CEASE and DESIST; Taking pictures at a small wedding and reception (Page 13): I for one doesn't care about the pro photographer but the wedding is the bride and the groom affair and...

BebuLamar

Dannj wrote:

Can’t believe I’m still following this thread but doesn’t anyone besides me think it’s ok to take some pictures to record the event just for yourself? I don’t everyone with a DSLR or cell phone is trying to be a pita to the pro or take money out of their pocket.

I for one doesn't care about the pro photographer but the wedding is the bride and the groom affair and they can have any rule they want. If you don't like it don't come. What happened if I demand nobody takes any pictures, video or audio recording at my wedding? Of course there is no pro either.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

sploppert wrote:

You are more than welcome to do that. Of course you would never get a chance to before I showed you the door.

Please use "Quote Reply". Thank you.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

A relatively unrelated anecdote. Once at a wedding in Elko, I asked the contracted photographer if I could help him shoot the ceremony and reception. His answer was unprintable. I did, along with a very talented lady, end up taking all the pictures. I (and a bridesmaid) did the roundups; she did the group shots. The contracted photographer? He slept it off on three crib mattresses in the nursery. I don't know which was worse, the loss of his fee or the bride's mother's "conversation" with him. I was very glad for the lady's help. She was very good; I was adequate.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Sorry, duplicate!

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

BHC wrote:

A relatively unrelated anecdote. Once at a weddin... (show quote)

This is, at least, the second post about an inebriated wedding photgraher TODAY! My question is, where do the brides, grooms and their families find the people- at a rehabilitation hospital? Maybe the occupational therapists at the rehab suggest photography as a therapeutic passtime or vocation. Folks shoud shop carefully for their wedding photograhers- closely scrutinize their portfolios, ask for references, look at the person's qualifications, inquire of other trusted vendors that they are dealing with, ask friends and relatives for recommendations and most importantly MEET with the photographer and make certain that his or her manner and personality is a good fit. The person is gonna be all over their most important day, their WEDDING, like white on rice- don't they wanna chek him or her out! Do the really want a "nut" that's gonna get hammered, puke, fall asleep and then they have to impose on their guests to take over the job! So the bride's mom ripped him another...well- why didn't she launch a lawsuit against him for breach of contract and non-performance. If he were my employ, I would kill him! Well- I suppose the police take a dim view of murder so I would fire him so fast he would think it happened a month before!

Come on folks, you don't need Annie Leibovitz to shoot a wedding- not that she would want to. When I was speaking at conventions, I met so many incredibly talented and competent wedding shooters, many running modest studios or home based business in small towns all across North America. Theses guys and gals were taking down awards like champions- creating masterful imagery. Their price structures were far from outrageous- some surprisingly nominal. There is no reason to hire a JERK!

I have seen brides shop 12 stores for the gown and veil, visit every florist in the country, eat at a dozen different restaurant venues and gain 25 lbs. just checking out the catering, go out and listen to numerous bands and DJs and then their hire the photographer online or over the phone.The couple is playing Russian roulette with their photography and even a good shooter is walking into a boobytrap if the is no proper planning.

Professionalism, folks!

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

This is, at least, the second post about an inebriated wedding photgraher TODAY! My question is, where do the brides, grooms and their families find the people- at a rehabilitation hospital? Maybe the occupational therapists at the rehab suggest photography as a therapeutic passtime or vocation. Folks shoud shop carefully for their wedding photograhers- closely scrutinize their portfolios, ask for references, look at the person's qualifications, inquire of other trusted vendors that they are dealing with, ask friends and relatives for recommendations and most importantly MEET with the photographer and make certain that his or her manner and personality is a good fit. The person is gonna be all over their most important day, their WEDDING, like white on rice- don't they wanna chek him or her out! Do the really want a "nut" that's gonna get hammered, puke, fall asleep and then they have to impose on their guests to take over the job! So the bride's mom ripped him another...well- why didn't she launch a lawsuit against him for breach of contract and non-performance. If he were my employ, I would kill him! Well- I suppose the police take a dim view of murder so I would fire him so fast he would think it happened a month before!

Come on folks, you don't need Annie Leibovitz to shoot a wedding- not that she would want to. When I was speaking at conventions, I met so many incredibly talented and competent wedding shooters, many running modest studios or home based business in small towns all across North America. Theses guys and gals were taking down awards like champions- creating masterful imagery. Their price structures were far from outrageous- some surprisingly nominal. There is no reason to hire a JERK!

I have seen brides shop 12 stores for the gown and veil, visit every florist in the country, eat at a dozen different restaurant venues and gain 25 lbs. just checking out the catering, go out and listen to numerous bands and DJs and then their hire the photographer online or over the phone.The couple is playing Russian roulette with their photography and even a good shooter is walking into a boobytrap if the is no proper planning.

Professionalism, folks!

