screen48 Loc: Northwest IL

I went to a family wedding a couple of years ago and this has always bugged me.
The photographer and his two person crew would not allow others to take candid shots. I had taken my P&S and was never going to take a picture of what the photographer was set up for but side candid shots. When I got my P&S out I was asked by an assistant to put it away. The brides family had put disposable cameras on all the tables with a note to feel free and take pictures of the going on around them but please leave the camera at the table when done. The crew collected all the cameras before many were used. Last week at a family gathering I asked the groom about this and he was unaware of the photographer stopping others from taking pictures and picking up the cameras. He also said that the photographer never told them about any rules and stated he wished others would have had the chance to get some shots as their wedding pictures were poor at best.
The actions of this photographer seem out of line. Is this the norm?

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

I would hope not!
All the weddings I've been to the photographer did his/her thing and the wedding party did theirs.
If it was in the contract, I would not have been a happy camper and would have said something!

RPMustang Loc: The Great State of Texas

I could understand the "pro" photographer having an issue if you were getting in the way of them doing their job. If not, who cares!

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I have a friend who does weddings, she is very good and in high demand in and around her area. She has it in her contract that no other cameras are allowed for the formal photos. Candids are the reception are fine. Her reasoning:

Her bread and butter comes from formals, that's where she makes her money. With people taking pictures of her "set-ups" and posting them on facebook before the wedding reception is even over, the WOW factor is gone and the emotional connection (and purchase) when she does sit down with the bride is long gone. Plus other flashes going off interfere with the outcome of her images and having family members trying to get the attention of the wedding party has resulted in more than a few of her "perfect" shots having at least one or more of the bridal party not looking at her but at "Uncle Buck".

Candids at the reception very rarely turn into a sale, and she and her assistant can't be everywhere and shot everything at the same time. So she has not issue with family taking shots at the reception.

I know of a couple of wedding photographers that have it stated in their contracts that NO cameras are to allowed the wedding service, formals and reception during the hours they are being paid to be there. I'm not sure how they police this policy as I would think it would be difficult, but it's in there and they have excerised their rights to ask people to put their cameras away.

As to the question who wins, well I would think it would be the bride and groom. They hired and paid the photographer to get the pictures they wanted of the wedding.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

In my opinion nobody won... the family and friends were denied the opportunity to capture what memories they saw and the bride and groom were limited to only what the professional photographer saw... and the photographer lost some word of mouth advertising along with a chance for more business. It's a day that cannot be repeated, and will forever have regrets attached to it. How very sad.

jf65625

If this is the choice of the one paying for the wedding [including the photographer] then it should be respected by guests. But, this should also be included in the wedding invitation so that guests know what the rules are. I'm sure that custom varies in different parts of the country/world, but generally most people think a wedding is something to celebrate and photograph. And, few people think the photographer runs the show; most think the photog is there to professionally record but not to interfere except for a few moments to take formals while guest loosen their ties and visit the bar.

If I were paying the bill, I would insist that the photographer knew his place & duty. He is a paid professional who is hired to treat my honored guests [extended family & close friends] as I would - with the utmost courtesy and respect. So why should the professional be so insecure that her own photos would be depreciated by the P&S snaps of some tipsy grandmother or great uncle. Those snaps should only prove to the bridal party the worth of professional photography. And, if not, the "pro" should find a day job.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

double post, sorry

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I know many professional children/newborn photographers that have the same clause, you should hear the stories about them setting up shot only to have Dad/Mom/Grandma whip out their camera (or phone) and take the shot. Then when it's time to meet with the client and go over the pictures and sell the prints, they end up with a tiny order and are sitting in the client's living room looking at a printed and framed, unedited, OOF shot from Dad's camera that was printed at Walmart.

There is a reason I have no need/want/desire to take on clients, besides the fact that I am no where near ready talent wise to hang my shingle and call myself a professional.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I can understand the professional not wanting others shooting during the formal shots, they can possibly be redone if need be. But if I was the bride and groom I would want others taking candids. I have a friend that had a near disaster with her wedding pictures when the photographers equipment was stolen as he was packing up. The cameras were later recovered several days later and all was well, but she could have ended up with no pictures at all. This photographer was very strict about others taking shots, even informal ones.

Mattie

I went to a wedding some months ago in which I took my camera. We were allowed to take photos of the rehearsal, but not of the acutal wedding, the reason being with the flashes going on from the audience cameras would apparently mess up the lighting from the photographer's cameras. We took mountains of photos when they left the church as they walked through the canopy where rose petals were thrown as well as when they went to the limo. The photographer is there to sell his photos which he was hired to do as well as the photos for the families of the married couple.

raghavnk

As in most cases, it is never black and white! There is something to be said for both sides.

Dria Loc: Ohio

Sounds like a big lose here and for any family event that a photographer takes over. We had 2 family weddings this summer and both times I got pics that the photographer didn't. At both weddings there were a couple of well known people there- the photogs made sure to get multiple pics of them BUT missed a fav great aunt and an adored uncle consoling an over tired Flower Girl!! how could he miss that!? OMG precious!
At weddings.. the more (cameras) the better!

dragonfist Loc: Stafford, N.Y.

I had a friend many years ago that was a professional photographer and he related this to me. He was doing a wedding with a 4x5 film camera. He grabbed his bag of film holders and shot the wedding. Imagine his dismay when he got back to his shop, and in the darkroom discovered he had filled his bag from a stack of empty film holders. He got in touch with the couple, apologized profusely and asked that they poll their guests and get any negatives of the wedding from them. He spent hours in the darkroom coming up with a wedding album for them. He told me that he used to hate having others with cameras at weddings. After this incident he welcomed everyone to shoot all the shots they wanted to. Sometimes what seems your worst enemy can turn out to be your salvation. I should also relate that he gave them back their deposit, gave them the best album on the house and luckily lost only some money and not his reputation.

screen48 Loc: Northwest IL

Thanks for all the responses. Talked to Brad last night after starting this tread. He said they had totally forgotten the cameras they left on the tables until I brought it up last week. We were at a gathering to see their new baby. (lots of pictures taken)LOL. When they got home last week they got out their album and think one or two of the pics may have been from those throw away cameras. Also they really looked over all the album and thought it was poorly done. Bad cropping was the biggest issue. Brad called the Photographer and questioned him and his answer was that he was there to sell pictures and the album of main shots at a price was not profitable and the candid shots that he sells is where he makes his money. Understandable but there was nothing in the contract that stated this. Brad also asked for the neg. from the cameras that were on the tables and was told there were non and had tossed them. Brad asked to be reimbursed for those and the man hung up. Guess he doesn't need referrals. Answered my own question. No win here for either party.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

When I was still in the photography business in the 80's I had the nightmare experience of having a lab accident that destroyed most of the negatives of a wedding I had shot. When I told the bride what had happened I ask her to borrow negative and even the Polarid prints taken by guest and printed any thing she wanted to create an album of her wedding. It was a real difficult job and certainly not great but was better than nothing. I was so glad that I never cared about guest taking photographs it save me this time. I lost money on the job but the bride and her family were understanding and remained customers. My view was always that if my photographs were not better the Uncle Bill's then I would be better off at the house watching TV. Of course in those days of film and manual cameras you had to know a lot more about the technical aspects of photography than today. I am so glad I no longer need to use a camera to make a living. It has been nice being my own customer the past 20 years even if I am a lot more critical than any customer I ever had.