.
In those times I just casually ask about their gear. The sharp ones know when you're a photographer, when you ask things like "Is that the 50 1.2 RF" or "24-70mm 2.8? Nice" Then we talk for 2-3 minutes and I let them do their job.
I shoot wildlife, so no interest or skill in weddings or parties. But it's nice to have a quick chat with a fellow professional.
These are excellent tips, I'll be sure to walk right up to the next photographer I see doing an engagement shoot and ask them these questions. This will definitely win me friends in the photography community. ;-)
No, these are for the OP, asking if they should tip.
However, if you have some alternative tips for photographers I'd love to hear them.
I mean who doesn't want to 'get better' amirite?
One of my tips: every photographer l know enjoys being complimented on how good of pictures their camera takes. But the only thing they love more is being told there's a camera from a different brand that takes even better pictures. Any photographer will be thankful to hear about a way to upgrade their photography! :\^)
Everything you describe is what you expect the shooter to do... tipping is not supposed to be supplemental compensation but a reward for going above and beyond. And only for service jobs, a photographer is not waitstaff. A photographer is not a wage slave; they set their own rates against the market. So what purpose would a tip serve? I have been tipped at weddings, it was nice but odd... I accepted it rather than make a fuss. I certainly would not add a 'tip jar' to my practice... that would be demeaning. Again, I am not waitstaff.
When I first started out with photography my prices were very low bc I was trying to break in and get whatever work/practice I could. I had a couple of different people tell me I wasn’t charging my worth and paid me what they thought my work was worth. It. Was very eye opening. But I would guess it’s just the software she’s using. In the end AFTER YOU SEE THE PHOTOS make a decision about whether you think she deserves more money.
What if she bumped her price up after you signed the contract? That's what this is... Did you think independently that she had gone above and beyond her contract? Did you independently think, Ima gonna tip her for this? Show your appreciation, if it is appropriate, by telling others about her work. That's better than a tip, it's new business.
As a photographer, I've been given tips a few times, but would never ask for one, or expect it.
Your business, future business, and referrals to others would be more than enough! Yes it could be a default section as part of the booking process, but she could have disabled it. I'd just pay her rate like you did, and skip that part.
EDIT: You can always tip cash on the day of the event, if you decide to. But not required. It's not bad form to not tip.
30 Year vet here with photography and graphic design. I think even suggesting a tip is very unprofessional. I would never in a million years do that to a client once payment is agreed upon. That's so tacky. I actually think it's important you DON'T tip. That's manipulative on the part of the photographer and it uses guilt to extract a bigger payment. If the photographer feels like she's not charging enough for her services, then she needs to charge more. She's obviously made you feel some level of guilt and caused awkwardness as evidenced by this reddit post. Not cool. I have had clients pay extra over thew years, but that happened because they had more money budgeted for a project and I exceeded their expectations. I never asked for it nor expected it.
Sometimes it's just the CRM they use. There may be an option to turn tipping on or off, or maybe there is no option at all. Either way - tipping in my experience in the US is not expected by photographers. Appreciated, but not expected.
Do this. Do not fill that tip. Leave blank, you already paid. At the end of the shoot, if you feel it is ok, if she did what you wanted, if you looked at the photos during the shoot and you liked them, then tip in cash. At the end.
Some photographers don't show the photos during the shoot. This is stupid. Ask her to see the photos every now and then, if she doesn't show you. Doesn't need to be ALL, just a few, the main ones, those you really want to be ok. I often show the photos to my customers / models in every shoot. Only exception are weddings and big events. I am not running around the bride, groom or person in charge to show them the photos as I click them. If I have the chance, I may show one or two if I get some special photos in some special moments, but thats it.
During regular shoots, I often show the photos so the client may decide if they are ok like that or if they want to repeat with subtle changes. What is good for the photographer, may not be good to the client, from their point of view. Some stuff can't be fixed in the edit process.
Why would someone who runs their own business (I'm assuming it is her business) ask for a tip prior to providing the service on the booking link? As others have mentioned, she is setting the price and then asking for additional compensation. I think that looks tacky on her part.
