diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index 24dfaaf54..597d5e122 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -212,15 +212,12 @@ class Field(object):
             return self.default_empty_html if (ret == '') else ret
         return dictionary.get(self.field_name, empty)
 
-    def get_field_representation(self, instance):
+    def get_attribute(self, instance):
         """
-        Given the outgoing object instance, return the primitive value
+        Given the *outgoing* object instance, return the primitive value
         that should be used for this field.
         """
-        attribute = get_attribute(instance, self.source_attrs)
-        if attribute is None:
-            return None
-        return self.to_representation(attribute)
+        return get_attribute(instance, self.source_attrs)
 
     def get_default(self):
         """
diff --git a/rest_framework/serializers.py b/rest_framework/serializers.py
index f72ecb0bf..30e6bfeb1 100644
--- a/rest_framework/serializers.py
+++ b/rest_framework/serializers.py
@@ -379,7 +379,11 @@ class Serializer(BaseSerializer):
         fields = [field for field in self.fields.values() if not field.write_only]
 
         for field in fields:
-            value = field.get_field_representation(instance)
+            attribute = field.get_attribute(instance)
+            if attribute is None:
+                value = None
+            else:
+                value = field.to_representation(attribute)
             transform_method = getattr(self, 'transform_' + field.field_name, None)
             if transform_method is not None:
                 value = transform_method(value)