This is, at least, the second post about an inebri... (show quote)

I do feel a need to remind you that this took place in Elko, NV. It was in a small church that backed into a hotel/casino. This is the town whose claim to fame is hosting the annual Cowboy Poetry Festival. The photographer apparently was fairly good - until having that first drink which led to another and another and............

Dannj

Anyone...besides me...ever been shoved off the dance floor at a wedding by the videographer’s light guy? The guy was a real jerk but so was the bride. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have been surprised☹️

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Jerks are jerks. We could go on for another 13 pages that's not the point.

Dannj

Picture Taker wrote:

Jerks are jerks. We could go on for another 13 pages that's not the point.

Agree. I think the point was lost about 10 pages ago. This all started with a post about a stipulation to not take and post cell phone pics during a wedding ceremony and a pushy sister of the bride.
Is there a record for page lengths? I think we should go for it😊

Brett928

BINGO! You finally nailed it. YOU DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RESULTS OF A $300 ZOOM LENS AND A $1,500 PRIME.

I rest my case between the ability and knowledge of hobbyist and professionals!

epd1947

Dannj wrote:

Can’t believe I’m still following this thread but doesn’t anyone besides me think it’s ok to take some pictures to record the event just for yourself? I don’t everyone with a DSLR or cell phone is trying to be a pita to the pro or take money out of their pocket.

I agree - I don't think I have ever attended a family or friend wedding where I did not bring a camera (sometimes just a point & shoot) so I could capture some images of the event, as well as family members and friends, for my own "album." Oftentimes I would send a link to a Google Photos or Flickr album to the couple so they could see and/or download the pictures if they saw some they liked and wanted. I have always made it a practice to stay out of the way - both as a courtesy to the photographer(s) hired to shoot the wedding and to the bride and groom who have spent their money and made their selection of photographer(s) - I don't see why this is such an issue.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Brett928 wrote:

BINGO! You finally nailed it. YOU DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RESULTS OF A $300 ZOOM LENS AND A $1,500 PRIME.

I rest my case between the ability and knowledge of hobbyist and professionals!

If you don't use "quote reply" we have no idea who you are talking to (or shouting at, actually).

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

JohnSwanda wrote:

If you don't use "quote reply" we have no idea who you are talking to (or shouting at, actually).

I didn't know who he/she was talking (or yelling) to either, but I did think it was funny. Just last night I watched some youtube videos of people ranging from "your average Joe, to prominent photographers who couldn't tell the difference on prints taken with expensive equipment, cheap knock off equipment, and old outdated equipment. When given 3 choices, if they did get it correct, they admitted it was a guess.

I will see if I can find that video again, and post a link. I accidently ran across it, so can't guarantee I'll easily find it.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Brett928 wrote:

BINGO! You finally nailed it. YOU DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RESULTS OF A $300 ZOOM LENS AND A $1,500 PRIME.

I rest my case between the ability and knowledge of hobbyist and professionals!

Please use "Quote Reply". Thank you.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

rwww80a wrote:

I have been taking pictures for 50 years (started with a Nikkormat FTn) with candids at the many weddings I have attended through the years.

This was a first!

In the ceremony program there was a statement (printed in the middle of the first page of the program) about the "excellent" photographers the couple had hired and not to take cell phone pix and post during the ceremony. I had my Nikon 7200 and took some pix and went to the reception took a few more. The sister of the bride came up to me and said cease and desist, I tried to tell her that what I was doing was to make an album of candids for a gift for the happy couple which I have done many other times. I stopped, didn't want to make the bride unhappy. I even had the grandparents come up to me as ask me to shoot some portraits of them - which I declined to do at that point because I wasn't the "official" photog. It made me feel bad for them later because I never saw the official wedding photogs over on the side of the room where they were sitting away from the noise.
Later the mother of the groom came up to me and explained that the picture statement in the program was done at the photographers insistence because the photographers didn't want their time and photos "devalued" by amateurs at the wedding. THEY are the picture takers and no one else can shoot the wedding? First I've heard of that! I had even been trying to stay out of the pros way so I wouldn't get in their way or ruin their shots! By the way, on the next day there must have been at least 10 postings on Facebook of cell phone vids and photos from the wedding and reception.

Are the pros really that paranoid and insecure about their work AND that amateurs could possibly make their work look bad or not as good? The photogs didn't even have the b...s to ask me themselves?

Yes in the past I have had several couples or families say that the album I put together as a gift was better than the pro BUT I think that because they were family.

Any other experiences or opinions???

I have been taking pictures for 50 years (started ... (show quote)

Its happened to me and the appropriate thing to do is stop, which I did. It was ironic that every table had at least one disposable camera on it for people to use. My camera must have been intimidating.

I attended one wedding where the photographer set up the still shots took his picture(s) and then invited anyone to take their shots using his set up. Now that's confidence...a real pro.