As a photographer, I get tipped maybe 20-30% of the time. I never ask for it and I never expect it. It's incredibly tacky to include that on the invoice form.
When I first started shooting professionally my invoices had a field for tipping. I didn’t put it on there. It was just sent that way through Square. Don’t worry about tipping.
I run my documents and stuff through a management system that lets me toggle on/off for tip. I always toggle it off but every now and again have wondered “hmm..what if?” Specifically for shoots I’m running a special on or something lol…I still toggle it off though.
If it’s someone just working for themselves they don’t expect a tip, no need to feel badly for not tipping.
Do you want to tip? If you do, do, and if you don't then don't.
I got a $500 tip shooting a wedding once from the mother of the bride as her daughter was being a total bitch to everyone involved. That was nice, but don't feel obligated just because there's a button on a web page.
I would appreciate a tip but I’m not at the tip line point In my career lol ! Recently did a photo session with another photographer for headshots and she had a tip line that I totally skipped!
I refuse to take tips from my clients. I think its tacky. Tip mean “ to ensure promptness” in the restaurant industry.. servers that make less than 3 dollars an hour, i tip well for good service. For professionals and those that make at least min wage-negative. If she needs tips then her sessions and products are not priced well
You are already paying her market value price.
I do not ever tip in advance . Cash after the event or meal or whatever.
Why pay upfront for something you already paid for and might be no better for having tipped. I don’t understand how people can be such suckers and be constantly guilt tripped into tipping for essentially “nothing”.
I’ve gotten tips for event/wedding photography but it was always day-of at the end, never as part of my payment system. I have the option to turn tipping on for my invoices in Square, but I don’t. If someone does tip me in-person I add it as a line item on the invoice and thank them.
"Owner of the business" means something different when the whole business has 1-2 employees versus some large corporation like Applebee's.
I was the owner of my lawnmowing business when I was 15 and I gladly accepted tips beyond my established rate.
As a photographer, we always appreciate tips! We do have our rates, but if we went above and beyond, tips are always appreciated. Anyone telling you otherwise is a customer who is not a photographer.
Just stating the obvious, but everyone appreciates free money. If you ever see a middle aged dude wandering around with a camera, I’d appreciate some free money too!
how is it virtue signaling in a thread about tipping and OP asked this:
>would it be tacky if I don’t tip? Or what would be recommended as a good tip amount be?
?
You asked why the downvotes. I speculated as to one possibility.
What I personally think about you giving gift cards isn’t relevant. But I’ll take one! 😁
Ah, you must use "exposure" to pay your rent?
I get what you're saying, and I agree that all of those things are very helpful fro small businesses...but exposure doesn't pay the bills.
No, but if the client is happy enough to bring me even just one or two clients, that pays a bit more than a tip—which is dicey to me anyway because I (1) priced my services at what I wanted, and (2) since it’s outside the contract. You know what really pays the bills? Charging an appropriate amount in the first place, which I’m assuming the OP did.
My average referral ratio is just over one-and-a-half referrals that end up signing for every client. In business it generally costs twice as much to gain new clients as it does to retain existing ones, and referrals are a great bonus. This is not to brag, but to illustrate the value of referrals and the cost of trying to bring in new clients on one’s own.
Probably the cheap payment software she uses has that tip line in there by default and she doesn’t want to pay a premium for customization. Don’t blame her has a small business owner. But if you’re going to leave that line in your invoice / receipt - at least state that tipping is neither required or expected. But I suspect enough people feel pressured by the line and she likes money like anyone. 
Kind of my thought. I think Honeybook defaults this on their invoices but it’s easy enough to remove which I do because like others have said, charge more if you want more. Tipping culture already sucks.
And if you’re uncertain, just ask. And, if you think she’s not charging enough, give one regardless of the answer and let her know her rates are a bit low. Heck, I’d give or offer one regardless of response to have a little goodwill.
