Are you allowed photographs during your ceremony?

I think its pretty standard, depends on the rgistrar I think. I agree though that you probally wont want flashes going off through the ceremony, I think the photo's start once the offical signing has taken place.

We met our minister last week and he asks that people don't take photgraphs until we have finished signing the register. Then he gives them a few minutes to take as many pictures as they like.

For the same reason - flashes can be distracting

Our registrar was the same, but it didn't make any difference lots of pics were taken........................

Nope, we are allocated 10 mins during the signing of the register for pics then thats it really.

Our photographer was allowed to take them all the way through the ceremony. I didn't notice any flashes so he was either not using one or i was completely oblivious.

No one else was allowed to take photos though

The flash thing is a bit misleading because unless the venue is very, very dark most professional photographers could work without flash during the ceremony if required.

We normally have a word with the registrar on the day and often even those that say none will bend a little if you guarantee no flash.

Usually registrars are fine with photos as you walk down the aisle. Some are happy with a couple of shots during the exchange of rings (though this is the bit when we often have to work without flash). We normally manage to get the 'you may now kiss the bride' shot too. Then once the register has been signed most registrars are happy for photographers (and guests) to take a picture of the couple pretending to sign the register. Registrars are often funny about people taking photos when the couple actually sign the resister and insist on setting up a mock up shot immediately afterwards - supposedly something to do with data protection with reference to the info on the document.

Once the actual ceremony is over most registrars are happy for more photos to be allowed.

WSS, and ours made it clear that anyone taking photos would be asked to leave - even if it was the professional photographer! Apparently he has chucked someone out before!!

It varies from place to place. We shot a full catholic church ceremony recently where the Father was happy for any photography (flash or otherwise). Next weekend we have a registrar who has a no photography policy at all (except for a mock signing), another registrar next week who allows photography but no flash.

As someone pointed out above, flash really isn't a deciding factor for us, as most pro photographers should be able to get good images even in low light venues.

TG

Most weddings weve filmed wont allow photographs to be taken, I really dont see why, unless your a grumpy old man who hates everyone a flash or camera click isnt really distracting, especially when its what the couple want. They always allow video though.

Normally photos only allowed at certain points like signing the mock register (your not allowed to photograph/video the signinig of the actual register).

Its totally dependant on the venue, churches tend to be no more often than yes.

On the advice of our humanist minister, we are just having the photographer take a few pictures during the wedding, mainly the bride and BM arrival and ring exchange. However we are having a 7-8 minute period of signing the certificate that anyone can tkae a picture.

It depends on the approach. we contact the registrar before hand, explain we dont photograph the register, explain we can use silent cameas with no flash and stand still, and we have never ever been refused to shoot whatever we want

If your photographer does this professionally beforehand, then I would imagine you will have no problems

Registras have 3 fears

1. shooting the real register

2. flash guns spoiling the atmosphere

3. photographers moving arround all over the place, getting in the way and spoiling the flow / atmosphere

Counter those fears with a fair reasonable and timly conversation, and you will generally have no issues at all

Richard King

Hiua

we are having a civil cremony and we can have photos taken throughout. The only thing they have said is that they request the guests don't take any photos as we say our vows as that caqn get distracting - and has said that we can ask them to request guests to refrain if we want to but it is fie from their point of view x

Richard, you put it so much better than I managed to but that is it exactly. I think some registrars have been burnt buy over zealous, snap happy papparazzi style wedding photographers and are worried about saying yes and repeating the experience. Like Richard we always have a polite chat with the registrars before the ceremony and haven't had any that have refused everything yet.

Hi, our registrar originally said no pics but our photographer spoke with him and did them with no flash which meant they looked really atmospheric (our venue was candle lit vaulted room!). Unfortunately a guest who is a really annoying foreigner who doesn't take NO for an answer went ahead and took pics, flash and all. He got in the way of official photographer which really peed us off.

I had written on the order of day that no confetti was allowed and wish i'd written the photo request too. In the end worked out ok but could have been disasterous pic-wise and if the registrar had flipped.

Ixx

If I remember correctly we aren't allowed pics during the vows but other than that its OK, may well have read it wrongly though!

The other thing I forgot to mention is that we both shoot, and we both dress like guests, so we blend in impeccably - this is really useful. Often I plant Elizabeth in the congregation with a silent rangefinder type camera, she can just snap away like a guest (no flash of course). With a good fast lens and the right settings or film, the results are excelent. One thing I was going to try next time I get the opportunity is to give Elizabeth a flashgun, and triger it remotly after the bride has walked up the aisle, from one of the pews - doing a backlighting thing

All I want to do is persuede Liz that I really do need that new Leica (for absoloutley professional reasons and intentions of course) However, if I droped a zero of the price, she would still say no!

It entirely depnds on the vicar / priest / registar etc.

Its their domain and as photographers we have to respect it.

Some allow photos at all times, other restrict us where we can stand, others restrict flash, and others don't allow photos at all!

Occasionally I can shoot right at the back with a long lens and be out of the way and inobtrusive.

It just depends and it is 100% down to the vicar / priest / registar etc.'s decision.

www.photographybyriddell.co.uk

Hmmm, not sure about the assistant amongst the guests. This is an old technique that some photographers use and ministers and registrars have become well aware of it and is one of the reasons that photography is banned in many places.

My home countly is Hertfordshire and they have an open attitude to shooting throughout the ceremony, as long as it isn't distracting. Indeed this is a county wide initiative, whereas it was onced based on regions within the county.

Mintyslippers is in Bedfordshire where the registrars are less open and have more individual say in allowing photography or not.

Photographing the register is not illegal. Photographing the information in the register is though. This is enshrined in acts of law in 1948 and the more recent data protection act at the end of the last century. Indeed many videographers shoot the real signing. What many ministers and registrars use though, as an excuse to prevent photography, is a myth about the illegality.....