Photographers please advise (I'm a videographer)

Its obvious they were very professional. I wouldn't be too suprised if they were from one of these wedding photography compnaies that employ cheap as chips photographers, who are never any good.

Its a sad fact that there are lot of non-professionals out there, who simply think they are a photographer.

Brides beware!

As to yourself, the only advice i can give is to say something. I've never worked with anyone who wasn't civil and between us we work out places to stand so we can both get the shots we need.

Paul.

www.photographybyriddell.co.uk

He has been working for 26 years and it's his own business. He's not some flybynight. Having said that, I spoke to another videographer tonight who said that this guy is known for it, and has particular issues with women. That explains his rather rude attitude to the bride and the Master of Ceremonies (who was a mistress of ceremonies). He upset her too.

Funnily enough I'm just editing a wedding video tonight and the photographer at the wedding was awful - constantly in my way and blocking shots, although in his case I don't think it was deliberate - just thoughtless ? I missed the bride arriving in the car which is one of the key shots because he moved right in front of me. When it got to the ceremony though, I'd wised up and made a point of asking him to stand aside for the exit.

I would just make sure you mention it to the bride when you send the DVD, and hopefully she won't recommend him to any friends ?

Sadley, all professions get this sort.. Often a older chap that is quite proficient, but not a star, who has a holier than though attitude. They are often rude, inflexible and often right with what they say, but utterly wrong with their presentation, delivery and manner. You get this a lot with lone workers, or bosses of small businesses

All being said, the majoritory of photographers and vidiographers are pleasant, polite, pleasing people to work with, and consumate professionals

How the rest of us deal with the bad apples defines us, and quietly makes us noticed in a good way
Richard

His worst misdemeanor was that he and his assistant both blocked the aisle so that I couldn't get any footage of the bride and groom walking back down it after the ceremony. Something that is normally a fantastic shot. I had set up my cameras on the opposite site to the photographer then right at the last minute, the assistant stepped in front of my cameras - which he knew were there - and blocked my view like a total eclipse of the sun. By the time I could move him, it was too late.

He will be wanting to get this shot too

Normally i chat to the video guy, and figure out when and where... as really you are both after the same shot.. It is unprofessional to do what he did, but next time maybee have a chat first to avoid it

There is no excuse for unprofessionalism on the day. I try to work as well with the videographers as possible and will often help them with shots..(group shot, I have got my image although I know the videographer is doing a pan so I hold the guests until they have got what they want)

I have had a videographer ask me to move away from where he was during the vows as the sound of my Hasselblad(this was 10+ years ago) was affecting his sound recording. Should I compromise my coverage of the couple because he had the wrong microphone? I can help where possible although at the end of the day, the couple will rate me on the photography delivered and not the excuses.

That said, the aisle shot is again always a problem. there is a finite position in a narrow channel. Sure the videographer wants to get this shot, so does the photographer. It is one area where there can be a conflict of interest. I tend to grab my shot near to the front of the church which still leaves a long walk for the videographer to capture. If the shot is done further up the aisle then a compromise is for the photographer to shoot low and the videographer to shoot over his/her head.

Usually in the church, the videographer leaves the vestry ahead of the photographer as desired by the minister. This gives them a chance to get in to their position. When the photographer comes out, often seconds before the couple, it can sometimes be a scramble.

Not forgetting that often the minister will often allow the videographer at the front of the church for the vows and not the photographer(huh....retro mentality or what) The photographers feel very miffed about this(I do corporate work with the leaders of the Catholic and C of E churches and am trying to raise this matter along with the signing of the register issue)

I admit that some of my colleagues are not always as helpful as they could be, although often it is a two way street. This is one of the reasons I prefer to work in a set area rather than expand over the UK. I get to know and develop relationships with other vendors. I am not saying that I am right and others wrong, just that this style suits me.

I hope that your next encounter is less frustrating. At the end of the day we are all professionals trying to do the best for the clients. Appreciating each others craft should be always on the agenda.

Peter

I wish I could work with you Peter! You sound lovely!

