ronz Loc: Florida

After shooting weddings for over 30 years, it seems there was always Uncle Harry who did often get in the way. I found it was easier to suggest they stand behind me as I was setting up the formals and as soon as I finished they could quickly take their shots and they would look professional for them. It seemed to work well (usually) for me and nobody got upset and they still got their shots. Oddly, they respected that and would move out of the way so I could get other shots I needed. Today it is a little bit tougher but it still works.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

I'm retired now, but took many Wedding Photographs in my 45 plus years, in
business.

One couple came to me, showing the contract from another Pro' Photographer, which had in the conditions. "No photographs to be taken till after the 'Official Photographer had left the ceremony and reception." As I had no such stipulation in my own contract, they hired me for their special day. In film-only days, there were not so many 'Photographers' to hinder the (me) 'Official Photographer. However, I recall one such wedding, where a 'Wannabe' was constantly calling out to the group I had set-up, which was drawing their attention towards him, and away from me. This was becoming a bit of a nuisance, so I approached him, and asked him to set-up and arrange the next group. "That's your job"...."You are the Photographer". he said, quite snarky. The B&G realised that all was not going smoothly, and they told 'Wannabe' to stop interfering. "We are paying this Photographer (me) to take the photographs".

If, among the guests, there were only a few camera shooters, I would invite them to shoot, after I had got my pictures in the can, of each set-up. They soon fell into the routine without too much hassle. Glad I don't have to officiate at weddings any longer.

markmmmm

It is simple. Taking pictures at a someone wedding when it is requested no one take pictures is RUDE. It is self centered and RUDE. It is immature and RUDE. It is not your event. When someone pulls out a camera or phone it can be distracting and in this day and aged "viewed" by some as an intrusion of privacy. If they don't want pics taken, DONT TAKE PICTURES. Comparable to a jerk standing up in a movie and taking shots of the screen and people in the theater. Not an issue of photographic license. IT IS RUDE BEHAVIOR, Not innocent but RUDE. Yes, it was a case of self gratiification. You should be ashamed of yourself. Rude, Rude, Rude.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

None to little experience at that. Though, yes, I too have taken "guest" shots at a wedding or too ages ago, in the pre-digital pre-smartphone days. Since I don't really like doing wedding photos at all I don't even bring a camera to weddings these days.

About your story. I would say the Professionals were not very professional. As Ray Davies of the Kinks once sang, "Paranoia It Destroy Ya..."! And I've heard that before that candids can be more interesting and fun for the wedding couple later anyway. We once (long ago) were at a wedding where all guests were given little throw away one use film cameras and asked to shoot away. At the time I actually did not understand what was expected and so never gave the couple copies of the pictures until years later. That actually turned out to be interesting as the pics meant a bit more to us and some of the other guests that are now friends of ours too. Not really candids but the semi-staged photos I've seen of my Parents wedding in '47 or '48 are the images that I remember in their album. My mom smashing cake on to my dads face. I vaguely recall most of their formal shots other than the one they liked most and had displayed in their bed room.

Papa j Loc: Cary NC

Sad day sorry for your experience when I get married again you are invited and I would love o relieve a book of lphotos from you

Jor

dparsh Loc: Massachusetts

[quote=rwww80a]I have been taking pictures for 50 years (started with a Nikkormat FTn) with candids at the many weddings I have attended through the years.

This was a first!

In the ceremony program there was a statement (printed in the middle of the first page of the program) about the "excellent" photographers the couple had hired and not to take cell phone pix and post during the ceremony. I had my Nikon 7200 and took some pix and went to the reception took a few more. The sister of the bride came up to me and said cease and desist, I tried to tell her that what I was doing was to make an album of candids for a gift for the happy couple which I have done many other times. I stopped, didn't want to make the bride unhappy. I even had the grandparents come up to me as ask me to shoot some portraits of them - which I declined to do at that point because I wasn't the "official" photog. It made me feel bad for them later because I never saw the official wedding photogs over on the side of the room where they were sitting away from the noise.
Later the mother of the groom came up to me and explained that the picture statement in the program was done at the photographers insistence because the photographers didn't want their time and photos "devalued" by amateurs at the wedding. THEY are the picture takers and no one else can shoot the wedding? First I've heard of that! I had even been trying to stay out of the pros way so I wouldn't get in their way or ruin their shots! By the way, on the next day there must have been at least 10 postings on Facebook of cell phone vids and photos from the wedding and reception.