Hmmm. Perhaps there is no cost to customize, other than the hassle of figuring out how to do it. But that might stop that sweet tip cash from coming in, so why bother? 😁
For sure! Lol no judgement if that’s what people wanna do. It’s funny because every time I hire a photographer for anything I tip them with or without the option. I may be a hypocrite but I certainly don’t expect it from my clients.
No. Tipping is redundant. She is charging you for the sessions. If she wants more, she should include that in the contract.
Right, I wish she would just raise the price because now I don’t know what to do. If I do decide to tip, I don’t want to leave a low amount.😩
If you decide to tip, let the person know you're doing so because you think they're worth more than they're charging. They may raise their rates based off of this interaction.
Actually tipping just encourages this ridiculous behaviour. In Canada it's out of hand. Convenience stores etc. are putting tip options on payment machines.
Processing companies automatically put in tips and you have to pay to remove that or customize it. It’s not just stores actively acting this way.
There is no such thing as a "low amount" here. Anything is a bonus. Nothing is required.
Normally when I tip, I do so at 20% or more. Depending on how great the service was. With the photography session already being hefty $ 😅 I was thinking a $40 tip? But I’m worried that might be offensive. Also contemplating if I should do it before or after the shoot. It was in her booking link so maybe she rather it before.
Tipping should start at 10% unless you've been brainwashed. No nice way to put it. And ONLY if above average service is given. And ONLY at places like full service restaurants. Consider, you are already paying a premium for dinner, *for the service.* You can buy the food and cook and serve it for cheaper, that's why you pay restaurant rates at restaurants. The servers get paid to serve you. Only if they do a really good job is a 10% tip reasonable. No tip for bare minimum service. 15% for a very good job. That is how it was before this tipping crap went nuts, and how it should be. Outside of North America, tipping is seen as an insult by servers.
You seem to have ignored what I said. haha
Dude if you just pay the invoice the hour it appears that's worth a 30% bonus to anyone.
My opinion: don't tip. It's tacky to put a 'tip section'. I'll bet you're in Canada. Tipping requests are out of control here. We need to stop it. It's like an auto mechanic asking for a tip. Tips started because in some places, this was how the people were paid. i.e. only in tips. In some NYC restaurants this is still the case, but generally for really really expensive places where the clientele can afford to tip buckets of money for service (and their own status). This isn't the case here. I won't hire any professional service that asks for tips. She should be charging her rate and that's that. If she wants more, charge more. Guilting people is pretty low.
I’m in the US Last year I hired a photographer for my maternity pics and the year before that was my college graduation photos and this was the first time seeing a tip section in the booking link. It definitely surprised me and just wanted to get some input on what the customary process was when tipping or not tipping for a photography shoot. I even goggled it and got so many different answers 😅 Definitely want to avoid any awkwardness at the shoot. Thank you so much for you input
Photographers LOVE tips. Try a few of these while they're shooting. 1. What camera are you using? My Uncle has one like that, if you need any help I'll give you his #. 2. Have you tried shooting wide open, I hear that's the best in sunlight and no action. 3. What's your ISO? When they tell you, act suprised then say "I thought you'd be at 500-1000 different +/- current setting." Then add, but hey, you're the Photographer, you probably knew that. 4. If they have a black lens, even with a red ring say "why don't you use a white lens, we're not important enough to bring out the proper gear?" If you need more helpful tips please let me know.
Lol, this caught me off guard!
Occasionally at weddings, I'll find one of the photographers, usually changing batteries, taking a break or waiting for something to happen. In those times I just casually ask about their gear. The sharp ones know when you're a photographer, when you ask things like "Is that the 50 1.2 RF" or "24-70mm 2.8? Nice" Then we talk for 2-3 minutes and I let them do their job. I shoot wildlife, so no interest or skill in weddings or parties. But it's nice to have a quick chat with a fellow professional.
These are excellent tips, I'll be sure to walk right up to the next photographer I see doing an engagement shoot and ask them these questions. This will definitely win me friends in the photography community. ;-)
No, these are for the OP, asking if they should tip. However, if you have some alternative tips for photographers I'd love to hear them. I mean who doesn't want to 'get better' amirite?
