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

Believe it or not, folks, there is a "Wedding Photography" section right here on UHH- I know, because I co-manage it. There is hardly any traffic there and most of the questions about wedding photography usually come up on the "Main" Section. That's kinda strange, however, what is even stanger, bordering on bizarre is whenever these questions arise there is always an onslaught of nasty posts deriding professional wedding photographers one way or another. There are the disgruntled ex-wedding shooters who "...will never shoot another wedding again for any amount of money..."! Most of the, relate a litany of nightmarish "wedding horror stories" of everything going south during a coverage.

Of course, there are the tales how the hired pro messed up and the amateurs came to the rescue and saved the day! The worst of the negative remarks come form folks who know absolutely nothing about the wedding photography business and have all kinds of misconceptions about how professional photographers operate their businesses.

Let's not forget about the "bridezilla" crew! There are the folks who somehow don't realize that professional wedding photography is SERVICE business and we serve at the pleasure of our BRIDES, their groom, and their families. Most brides do not "expect too much"-they expect what the are entitled to for the good money they are paying. First of all, the should expect kind, compassionate and professional treatment. It's supposed to be a joyous day but for some, it can be stressful. It behooves the photographer to find out exactly what each couple wants and requires and not to foist their only concept on everyone. Some want romance- others feel that's too mushy! Some want photojournalism and others want "fashion photography". Many welcome a mixture! Some want us to be flys on the wall and others really want direction! We are not there to be the boss- run the show or police the amateurs. We do not produce cookie-cutter sunsets. We are there to serve at the pleasure of our clients in a highly professional manner. Anyone who thinks otherwise is operating under a misconception and any photographer that does not cater to their client's needs is far from professional- even if they do get paid! Anyone who witnesses a wedding shooter acting like a dictator, and really messing up all over the place has witnessed the doings of an incompetent photographer. I won't use the word "amateur" because an amateur can be kind, compassionate and skilled and manage to conduct themselves properly.

Professional wedding photography is no for the unskilled, impatient, egotistical, lazy or nervous photographer and it certainly ain't for the faint of heart- it may kill them!

Frankly, I find many of theses bizarre comments rather disheartening, disrespectful and oftentimes somewhat disgusting. Simply for my own peace, I will no longer comment on wedding photography other than whatever comes to the "Wedding Photograhy" section. What with all the nastiness, grumpiness, vitriol, and infantile squabbling, I am seriously considering curtailing all my extracurricular online activities. I'm here to help, teach, learn, share and converse in a civil manner and that, mostly, ain't happening!

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

tetherington Your great you should do it for a living.

Then one of us on the blog can go to your weddings and shoot for nouthing.

If you do post it so we can all go.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

That comment was not specifically to you, sorry if you took it that way. I always use the Quote Reply when I'm replying to a specific person. As you can see. That one just followed my other comment as I was reading and responding to this thread near its seeming end. I don't even shoot weddings. I tried it a couple times for friends and were disasters. Luckily I was not the primary paid photographer but the secondary to get candids and requests and the like.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

"Rehess" Sorry if I seemed sarcastic or flippant, I guess I was. I missed the mark on you totally. Thanks for replying in an objective mature manner without insulting me back. I've gone to so few weddings in the last few years that I must have missed the ones with overbearing Wedding Photographers. Only the last two were in the SmartPhone age. And one the couple and most guests were older close to my age (65), and the formal pix were done before and elsewhere to my knowledge. The last wedding I've been to was for a young friend (20 something). That seemed to go smoothly, with an informal reception party. Yes, there were a few Cells and DSLRs there. The next wedding I may go to is for that fellow's younger sister (again 20s), it sounds like they decided to have some semi-professional photo friends photograph it (October). I had suggested a high level pro I know but they wanted friends.

Wow, when we got married in 1984 we had no photographs except at a couple later after wedding parties over the next few weeks. Both sets of parents were not on board with our marriage so we just got the county license and had a preacher marry us who was a step-grandfather of our neighbors at the time. He married them as well. We'd been dating since February 1977. I know about being young and poor and college students. The day we were married we were both unemployed (between jobs as it was) and later that same day we both attended night time college classes. We somehow managed to buy a home in 1988. But had not been financially solvent until 2009 when my mother died and I inherited their fully paid for home and more cash than I knew they had. Once my wife retires later this year we plan to move to the other house and sell our junk pile. Somehow I got into the massively expensive hobby of photography. But that is a way to long story of its own. Sorry about being jerky earlier.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

You weren't "jerky" - we just had a moment of misunderstanding.

Actually, I spent most of the past six hours at wedding activities - ceremony at church then reception at county park. I may have to revise how I make my comments - in the past eight months I have now been to two weddings, and each pro was considerate .... each pro was also female. Below are three photos from today's activities that show where I was standing compared to her {she is standing on left side of second one}.

bridal couple with his parents


bride is from family of girls; here her sisters {two of whom were already married} seranade her with humorous song that involved 'texting' 'selfies'


the cake, of course

CWGordon

Perfect positioning. Good insight. Pictures do tell a story. Great!

Forest Loc: Central Florida

Well said. I agree.

CWGordon

To: lamia***.
Sorry about spelling. By the time I get from your last input to send mine I forget your spelling. Anyway, I just wanted to say I found that contribution to be very interesting.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Congratulations to the Bride and Groom!

First, I'm a hobbyist. It is more likely that in an attempt to get the most important shots I will be off to the side or worse, directly in front of the HIRED photographer.

Second, if I made my living as a professional, I would not want someone in my way. (I hate back seat or side seat drivers.) I won't tolerate it in my chosen profession.

Third, you want some photos, get the photographer's business card. Make a call. Buy some photos. It is not Rocket Surgery.

Finally, I probably will bring my camera. But I will enjoy the ceremony. For me, I'm just happy to be invited. I probably will photograph the people at the reception. Group shots. Husbands and wifes. Boyfriends and girlfriends. And children with the bride and groom with all the significant family members. Then I place my photos onto a USB Drive and give it to the Bride and Groom.

Respect the Contracted Photographer. That is what they do and you wouldn't want someone disrespecting you!!

Happy Shooting!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I noticed that neither pro used a helper holding a slave unit, and with my being comfortable using my Pentax KP at ISO levels like 25000 I do ambient light photography. A lot has happened during the Digital Age.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I also noticed that while they seemed to be aiming the flash with maybe a diffuser a little above the subject’s heads (perhaps with the idea to put some diminished flash on them), I would have had it straight up to bounce it with no diffuser if I had a single flash for the reception, but maybe that technique works for them. It looked like a small wedding, but I would typically use two remote flashes with umbrellas in the church

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Yes, both used a diffuser and then aimed the flash like that. The barn {we know how to make barns around here!!} where yesterday's reception was held had generally high ceilings; our daughter used an old Carnegie Library also with mostly higher ceilings. I'm not sure how either ceilings would have reflected, and it may be that the professional experience has not been good.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

WHAT!!!! You think the bride/wife is the decision maker!!???? You think one has to listen to hi...

What? Yes dear.... Yes dear.... I will be right there... I just need to finis....

Yes dear... I am on my way...

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Then you hang out with bad wedding photographers. Most of the reputable ones have spent years developing their craft and the results are far from what you will get crowd sourcing the event.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

The problem is that the environment has changed since the film days. In the film days, very few brought a camera to the event. Now everyone has a cell phone and it is nearly impossible to shoot around that crowd.