xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Don't shoot behind him or get in his way. He really can't expect to stop all the iPhone photographers... If he can, please let us know the "magic" he used to stop them, we will be millionaires overnight!! Have fun at the wedding.

Cheers!

Kate1948

I have not had a family wedding in which the Pro said 'no' other cameras. I have had a family wedding in which, due to the B & G's failure to communicate, many pictures the family would have wanted taken were not taken by the Pro (he didn't know he had to) and my camera saved the day since I know one side of the family well and the other somewhat.

The B & G have to give the Pro a list of all the family members that they want photos of (in addition to those taken at the church). I'm referring to photos at the reception and other candids. This is particularly important with elderly family members who might not be with us too much longer, seldom go out, seldom dress up, and are very likely to leave the event early (so if left for the last minute, they won't be there.)

I have made it a point to photograph them myself because at one niece's wedding only one photo of the groom's grandfather was taken by the Pro--and that wasn't particularly good and he was in the second row as part of a group. This wedding was the last time he went anywhere and he died shortly thereafter. If the Pro comes around to the table later and takes more photos, great, but while he's busy elsewhere I cover the 'grands' and 'great grands' before they leave or start looking too tired.

So tell the B & G to communicate CLEARLY as to who they want photos of and to be sure to get the older folks covered early on before they leave.

Another thing that Pro's haven't taken photos of and my nieces or cousins would have wished he had are: 1) the cake table before the cutting with closeups of the cake; 2) the table decorations, center pieces/flower arrangements; 3) the venue before it's full of people. I often sneak in and take those but, again, I've never dealt with a strict contract, I'm just afraid my flash might fire a 'slave' flash (Pro's usually work in teams) or throw off their lighting. If the contract is that strict, have them put those on the list as well, then you can relax.

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

Kate! It's good that you took those pictures but you shouldn't have had to.

Anyone who walks off a wedding assignment without photographing all the grandparents in attendance is NOT a professional- or at least, a very poor example of one!

It behooves the pro to make certain that he or she has a comprehensive list of all the VIPs at the wedding and grandparents surely qualify as VERY IMPORTANT PERSONS!

I have a whos-who list printed right into my contract forms where we fill in the names of all the relatives that MUST be included in the photographs. I want to know their names so they can be properly called and addressed for the formal shots and if they are not going to be there for that formal session, I am going to go out hunting for them during the reception and either set up some informal-formals or make sure the are included in the candid shots. During ceremonies, we lookout for faces in the congregation and of course, parents and grandparents are usually in the front rows or the first pew. We look out for them again at receiving lines or when they spontaneously hug, kiss, shake hands and back-slap with the couple just after the ceremony- the best time for impactful shots!

We tell all of our wedding couples that the wedding day is a great opportunity to make some meaningful family portraits where everyone is happy and healthy, dressed to the nines and in a great mood. Even the couples that opt for a strictly photojournalistic coverage agree and will take out time to get these shots in.

I don't like to get in a dark conversations about the old folks passing on, but most of the kids we deal with get my drift.

Besides, some are the most emotional and intimate portrait I get at weddig are the grandparent relating the their grandkids!

After all the money folks spend on the venue, the food, buffets, cocktail hours, dessert tables, etc., we always make sure to shoot all of them before it is half or completely consumed by the guests. For our album clients, we produce a photo-montage page of all of the venue and catering features.

Even if the couple did not supply a list, any experienced professional wedding photographer should know to shoot all the aforementioned must-have shots on his or her own. On very large and active weddings, I will even bring in a 3rd shooter just to do nothing but detail shots- food- booze, entertainment, the invitation, flowers, decorations, candelabra, and centerpieces. I call them "insert shots" which we can use to help tell the story of the entire day and all the environment.

I usually cover the entire day - end to end and before leaving the venue, I always thank the couple for having us, congratulate them, and most importantly ASK THEM IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THEY WANT US TO COVER!

Back in the day, before radio slave triggering, we did use photoelectric triggering devices to wirelessly synchronize out multiple light systems.Theses could be triggered with any kind of flash equipmet and cause havoc! Nowadays the radios, more or less, negate that issue unless the one of the guests guests have a system on the same frequency- that happened to us once but the recurrence of that is improbable.

In my own case and many of the pros that I know, we do not have theses exclusivity clauses in our contracts to deprive the guest of enjoying their own photography at weddings. It's just that sometimes, especially lately, things have become somewhat chaotic to the point where some of this interference can seriously impede on the pro's job and can in some instances affect the quality of the images that the couple is expecting.So...we need to have the authorization to control that issue on behalf of the bride and groom. We will NEVER ask the couple or any of the family to he intervene and interrupt their enjoyment- we work very nicely with folks and garner their cooperation.

I also understand that there are wedding couples that are NOT interested in top-quality professional photography and opt for alternatives such as passing out disposable cameras to the guests, inviting all their photo-enthusiast friends to shoot whatever they can and the compile a photography coverage out of that. Some may hire a pro- or kinda semi-pro for limited coverage and augment that with the aforementioned concepts. If, however, they invest their time and money in a true and thorough professional, adding too many alternative coverages is tantamount to sabotaging the work of the pro they have invested in- it's counterproductive.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

If the "Pro" did not already have a long list of shots and had not gone over them with the B&G, the they are not a "Pro". They are just someone taking money for a job they are not qualified to do.

However, if the Pro did go over the list and the B&G did not want to pay for the full treatment or eliminated some recommended shots, that is on them.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Today is Tuesday in the USA. Goes any of you disagree?
Can we we agree on something?
After this mess I won't go to my grandkids wedding even with out a camera because I might get bin some ones way or because I I didn't didn't bring a my camera and miss the shot the the pro didn't get.
It's time to let the person how is getting paid to do his job. I personally find that this world has photographers that do as well as me and even better (we must admit)

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

It is just common courtesy and common sense in today's cell phone world. If you would not have stood in front of a photographer before cell phones, don't do it now.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

This would be relevant if the ‘pro’ took every possible’ photo.