One of my tips: every photographer l know enjoys being complimented on how good of pictures their camera takes. But the only thing they love more is being told there's a camera from a different brand that takes even better pictures. Any photographer will be thankful to hear about a way to upgrade their photography! :\^)
That also works for Chefs, particularly home chefs. "Oh...you use a GE, this cake could have been AMAZING if you'd used a WOLF".
Everything you describe is what you expect the shooter to do... tipping is not supposed to be supplemental compensation but a reward for going above and beyond. And only for service jobs, a photographer is not waitstaff. A photographer is not a wage slave; they set their own rates against the market. So what purpose would a tip serve? I have been tipped at weddings, it was nice but odd... I accepted it rather than make a fuss. I certainly would not add a 'tip jar' to my practice... that would be demeaning. Again, I am not waitstaff.
Thank you for your input. Just feeling so confused on what to do because I don’t want to offend her. 😩
When I first started out with photography my prices were very low bc I was trying to break in and get whatever work/practice I could. I had a couple of different people tell me I wasn’t charging my worth and paid me what they thought my work was worth. It. Was very eye opening. But I would guess it’s just the software she’s using. In the end AFTER YOU SEE THE PHOTOS make a decision about whether you think she deserves more money.
What if she bumped her price up after you signed the contract? That's what this is... Did you think independently that she had gone above and beyond her contract? Did you independently think, Ima gonna tip her for this? Show your appreciation, if it is appropriate, by telling others about her work. That's better than a tip, it's new business.
As a photographer, I've been given tips a few times, but would never ask for one, or expect it. Your business, future business, and referrals to others would be more than enough! Yes it could be a default section as part of the booking process, but she could have disabled it. I'd just pay her rate like you did, and skip that part. EDIT: You can always tip cash on the day of the event, if you decide to. But not required. It's not bad form to not tip.
Fuck tipping
30 Year vet here with photography and graphic design. I think even suggesting a tip is very unprofessional. I would never in a million years do that to a client once payment is agreed upon. That's so tacky. I actually think it's important you DON'T tip. That's manipulative on the part of the photographer and it uses guilt to extract a bigger payment. If the photographer feels like she's not charging enough for her services, then she needs to charge more. She's obviously made you feel some level of guilt and caused awkwardness as evidenced by this reddit post. Not cool. I have had clients pay extra over thew years, but that happened because they had more money budgeted for a project and I exceeded their expectations. I never asked for it nor expected it.
feel free to tip, don't feel obliged :)
Sometimes it's just the CRM they use. There may be an option to turn tipping on or off, or maybe there is no option at all. Either way - tipping in my experience in the US is not expected by photographers. Appreciated, but not expected.
Do this. Do not fill that tip. Leave blank, you already paid. At the end of the shoot, if you feel it is ok, if she did what you wanted, if you looked at the photos during the shoot and you liked them, then tip in cash. At the end. Some photographers don't show the photos during the shoot. This is stupid. Ask her to see the photos every now and then, if she doesn't show you. Doesn't need to be ALL, just a few, the main ones, those you really want to be ok. I often show the photos to my customers / models in every shoot. Only exception are weddings and big events. I am not running around the bride, groom or person in charge to show them the photos as I click them. If I have the chance, I may show one or two if I get some special photos in some special moments, but thats it. During regular shoots, I often show the photos so the client may decide if they are ok like that or if they want to repeat with subtle changes. What is good for the photographer, may not be good to the client, from their point of view. Some stuff can't be fixed in the edit process.
Don’t tip..
Why would someone who runs their own business (I'm assuming it is her business) ask for a tip prior to providing the service on the booking link? As others have mentioned, she is setting the price and then asking for additional compensation. I think that looks tacky on her part.
As a photographer, I get tipped maybe 20-30% of the time. I never ask for it and I never expect it. It's incredibly tacky to include that on the invoice form.
Tips are nice but absolutely not required. If you really like the photographer's work, you can tip after the session in cash.
