QuestIon to TOGS

Surely it depends on the package you booked and what you asked fro when you had your pre-meeting with the tog?
I think the degree of editing is reflected in the price and you can usually tell what you are getting from their previous work. When you reviewed the portfolio was there background stuff you didn't like?

Usually depending on the distance from me I would arrive at at least 1:15pm - the very latest. If I was shooting bridal preparations as well I would have been there for 11:30/12.
In the photographers defence, I don't shoot groom/boys getting ready unless it is requested and would normally hire a second shooter to help. Did you tell him prior to the day that you wanted photos of the men getting ready?

Hi

I booked him 18 months in advance, didn't know much then, should have thought to ask

Ive paid a 4 figure. Sum for one tog on day but 1 album and disc

Lily x

This^^^^^^^^^^ Although this should have been discussed through at the booking and planning stages....

Out of interest, which golf club was it??

Peter

In this case probably 1200 to have some prep time, assess the options, talk to the venue etc etc....

And yes, I do research my venues....

Peter

For a 2pm ceremony I'd start the getting ready coverage by 12.30pm at the latest. If it's all in one venue, I tend to move between the bride and the groom - I try to make at least one visit to the groom, even if that's just for 10min.

I find that the guest arrival coverage tends to suffer because I'm with the bride prior to the ceremony, I only go down to the wedding room with minutes to spare. I'd be happy to log in to your album and have a nosey at the photos if that would set your mind at rest? (Message me via my website as the message system here doesn't work!)

I'm puzzled by the "he didn't know" remark - he should know because he should have asked.

It will depend on a lot of things.

What you have asked them for / the package you took (regardless on the price you paid).

Often I work alone and charge four figures. There's also people who work for three figures, have a second photographer a photo booth and a candy bar.

Unless you specifically ask for it never assume something will happen from any supplier. I know photographers who don't take any photos of the wedding ring or dress for example.

To answer your question I (officially) start two hours before the ceremony but usually up to three hours before. I always ask where the guys are in case I can duck in on them. As far as backgrounds go this again depends where you are, how much the tog had to do, how malleable the guests were and so on.

Define rubbish? I do some shots during prep and there's coat hangers everywhere and junk all over the place. I can't tidy that up and cropping will only do so much.

You can always send the gallery link to one or some of us.

I outline my "Normal" way of working early on so that if anything needs to be changed to bespoke the coverage, it is known about months in advance.....

My "preferred" way of working is to finish with the bride and allow her time.....and a glass of champagne....to gather herself and have some time with Dad or whoeevr is walking her down the aisle......I use this time "normally".......to get the shots of the groom and his family etc......

Peter

2 hours before the ceremony for me but like others have said really^^^^^^^ . I can have a look if you want.

I agree with what's said so far. If the groom is getting ready at the same place I will try to cover this. I had one last week where it had to be abandoned because the guys were running so far behind that if I'd have waited for them I'd have been late for the bride getting in her dress.

As Chris said, there's only so much cropping and blurring a background will do to reduce clutter. I usually recommend to brides now that they have a bridesmaid designated as tidy-upper to keep clutter to a minimum. But at the end of the day if you want natural shots and clutter is there you will get that in the background.

I usually arrive two hours max before the ceremony too unless something special is happening.

I think the key question is other than the 'missing' photos that were important to you, did you like the quality of the rest?

1-2 hours for prep time, only do groom prep if asked but usually if it's in the same location as bridal prep I'll volunteer to do it, if it's a different location it requires an extra shooter. Sometimes if the background is rubbish it might be due to the venue/room not being in good shape, I have to say if a room looks like a bombsite I don't consider that my responsibility to photoshop out mess. I avoid it if possible but sometimes it's not possible!

I have just added the role of "tidy upper" to my Mother's duties on the day.....

Yep, I am always mindful of that too and so sometimes give both versions

When I got married first time round, 25 years ago, there was no such thing as photoshop.....no one even owned computers.....! Photos were taken with film in the camera, and you never got any idea of what had been taken until your 50 shots (or whatever) had been printed for you to choose 24 for the final album, with the rest being given to you as negatives/proofs!

I got ready in my bedroom at my parents' house, which is where I was still living at the time. It was tidy (unusual in itself!!), but there is one photo I always remember (even though I have long since given away the album to the ex-husband) where I was in my room, with my dressing gown hanging from a hook from one of the roof beams. Now, clearly this is where I always hung my dressing gown, and it was "tidy" in that it was in its place, and not on the floor......but it didn't half detract from the rest of the picture.

Now, if only it had been photoshopped out, the photo would have been lovely. I would still have been married to an idiot, but the photo would have been lovely!!

So, I'm all for wedding day "chaos" and atmosphere, but some things could be moved or digitally enhanced without detracting from the day.

As per my previous post.....I have just written a "jobs for the day" list on my PC.....and have indeed added "tidy upper" to my Mum's list of things to do. It will be a great way for her to fuss.....!

Going back to the original post though, we are staying in our hotel the night before and getting ready in separate rooms at the venue on the morning of our wedding. Our TOG came straight out and said they (husband and wife team) would arrive at 10am if we wanted. She will come to my room and be there for all the make up/hair/lounging in PJs supping fizz shots, and he will go to H2Bs room and photograph him getting ready with the best man etc, and will then go to the ceremony room to be ready to snap the guests arriving etc, while his wife remains with me all the way through and following me down the stairs.....we are getting married at 2pm. I didn't have to ask all this, it was volunteered to me.