bdo Loc: Colorado

My wife and I attended a wedding in Colorado last Friday. It was 90+.

The ceremony was held outdoors (on a small ranch/farm) and was brief and very much to the point. We immediately moved toward the reception venue, which was indoors and had several large swamp coolers.

The photographer took pictures of the immediate wedding party right after the ceremony, then assembled a larger group near the reception hall.

As a (very) amateur photographer, I was fascinated and impressed by the photographer. There were two of them, each with two Nikon D3s (? not sure). In the parking lot next to the hall (gravel and grass, in the shade) they set up two remote flash units with white umbrella diffusers on stands.

They had us in and out of the lot in less than twenty minutes, after which we all moved to the reception hall. Those two guys were everywhere, getting candids, a few posed shots. The ceremony started at 4:00. We left after 7:00, and they were still there. My guess is that they took 3,000+ photos that afternoon. I was just thinking about the PP after the event.

They were pros. Not because they easily had over $30,000 worth of gear that I could see, but because of the way they handled the guests. They were polite, fast and mostly unobtrusive.

I haven't seen the results yet, but just on the basis of watching them work, I would recommend them without reservation.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

If it were me, I'd be there ahead of time, scope the place out, and be creative before the event. That way, I can just flow through and get the shots the couple will be happy with, and move on. It shouldn't take that long to take the photos.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

I was at a wedding last October where the guests were kept waiting nearly 2 hours before the reception could start because of the photographer. I think it is rude, but at least we were able to sit in the reception hall. The ceremony took place outside at about 3pm. It was done by about 3:30pm and then the sun had set and it was dark before the couple got there. It wasn't my wedding though, so not a lot that could be done about it. Although if I had been the bride I might have been a little upset because thinking it would be quick to take pics in the heat only to find out we were going to be out there for 2 hours while our guests waited. Guess that's something to discuss with the photographer before you hire them for your wedding.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

I think it's poor planning on the part of the photographer.

buckwheat Loc: Clarkdale, AZ and Belen NM

I haven't done weddings since the film days, but when I did the formals, I tried to use the subtractive method. I would get all the family the bride and groom wanted, and then excuse the non-essentials until I was down to the bride and groom. My formals never took more that 30 minutes, and no one complained. Of course part of this was selfish. The quicker I got the shots, the sooner they could cut the cake, and the sooner I was out of there. I usually shot the reception in what is now called photojournalism style. (we called it informal) and there wasn't much call for photos after the maid of honor got drunk.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

All that is captured on cellphones and directly posted to Youtube now.

tk Loc: Iowa

This is clearly everyone's fault, bride, parents, photographer. If the photographer and bride agreed to this shoot then the guests should have been told to go to the reception and begin the drinks and ors'd.....(things). No one should have been waiting outside in the heat. Very rude. If the parents knew about this then they too should have insisted on the reception beginning. My daughter was married on a very hot July day in Iowa (add steamy). Drinks and ors'd (things) were served while we took pictures. No receiving line due to the heat. I told her if they weren't back by a certain time we were serving dinner. She wasn't happy. But (I'm so smart) I told her that everyone would be seated when she came in the room and would be focused on her instead of belly up to the bar and not paying attention.

roadapplemax Loc: Browns Valley Ca

I provided horse-drawn carriages for weddings for over 20 years. Waiting at the curb gave me a front row seat of the guests anticipating the arrival, and departure of the couple
in the carriage. On very hot days I have seen the group
dwindle to just a few. I have seen the man who provides
the white doves for the classic shot depart for other
obligations while the photographer spends 1 1/2 to 2 hours
inside. One bride called me a month later saying that the
photographer only took close ups of the couple in the carriage and nothing showing the carriage. ( arranged for
a make up shoot) Maybe wedding photographers should
be tested and licensed.

allen finley photography Loc: Sunshine State.

Roadapplemax wrote "Maybe wedding photographers should
be tested and licensed." I totally agree. It would cut down on a lot of So called pros and craigslist wannabe photographers. The criteria for the testing???

rnichols

You were right in the way to shoot the wedding, I was a
wedding photography for many years, I had it all scripted,
those wedding party portrait shots are to be performed after the recieving line, send everyone else to the reception,
take your half hour to one hour with only family and wedding pary only, I have had to shut down a amature
photograher wana be after she tried to pose my shots. Had to tell her that I was the one being paid here, when I am done, then do what you wish. But you are correct, you are
in charge and don't be afraid to let them know.

rnichols

Licensed does not make you good at what you do. Tested
will be by reputation.

PatrickTheCop Loc: Spartanburg, SC

Are you certain the delay was the photographers? While I certainly agree completely that that was way too long I just want to point out that blame should be placed where it belongs. I say this because I did a redneck wedding (their term BTW) this past weekend. The photos I did of the bride & grrom, wedding party and parents took nearly 90 minutes. Why? Because neither I nor the bride and groom could get the group to stay put in the back yard where they wanted these photos. Maid of honor was too busy running around chasing her toddlers all over creation. One bridesmaid was too busy putting out the cake and re-adjusting it over and over (she made the cake so that was her focus), one of the groomsmen just kept going to get a beer, cigarette, whatever he could think of I think to avoid photos. I told the bride repeatedly the guests were waiting and we really needed to wrap it up. All of this time the guests were in the front yard waiting probably cussing the photographer for taking all day. Out of the nearly 90 minutes I spent maybe 20 minutes shooting. The rest waiting on the subjects being tracked down and escorted to the back yard.

allen finley photography Loc: Sunshine State.

That's why I always have a wrangler and photo assistant...chasing down and setting up for the next shot group!

PhotoGeezer Loc: North East Ohio

Any photographer worth his salt would talk to the planner and let them know how long he/she usually takes for the posed shots. Most of the time, when I shot weddings, the guests were sent on ahead to the reception venue and started the cocktail hour so they would be ready to dance later in the evening.....

PatrickTheCop Loc: Spartanburg, SC

Yeah, I had a wrangler. Didn't help much however, as they all just insisted they had to do those "other" things right that instant and it clearly took priority over the photos.