Speedlite Use Issue At A Wedding (Page 2): I take photos at events and was present with my camera at a church event in a hall. There was a photographer across the room taking pictures...

KarenKaptures Loc: New Jersey

I take photos at events and was present with my camera at a church event in a hall. There was a photographer across the room taking pictures for sale in front of a drop. I took a few shots (with a speed lite) of some of the attendees and the planners of the event came over to me and said that the photographer said my flash was making his flash go off. They asked me to stop shooting until after he was done (which I thought would be the end of the event). Since I take candid and posed shots of people I felt it would be pointless to even try to figure out when he was done so I put my camera away. This had never happened to me before or since.

JPL

DJ Craig wrote:

I have been DJing weddings for over two decades. A... (show quote)

No, you have hardly ruined any shots. He is blaming you for something that is not your fault. You may have distracted him a bit, but if he had been professional he would have dealt with it in another way.

JPL

Digicamkay wrote:

I take photos at events and was present with my ca... (show quote)

Ok, this can happen if the photographer is using a old type flash sensitive slave flash. But today where everyone at parties and weddings have smartphones with flashes that can make that kind of flash go off, professional people use radio triggers and then this does not matter.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Digicamkay wrote:

I take photos at events and was present with my ca... (show quote)

Any photographer at an event relying on flash activated strobes is asking for trouble. Does he demand everyone at the event not to use their p&s or cell phone? If he is paid for his work, that is a very shortsighted.

At a wedding reception, if a paid photographer has all his shots ruined by the flashes of others, then he should yell at everyone taking flash photos equally... not just one person.
I imagine every wedding photographer has had shots overexposed due to flash from others... but every shot? Very unlikely, unless he only shot one or two amidst the many guest shooting.

KarenKaptures Loc: New Jersey

Thanks!

BebuLamar

May be he just doesn't want you to have any pictures as it could cut down his print sale.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Very true.... Back when I did weddings, flash activated strobes were all that was available (I had DIY units I made with photodiodes to contain costs)...Sounds like it must have been a novice at shooting weddings. Still what I posted earlier, I still stand behind.

jdubu wrote:

Any photographer at an event relying on flash activated strobes is asking for trouble. Does he demand everyone at the event not to use their p&s or cell phone? If he is paid for his work, that is a very shortsighted.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

I wasn't there so I have no idea what was going on. I don't do weddings, but do take photos, where I am asked since there are allot of folks, meddling parents that don't trust the photographers today. When I do go with my camera I always talk to the Photographer and lay my cards on the table so say. That he is just to look at me an raise an hand, I back down from what I'm doing, He is the paid man.

With that said I can see how you could have ruined some of his photos. With you properly shooting in his direction, it would have sent his camera into a sensor spasm of a few seconds. Esp. of he was shooting in Full Auto. Just my two cents probably not worth much.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Screamin Scott wrote:

Very true.... Back when I did weddings, flash activated strobes were all that was available (I had DIY units I made with photodiodes to contain costs)...Sounds like it must have been a novice at shooting weddings. Still what I posted earlier, I still stand behind.

I agree with your sentiment, communicate with all the vendors so everyone is in sync... can't redo any wedding day mistakes.

Luckily for you back then there weren't phone cameras or P&S's, except for those little disposable cameras to contend.

superpijak Loc: Middle TN

DJ Craig wrote:

I have been DJing weddings for over two decades. A... (show quote)

As posted by others, if he was using slave flashes that trigger off another flash, perhaps.

superpijak Loc: Middle TN

DJ Craig wrote:

I have been DJing weddings for over two decades. A... (show quote)

Maybe he didn't like your music. :?:

DJ Craig Loc: Payson, AZ (North-Central)

GTinSoCal wrote:

No, your information is correct. br The odds of yo... (show quote)

GT - thank you so much for your very insightful comments. Very much appreciated. DJ

jaddottart Loc: Florida

Stick to spinning the disk's.Stay out out of the PAID GUYS business.........Or if you must shoot after he has set up the shot and confer before hand wether He[or She] minds.Photographers have enough trouble with all the relatives getting in their way.Plus they are on a schedule and have to get all the pic's before everyone is all slopped up,drunk and the family fights start.......

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

DJ Craig wrote:

I have been DJing weddings for over two decades. A... (show quote)

I can understand why the photographer got upset but its not likely you ruined any of his pictures.

Watch a major news event... all sorts of flashes are popping off all the time...everyone gets their shot.

Professional photographers don't like competition especially if the completion is not charging for the work. They are a possessive and insecure bunch.

DJ Craig Loc: Payson, AZ (North-Central)

insman1132 wrote:

Interesting, DJ. Could I ask if you would have had a problem if the Photographer had taken out a BoomBox and started playing music?

To be honest, as a DJ, my responsibility is to play the music that the bride and groom have asked me to play. What anyone else does at the wedding is none of my business and it is not my place to tell anyone to stop doing whatever they are doing. I've also been the paid photographer (with and without DJing - I have an assistant) and my philosophy is the same. It's none of my business what anyone else does at the wedding and it's not my place to tell them to stop doing whatever.