Photographers and Guests

Wow - another worry to add to my list!!

It never crossed my mind that guests could ruin the photographs by taking their own. I've always been a bridesmaid though so have never took my own camera to a wedding!

At my sisters wedding the Registrar announced that they would be signing the register and not to take any pictures until after (they would 'sign' a fake one). Then we hear a big click and flash and turn to see my Gran in the aisle taking a picture!!

Very interesting. Something to think about with our wedding and will also try and be far more considerate at other peoples weddings.

I hate using flash and like the author of that post I totally understand that guests want to capture the couples day too, but they really do get in the way sometimes! They seem to forget (or care?!) that you are there in a paid capacity.

This is so interesting, I'd never really thought about this but I'm DEF not going to allow photos during my ceremony now! Thank you for sharing

Like the author says, it is very frustrating at some venues where you as the pro tog are told that photography is not allowed and then some guests get away with taking pictures from close up......

And guests in the aisle....that can be quite a common occurrence....hopefully though I am at the front here although my second shooter would be at the back.....

Another key pint from that article is:

I can’t tell you how many “first looks” have inadvertently happened online before the wedding because a bridesmaid or groomsman uploaded pictures to social media before the wedding and a bride or groom, killing time by browsing Facebook, saw their future intended before the ceremony.

That is unforgivable IMHO......

Peter

Stupidly OTT, IMO.

None of my guests were dickish enough to get in the way like that. And I've never seen a guest jump out into the aisle!

Wow chillax

One of the brides on the 2014 FB group contacted her tog to see how likely this kind of thing would really be and they basically said a good tog will get a place where they have a clear shot and will be taking several so it's not that big a problem. They also said the chances of a flash blowing out the photo like the ones shown is about 100-1.As for group shots that's where the photographer has to do their job and say to people to wait until they've got their shot and then it's amateur paparazzi time :-) , which is what's happened at ever wedding I can recall going to! Also if there's a couple of photos with my aunties or one of the kids taking a pic at the edge I won't think of it as ruined because it's part of what happens on the day and that's what I want my photos to record, not some sanitised aesthetically pleasing version.

I was already pretty sceptical of this article, particularly because of the overly dramatic tone and after reading the various comments I've seen from pro togs I don't think it's really that much to worry about. In terms of people posting photos on the day, no one in my close family/bridal party would post pre ceremony (although there's a good chance I'll be posting an excited first thing in the morning pic of me and BMs) and if they do it after and the evening guests see I'm not that bothered but I'm pretty sure they won't.

I'm perfectly calm, it's the hysterical writer of this piece that needs some chilling!

In the Uk group shots tend to be done away from the altar although in the USA it is quite common. This gives more chances of flash incursion. It is something I have rarely suffered with and I have always had another shot or two to cover...I have never suffered examples like those shown......

As mentioned in my original posting, it is a bit OTT although does have elements to be aware of......

Peter

No sorry you are quite right I mis understood--sorry

Now im going to chillax

It has been something that has crossed my mind, like the shot with the bride walking down the aisle and she is faced with lots of cameras rather than smiling faces but I am hoping that (as Helania said) my guests aren't going to be so extreme...

Yep that was my tog - thank you for responding as I saw this post and thought damn I'm gonna have to go find his email now but you've given the gist of it. I did think well surely if you hire a professional they should know where to place themselves at the right moments to avoid people getting in the way. My tog is a sports photographer for Reuters too so I'd imagine he's pretty well trained in getting those action shots!

Yep that was my tog - thank you for responding as I saw this post and thought damn I'm gonna have to go find his email now but you've given the gist of it. I did think well surely if you hire a professional they should know where to place themselves at the right moments to avoid people getting in the way. My tog is a sports photographer for Reuters too so I'd imagine he's pretty well trained in getting those action shots!

Yep i already was going to do this but this has confirmed it! I'm banning guests from taking pictures and videos during the ceremony.

It annoys me already that I go out for the day with my partner and he's behind his camera and he misses things.

So I don't want my guests doing the same thing.

Also fb picture uploading is banned!! I am not on fb but my partner is. I detest it.

Were going to put it nicely in the invites about no fb and no pictures at the ceremony.

Ban iPads. Nothing spoils a nice panoramic better than three people (on the same table) recording the speeches for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

The only time we really notice it is during the ceremony - our cameras have a silent shutter operation and we don't use flash. Not the case with so many guest cameras and phones, I usually shoot from the back of the room and the flashes and beeps are so obvious!

We've had guests step out a few times when the couple are coming back down the aisle, luckily still managed to get our shots.

We had a civil ceremony last year where the registrar told us in no uncertain terms not to take any photos at all, bar the ring exchange and first kiss, and watched me & Simon like a hawk throughout the ceremony to make sure we didn't take any shots. She didn't mention anything to the guests though, so they were happily clicking (and beeping) away right through all the vows!

Also pretty bad is being told to stay at the back of the church, not to take any of the ceremony by the vicar because it's a 'distraction'.

But guests three pews back with their noisy compact (you know, switch it on 'WELCOME NOISE' switch it off 'GOODBYE NOISE') and rubbish white out flash is ok....

Any shots you can sneak in are ruined because of Uncle Mable/Bob/Jack/Susan standing in the aisle between us and the couple.

Sorry I thought it was nice maybe not

Sorry, but I don't think it's fab at all

Why does anyone feel the need to take an iPad to a wedding with them? I find the whole idea of that ludicrous.

ETA the concept of the photo is what I am not keen on, from what I can see of you, you look lovely - distorting that with an iPad is what irritates me!

While that is a nice photo, I must admit, I can't fathom why someone would bring an ipad to a wedding - it's like bringing your laptop.

I like taking photos at a wedding and I like seeing others take photos. I won't take them during the ceremony and our registrar requested no one took photos during our ceremony - but other than that photos are lovely, I think!

When you are a guest at a wedding you make an effort to look nice. The pro tog isn't necessarily going to get a picture of you and your husband - what's the problem with a friend taking one of the two of you?

Definitely agree with this - the majority of guests will take some photos during a wedding day, and will get some great ones which hopefully they all pass on to the couple as well. It's just during the ceremony that it bugs me as some guests don't seem to be aware that they may be causing a distraction or getting in the way of the pro photographer

Was interesting to read but was OTT.

I think it's a shame when guests spend more time taking pics than watching the actual ceremony but I've never or very rarely come accross someone who stands right in the way to take a pic.