Are the pros really that paranoid and insecure about their work AND that amateurs could possibly make their work look bad or not as good? The photogs didn't even have the b...s to ask me themselves?

Yes in the past I have had several couples or families say that the album I put together as a gift was better than the pro BUT I think that because they were family.

Any other experiences or opinions???[/quote

I do the same thing. I love putting all the pics together for a book and people love them. So I was doing just that at my nieces wedding. I stayed out of the way and did my thing. Long story short, the "professional" that was hired did not have one decent picture from that day. He left right after the cake cutting. He was an absolute disaster. I wish I had taken more pics as my heart broke for my niece. she love the book I made but I wish I had stepped on toes that day.

MCoomber Loc: Hamilton ontario

As a wedding and special event photographer, every wedding I have shot since the time of film, I have encountered guests taking photos. It will always happen. With cell phones in every hand, there is no way to stop others from taking photos. Many other pros that I have spoken to, have said that they have tried to stop other guests rom taking photos at the ceremony as this is the place that the bride and groom want the professionals to work without problems. I have shot the first kiss and sometimes I have had hands stuck in front of the camera. There was one time that I was backing up taking photos as the bride and groom were walking down the aisle and back into a guest taking photos. He swore at me because I had messed with his shot. All I saying is that you will never stop people from taking photos but the bride and groom can ask. My niece asked that there would be no photos at the ceremony, and then wondered why I hadn't taken any. Oh well.

Stephan G

Bottom line. It is up to the ones paying for the Wedding that have the right to make such demands. Usually these people are the parents of one of or both of the couple, not the couple. And not the photographer. Your contention is out of line. If you have problems with that, let the actual purchaser know and they can get a professional who can work with the situation. A wedding is not a "production". And we know what a "Selling Job" is.

jims203 Loc: Connecticut

This happened to me at my best friends wedding in Montecito, CA. They paid a lot of money and were not even given an album just a few cd’s with unedited jpegs on them. I thought the “pro’s” request was outrageus and took my own pictures anyway. The bride’s friend also did the same. At the end of it all when we all submitted our pictures she complained that our pictures were much better than the “pro’s”. I printed them a book as a gift and they were grateful. My friend said at one point when the “pro” snarled to me, “he thought she was going to bite me on the ankle.”

cwhi1444 Loc: Orland Park, IL

Last year was invited to our nephew's wedding. The pro's were two men. Nice people. Talked to them whenever we crossed paths. I watched out for them and wasn't where they were. If I was taking a shot and saw them coming over I left the area. Took a little over 1000 shots culled it down to about 700 and sent them to the couple. The night they received them (two days later) all of them were on Facebook. A later thank you card said they enjoyed some more than the pros. That alone was thanks enough as this was the first time I had done that. Have been to weddings that the pros were very upset about others taking photos though.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

The OP did quit taking photos when asked to.

ggenova64

"Anybody can be a Photographer!"

tshift Loc: Overland Park, KS.

Your name fits you well!

delottphoto

I am a wedding photographer. I have never heard of professional photographers behaving in this way. Since this is a no win situation, I "live" with it. I respect your very good behavior!

hawleyrw Loc: Dayton, OH

Last year I attended an outdoor wedding (Rocky Mountains) of a family member and (of course) had my DSLR with me. Good thing I was there, there was a big mixup and the photographer never showed so I ended up photographing the entire wedding. Worked out great. 4th wedding I’ve shot. Of course as it was family, they offered but I turned down any payment for the shoot, and over 200 great shots, both staged and candid. Was fun!