alfeng Loc: Out where the West commences ...

I could very well be wrong, but I reckon that the reason that MOST people who are NOT the "official" photographer take pictures at weddings is because THEY never-ever see the "official" pictures ...

... And, some-or-many people simply want at least one "snapshot" memory of the occasion.

ecommons

This is not unusual any longer. Everyone with a cell phone has become a photographer. And some cell phones produce some quality shots. But the main problem is as the hired photographer lines up if shot and focuses in, about the time the photographer presses the shutter, some idiot with an iPhone will take a picture and the flash runs the shot. I used put this in my contract and stated that the bridal party may be charged for ruined prints because some idiot with an instamatic and a flash cube would ruin pictures.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

When my buds son got married a few years ago, he had throw away cameras at every table and guests were instructed to shoot at will, and turn in the cameras before leaving. He also had professional photographers that obviously didn't care. The assumption was that out of hundreds of pics taken by guests, some might actually be worth something. I guess that was 180 degrees opposite of what you experienced. I don't know if he got any good pics from the guests, probably one or two.

Most wedding pictures suck anyway. You get a few that are worth keeping from the pro's, and the rest are in shoe boxes and unopened photo albums somewhere buried deep in a closet. Since about half of all marriages fail, it's probably not a big deal to at least half the country, other than something to throw darts at:-)

londonfire Loc: NY to NC

Ive had ‘rules ‘ presented to me for family weddings and my answer is there’s an Andy Griffith marathon on that day. Not sorry...

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't the bride (or groom) that asked for this; just an INSECURE photographer, eh ?

Booker

My wife and I have done several weddings as "the professional photographer." At some recently, many guests got in the Way shooting with their cell phones. I hate this and approve of banning cell phone shooters if, but only if, they get in the way.

I have also shot as an unofficial photographer along with the official wedding pro, but only at the ahead of time request by the bfide/groom

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I think you hit the nail on the head - its about control. But not necessarily in a good way or by the people who have a right to control. There are a lot of ego's at work here and it seems like that is what the main issue is about. If I as the client/customer am willing to accept the possibility of having a 'missed' shot and everyone is aware that could (will ?) happen, then if the photographer insists on having no photography I walk away and find somebody else. If, on the other hand, I am selling my service as a photographer and believe that my service will be below MY limits of acceptability as a result of the customer's desire to allow photography, I can refuse the work up front. Don't see any issues there, do you ?

As a guest to the event, I have no input to the agreement so have no grounds to complain because the host made rules I don't agree with. We should not be attending just for our pleasure but to help the bride and groom and families celebrate the way they want to. While it was noble to offer to take pictures and the families probably would have appreciated it, the OP recognized its not his place to override their wishes any more than it would be appropriate to tear down the decorations and replace them with what the OP thought appropriate. So why all the venom against the photographer ? Both sides entered the agreement. While I disagree with the approach, if both sides agree, who am I to criticize ? Am I really injured by not being able to take a picture ?

I miss the days when people didn't need validation by complaining about how much better their way is and how dumb a decision was that was made (even when they have no skin in the game).

I DON'T think that is what the OP or you jaycoffman are saying but soooooo many of the responses show exactly that !

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Gwilliams6 couldn't be more on the money Read his whole post and then just sit at your table at the reception and have some chicken. You're a guest not the photographer that was hired to capture moments for the bride and groom. I was a pro for 32 years and had to come down from the church Balclony to physically tap some fool on the shoulder who had camped out in the aisle. As far as "gifts" go. I was doing formals at a wedding, trying to be polite and let guests shoot after me. This boob pipes up and proudly says to the bride's parents " I'm going to make copies of all of these for you". The parents had NOT purchased the album from me. I read these posts all the time and have never replied. You are rookies if you werent hired. I don't care how good you think your equipment is, or how good you thinkm your photos are. Sit down and stay out of the way and stop trying to IMPRESS everyone there.

Daryl New Loc: Wellington,New Zealand

Everybody is a ruddy photographer.......lol

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

First, it's a bit rude to lump all photographers into the "paranoid" group. If you follow wedding trends this is getting more and more popular, not because of the photographer, but because the bride and groom don't want everyone paying attention to their cell phones.

There are some that have it in their contract. I don't have it, so am I paranoid? Those that do, have their reasons, like not wanting to wait 5 minutes between setups for the formals, for everyone to get their photo, and so you don't have everyone looking at different cameras in their shots. I can tell you, that when I get a ton of people wanting to take photos of my setups, I don't tell people they can't, but they certainly need to be ready to go, because when my shot is done, I'm forming the next grouping. People complain about photographers taking too long between the service and the reception....complaints are business killers. I need to move.

One thing that's always a treat is when the official makes the rule of no flash photography, we follow the rules, but guests flash through the whole service. It distracts the official, as well as the other guests....now THAT'S rude.

The last point on the original post, he didn't even see the paid photographer. Well, that's the sign of a good wedding photographer. It's not about us, it's about the couple.

Maybe research why the couple made the request, before you start accusing an entire group of paid photographers as being paranoid, and afraid of "competition" from hobbyist. If we don't get the shots, we get sued. Think about that for a while.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

I applaud the pros for their professionalism. It is a contract between the photographer(s) and the B&G. If the attendees with cameras feel they do not want to be a part of the wedding as a guest only, they can put their gear in their vehicles, leave the wedding, or perhaps be escorted out. Opinions of how the pros acted are really none of anyone's business. It is not their day - it belongs solely to the B&G under the terms and conditions they set.
Bravo to the pros!

catgirl Loc: las vegas

I was at my niece's wedding in Scotland several years back, the photographer took some photos at a park and after he finished a shot he offered to let some of us take one also, but this was for just the immediate family he was very gracious and said he would allow it as long as we waited until he was finished and not get in his way at any time

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I am a pro, but I decided long ago I didn't enjoy shooting weddings. Most of the weddings I have shot were friends who couldn't afford a pro and I did it as a wedding gift. I did shoot a wedding as a guest, but I'm not a rookie. It was for my niece. I didn't bother with the ceremony or formal shots and I left those to the pro, I just wanted candid shots at the reception. It turned out my candid shots were better than the pro's, and I think I could have done better with the ceremony and formal shots. I am shooting another wedding soon as a guest, the daughter of my dearest friend, who I have photographed regularly since she was 10 months old. They invited me to the wedding, and said I didn't have to photograph it. But I told them I wanted to shoot candids at the reception, and they were happy about that. I certainly know how to keep out of the way of the pro, and I think I am good enough that my photos will be as good or better than the pro.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

A reminder, Jerry, the OP said cell phone pics. I have a very difficult time making phone calls on my D7100 with grip and an 80-400......😀😀😆

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Tony, I would have skipped the reception (rubber chicken, a baked tomato half and beans - and a piece of wedding cake the size of a matchbox) and returned the gift the next day.