Why You Should Always Credit (and Check With) Your Photographer or Videographer Before Sharing Wedding Images, Especially LGBTQ+ Weddings

In the world of weddings, collaboration is everything. From florists to stylists, celebrants to venues - it takes an entire community of creative people to bring a love story to life.But when it comes to sharing the finished magic, those incredible photos and videos that capture the day - there’s one thing that often gets missed: checking in with, and properly crediting, the photographer or videographer.

As an LGBTQ+ wedding photographer and creative team, we see this happen time and time again across the industry, and it’s time we had a real conversation about why this matters.

Here’s why that’s so important:

1. Permission always comes first.

Before you post any images or videos from a wedding, even if you were one of the amazing suppliers involved - you should always check with the creator first.

The photos and videos belong to the photographer or videographer who created them, and they may have agreements in place with the couple about what can or cannot be shared publicly.

Sometimes couples request privacy, or there may be contract clauses restricting what can be used for marketing. The last thing you want is to unknowingly breach someone’s agreement or share something the couple wanted to keep private.

A quick message to the photographer or videographer before you post ensures you’re respecting both the creator and the newlyweds.

2. Copyright belongs to the creator.

This one’s really important.Even if you were part of the wedding - for example, as a florist, stylist, or venue, the copyright for the images or video footage almost always remains with the creator.

That means you don’t automatically have permission to use those visuals for your own marketing or promotional purposes.

If you’d like to share them, you need to:

✔️ Ask the creator for permission

✔️ Credit them clearly on every post (and tag them)

✔️ Follow any usage guidelines they share with you

In legal terms, images are protected under copyright law. Using them without permission can technically be classed as infringement - and yes, that includes screenshots or repurposed reels.

3. The Wedding Industry Has a Weird Expectation

Let’s be honest, the wedding industry is one of the only creative industries where people expect to receive professional photography for free.

In commercial and brand work, companies pay thousands for image usage rights. But in weddings, there’s somehow an unspoken belief that every supplier should just get access to the photographer’s gallery automatically.

Those images are art. They’re the result of hours (sometimes days) of work - capturing, culling, editing, storytelling. When you use someone else’s work to market your own, that’s commercial use, and you’re benefitting from their creative labour.

Respecting that means acknowledging their work and giving proper credit or, if you want to use the images extensively, asking whether a usage license fee applies.

4. You could end up with an invoice.

Here’s the bit that often catches people off guard. If you share a photographer or videographer’s work without permission, you could receive an invoice for image usage.

Many professionals - particularly those working as wedding photographers and filmmakers who rely on licensing as part of their income, charge for unauthorised use of their images. And they’re absolutely within their legal rights to do so.

So, to save yourself from that awkward email (and an unexpected bill), it’s always best to check first.

5. It’s about community, not competition.

The wedding industry should be rooted in collaboration, not competition. When we credit the artists behind the work, we’re building trust, community, and mutual respect.

As queer wedding suppliers, we know how powerful it is when everyone in the industry supports and uplifts each other. Crediting the LGBTQ+ wedding photographer or videographer who captured the day isn’t just polite - it’s a small but important act of allyship that keeps our creative ecosystem thriving.

Before You Hit “Post”, Remember:

✅ Check with the photographer or videographer before sharing

✅ Ask about any restrictions or guidelines

✅ Always credit them clearly in your post and caption

✅ Never crop out watermarks or remove tags

By doing this, you’re not only protecting yourself legally, you’re showing respect for your peers and contributing to a more ethical, sustainable, and inclusive wedding industry.

Because at the end of the day, the heart of a queer wedding (and any wedding!) is about celebrating love, creativity, and community - and that should extend to how we treat each other’s work, too. 💜