To be fair, the other photographers that I've worked with have all been great too. The aisle shot has never been a problem before. At one wedding I did there were two photographers and me and my assistant both with cameras and all four of us got the aisle shot without being blocked. At another, (and I'm working with this guy next week and he is brilliantly talented) the photographer jumped in front of them as they walked down the aisle, flashed and took a photo, moved position and flashed, crouched and flashed and the resulting walk down the aisle on the video is slow-moed and his flashing and jumping in front of them gives it kind of paparazzi type glamour and looks amazing.

I did, for the record, have the chat with this pair beforehand about co-operating. Obviously I wasn't firm enough.

The couple won't have a problem with the dvd though - at the end of the day, both they and the bride's mother said how awful he'd been to work with and how sorry they were about it all. They'd noticed him snapping at everyone. I let them know he'd spoiled a couple of shots and the groom just said the attitude difference between me and him had been amazing. They also noticed how late I stayed and how early I arrived compared with him - arrived late, clock watched all day and then legged it asap. He practically ran out after the cake cutting!

There are still a few 'old time' photographers who coordinate their clients day like a military operation and resent any other coverage. This can be a problem when similar shots are needed by both parties. Though mutual respect and familiarity with each other's styles helps smooth out any conflicts.

By far the biggest culprits for blocking scenes are the new 'digital' wedding photographers. Got a new camera for xmas and him and his mate have decided to 'do' reportage wedding photography.

Totally unfamiliar with Church procedures and very little respect for the Church ceremony, they can be a source of major irritation for the clergy and other service providers on the day. Anxiously machine gunning their way through the day and hoping they have a couple of dozen 'good' shots out of their 2,000 taken, they can be oblivious to anyone and everyone.

Blocking, mostly not on purpose, but through inexperience is a pain that can be avoided with a little consideration.

Like Peter, we have developed a good relationship with dozens of great photographers who know what good teamwork and respect can do for the benefit of our mutual images.

I try to be...?

Another bit of simple understanding between myself and the videographer is when I grab the shot of the couple beginning their walk down the aisle (at the top end of the aisle) I then exit stage right which gives the videographer a long clean shot of the couple rather than me scurrying towards the video camera position.

Out of nosyness...where are you based?

Peter

I'm based in Yorkshire and I see you're Hertfordshire/Essex border!
I didn't even realise that Hertfordshire had a border with Essex! Doh!

I'm a photographer and must admit I've hardly ever worked with videographers, which is great as I just go about doing my own thing.

I think some of you lot sound like you would be great to work with though. I hope I get to work with good videographer when needed!

My friend just had a bad experience with a videographer - he was photographing a wedding and he'd just set up the group shot of all the guests, it took him ages. The videographer then jumped in front of him and went up and down the line filming while my friend waited - when the videographer finished (before my friend could take a shot), he shouted 'ok lets have the next group' - so my friend had to stop everyone going and call them back.

It's all about team work from both parties, but as you said there are some people that will never be considerate as the think they know it all.

Both are being paid and both need to get the shots, it's about what the bride and groom want not what you want. Some photographers/videographers are such diva's though aren't they! I've met a few!

I hope you don't have to work with him again! ?

I think communication is the key. Quite often you both want the same angle and I think in most cases any getting in each others way is down to being unaware rather than anything else. I always ask the video guys what they need and where they need to be, am I going to be blocking your shot if I'm 'here', do you have a remote mike or can I safely change lenses without it being picked up if I'm next to you. I also make sure I get what I need, for example asking them to leave a gap between the wall and them if possible so I can cross them without having to go in front of the camera. It's just common courtesy really, but then I'm used to working in teams.

If it was deliberate, and you knew it was deliberate and that he is planning to do it, I'd probably just joke with him 'how the last photographer was awful, he kept deliberately blocking you, fortunately you caught it all on tape and the bride and groom managed to get compensation out of him in the end....'?

The aisle shot is quite a diffecult one for me to coordinate with a videographer. My main gripe is that I need a good clear wide angle shot of the aisle walk, the videographer always seems to want to get in really close to the couple, therefore I have him in my shot! I usually let him have a sequence then I jump in front of him so I can get my shot too!

I always befriend the videographer, they're great comrades on the day. We always manage to work together, I check with them if i'm ok to jump in for a shot and they check with me too. They should be able to edit me out of his DVD anyway and I can always shoot around them (mostly!).

Sounds like you had a bad-un there but we're not all like that - honest!

Nicola Grimshaw-Mitchell