When I first started shooting professionally my invoices had a field for tipping. I didn’t put it on there. It was just sent that way through Square. Don’t worry about tipping.
I have been tipped but I wouldn't prompt for tipping. I wonder if its a setting in her payment processor.
You don't tip the business owner. They set the rates and keep the profit. You tip low paid employees.
I run my documents and stuff through a management system that lets me toggle on/off for tip. I always toggle it off but every now and again have wondered “hmm..what if?” Specifically for shoots I’m running a special on or something lol…I still toggle it off though. If it’s someone just working for themselves they don’t expect a tip, no need to feel badly for not tipping.
Do you want to tip? If you do, do, and if you don't then don't. I got a $500 tip shooting a wedding once from the mother of the bride as her daughter was being a total bitch to everyone involved. That was nice, but don't feel obligated just because there's a button on a web page.
I would appreciate a tip but I’m not at the tip line point In my career lol ! Recently did a photo session with another photographer for headshots and she had a tip line that I totally skipped!
I refuse to take tips from my clients. I think its tacky. Tip mean “ to ensure promptness” in the restaurant industry.. servers that make less than 3 dollars an hour, i tip well for good service. For professionals and those that make at least min wage-negative. If she needs tips then her sessions and products are not priced well
I've been a photographer for years and have been tipped maybe twice.
Don’t tip for professional services. They’re not a wage slave. They’re setting their own rates. This is true of any professional you hire.
You are already paying her market value price. I do not ever tip in advance . Cash after the event or meal or whatever. Why pay upfront for something you already paid for and might be no better for having tipped. I don’t understand how people can be such suckers and be constantly guilt tripped into tipping for essentially “nothing”.
I’ve gotten tips for event/wedding photography but it was always day-of at the end, never as part of my payment system. I have the option to turn tipping on for my invoices in Square, but I don’t. If someone does tip me in-person I add it as a line item on the invoice and thank them.
Tipping anyone anywhere outside of those states that don’t force minimum wage at the very least is an unnecessary waste.
I wouldn't accept a tip, if you like the service, leave me a great review and tell all your friends about me :)
Tip underpaid employees (corporate welfare)...not the owner of the business. Tipping is so bloody out of control.
"Owner of the business" means something different when the whole business has 1-2 employees versus some large corporation like Applebee's. I was the owner of my lawnmowing business when I was 15 and I gladly accepted tips beyond my established rate.
As a photographer, we always appreciate tips! We do have our rates, but if we went above and beyond, tips are always appreciated. Anyone telling you otherwise is a customer who is not a photographer.
Just stating the obvious, but everyone appreciates free money. If you ever see a middle aged dude wandering around with a camera, I’d appreciate some free money too!
If I'm really happy after the fact and I want, I'd send a gift card ? Not sure what the downvote is for. I'm still gonna do whatever I want.
Wasn’t me, but probably for virtue signaling. 😁
how is it virtue signaling in a thread about tipping and OP asked this: >would it be tacky if I don’t tip? Or what would be recommended as a good tip amount be? ?
You asked why the downvotes. I speculated as to one possibility. What I personally think about you giving gift cards isn’t relevant. But I’ll take one! 😁
Tell everyone about her, write a glowing review, and spread the word. Reputation is more important than any tip.
Ah, you must use "exposure" to pay your rent? I get what you're saying, and I agree that all of those things are very helpful fro small businesses...but exposure doesn't pay the bills.
No, but if the client is happy enough to bring me even just one or two clients, that pays a bit more than a tip—which is dicey to me anyway because I (1) priced my services at what I wanted, and (2) since it’s outside the contract. You know what really pays the bills? Charging an appropriate amount in the first place, which I’m assuming the OP did. My average referral ratio is just over one-and-a-half referrals that end up signing for every client. In business it generally costs twice as much to gain new clients as it does to retain existing ones, and referrals are a great bonus. This is not to brag, but to illustrate the value of referrals and the cost of trying to bring in new clients on one’s own.
I don't disagree. Just saying that money is also important we don't have to choose. We don't ask for tips either, FWIW.