BebuLamar

Don't bring the camera unless you want to create problem for your nephew and his wife.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

At my youngest son’s wedding, guests were asked politely to not use cellphones or cameras and just enjoy the wedding - everyone complied without any complaint. I did have my 5D3 with me, and as often happens at weddings I attend, I introduced myself to the photographer and we chatted briefly about wedding photography. Once he knew that I was also a photographer, had shot weddings before, would stay out of his way and not use a flash, he invited me (without me asking) to shoot all I wanted to. In the end, like every professionally photographed wedding I attend, I learned from his different shooting style, and we both were happy.

I’d suggest having a chat with the paid photographer. Many are willing to allow it IF you stay out of his way and out of his shots and do not use a flash, but if he says no, it’s his job and his call and you MUST comply with his wishes. In that case, observe how he works - what shots he takes, what lenses he uses and how he chooses his lighting and uses a flash - you can learn a lot from watching a pro work.

TonyBot

Of course there will be a lot of them, and most of them with no respect to the pro (plus, they'll be using his expertise in posing the subjects)!

I've brought pro equipment to a wedding with such a contractural restriction and spoken to both the pro photog and the couple (or whomever hired the photog), a respectful agreement was made, and there was no issue. Basically, I agreed to this: stay out of the way of the pro and the assistant, wait for them to be finished with their shot/s, set up my own poses, and get out of their way. He agreed that I'd do what he asked!

If done properly, there is usually not a problem, but if the pro says no, it means no. Don't argue about the cell phones, you'll only p*** him/her off, and *no-one* wants an angry person taking shots of their wedding! Or, maybe, NOT taking the wedding!!

BebuLamar

Although I have no respect for the pro. I certainly don't want to create any problem for my beloved nephew which may have a binding contract with the pro.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Just leave your camera at home or in the car. I do not think there would be a problem if you had your camera at the reception, but it is just rude to take a camera or a cellphone (I turn mine off) to the ceremony. So many wedding photos are ruined by cellphones popping up between the photographer and the couple.
I have been asked to bring mine to a couple weddings, but declined. Largely because I want to enjoy the event. The only way to take my own would be to behave as a second shooter, going off to the side to take shots the photographer would not be positioned to take. But that means not being in the best spot to enjoy the ceremony.
The wedding is not about you.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Back in the day...…..It was a nightmare, having to avoid (cope with) the 'Snappers', trying to take over the event, just when I had set-up a group shot. Must be worse these days with mobile phones being the armoury, held out at arms length. Glad I'm not the official Photographer any longer. Closed my business at the right time, me thinks.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Not specifically about cameras, but may also apply:
https://petapixel.com/2019/07/13/wedding-photog-this-is-why-guests-should-put-phones-away/

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Can you post a copy of the contract that you are certain does not say what the OP said it does ?

I know of *clients* who insisted on that verbiage in the wedding photography contract specifically to keep relatives from ruining their wedding by trying to 'get the shot' . They then can say "Gee Aunt Martha, we would love to have you take pictures but the contract says you can't". Its done more than you might expect ...

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

I have been professionally photographing weddings for over 50 years. I too have an exclusivity clause in my contract prohibiting "other" photographers from shooting. I however and am not an ogre, a "wedding policeman" or a person who wants to prevent the guests from enjoying the affair by taking casual snapshots- WITHIN REASON!

The reason for the stipulation in my contract it to prevent overzealous guests from impeding my job and possibly causing a reduction in the quality of my work which is being done on behalf of the bride and groom so I have to protect their investment. As in this case, evidently, the couple has made the photographer's stipulation known to invited guests.

So...I have the right to curtail or limit other photographic activities, however, in all my years I have seldom had to "enforce" this rule. Most folks are nice and understand the reasons for the restriction and will confine their activities at times and places where things are not critical.

I don't know the photographer in question so, obviously, I can't speak for him or her. If you are concerned, the best, honest and straightforward solution is to contact the photographer and find out exactly what he or she expects and ask permission to shoot at non-critical times and them abide by the agreement.

Sometimes there is the preconception that the professional photographer only makes formal or traditional shots and will miss the more spontaneous family fun activities and therefore want to have others capture these moments. In some instances that may be the case, however, in my own methodology and that of many opter pros, We cover throughout the entire ceremony and reception, oftentimes have a second shooter and we actually plan and look for great candid shots.

Someone mentioned that the professional may walk off the job if interfered with. I seriously doubt that. God forbid, even if things turn to utter chaos, a real pro will work through the situation and complete the job but should not be put in the position to have to fight for every shot or engage in distracting crowd control instead of concentrating on the job at hand.

In the last number of years, there is what I call the "Cellphone Paparazzi". Some of them will rush the altar during the service, jump in front of the official photographer causing interference with important shots and appearing in the background in too many important images. Church officials and other ceremony officiants are not in love with this onslaught either. I familiarize all my wedding clients with these issues well in advance and most of them place restriction of there own.

Most of these situations can be solved by TALKING and COMMUNICATING! Go directly to the source!

grandpaw

I had a bewildered photographer that had taken a wedding ask me why the bottom half of the bride's dress was red and I told her that someone next to her had used a camera with a focus assist light that went off at the same time she had taken her picture and ruined the shot of the bride. Other people shooting can get in the way messing up photos and things like focus assist lights being on at the same time the official picture was taken can also ruin pictures. She hadn't noticed the red bottom of the brides dress until later when reviewing the pictures she had taken.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

From all the comments I have read here regarding this " Wedding Photographer", I would say "Yea Right", today everyone has a Smartphone with a built-in camera and a built-in flash, you can request politely that NO ONE except the Paid Photographer take pictures at the wedding or reception. How many guests will actually "Respectfully" follow that request? Many will, and most likely there will be those guests that think, "That does not apply to ME". BUT IT DOES, SO RESPECTFULLY FOLLOW THE WEDDING COUPLES REQUEST. They signed a contract, so your conduct at the Wedding/Reception will reflect on them too.

Sunnely Loc: Wisconsin

[quote=E.L.. Shapiro]I


"If you are concerned, the best, honest and straightforward solution is to contact the photographer and find out exactly what he or she expects and ask permission to shoot at non-critical times and them abide by the agreement."

/quote]


Most rational advice and this part is the best.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

lyndacast, in answer to your dilemma, Don't ask just do.. The last wedding I shot had many photographers, it is the norm... even Aunt Sally was there with her old Kodak 16mm format and her husband recently paroled, was using his Hi-8 movie camera. There is no stopping the will and right of all the relatives to do photography. What I did was to give each a card and ask them to email me their best 5 shots and that I would incorporate some of them in the DVD that was the wedding couple's requested end product.

jim quist suggests asking the contracted photographer... that is as the Existentialist would call it a-priori thinking... like asking the pope if you can use birth control... you know the answer. In the army I wanted to go to the PX, I went, the sarge chewed me out.. so what... he may never have known... but if I asked and he said no and I went then I would have been in really hot water for disobeying. Summary.. Don't ask just do.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I will let a photographer have exclusive rights as long as he/she can give me a 100% guarantee that nothing will go wrong (photographically speaking) and posting a bond of $100,000.

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

In s similar situation a few years ago, I ask he groom if I might take photos at there Grooms Party the night previous to the wedding. Being there were no other cameras at that party I was King and shot my heart away. At the wedding we sat back and enjoy watching the Professionals do their work, which they did in style.