Too Many Uncle "Bobs"

[Big Mike]

While shooting my latest wedding, I ran into an issue that I didn't predict. During the ceremony, I had as many as 10 guests standing up at the front of the church with their cameras. This is usually more of a problem before & after the ceremony and often at the formals.

I put in into my contract and talked to them (prior to the wedding) about other people shooting, that I am in charge and that I may ask all other people to stop shooting while I am. I usually don't mind, as long as the guests aren't distracting to the subjects and if there is plenty of time.

Anyway, I didn't think to mention that I don't want a bunch of people walking around the church while I'm shooting. The layout of this church was pretty open and there was room to move in behind (off to the side) where the action was happening. I talked to the Priest before the wedding and he said I was OK to move around, as long as I didn't step up onto the raised platform.

So during the wedding, the bride & groom are mostly facing the Priest, so the best angle is at the front of the church, shooting back at them. There were about three or four 'Uncle Bobs' with their DSLR cameras, who were up and moving around for most of the ceremony...but at some of the crucial times, a bunch of other people walked up past the B&G & the Priest to get the best angle. I did have to 'muscle' my way into position a few times but the whole time I couldn't believe how disrespectful this was.

I've seen some Officials, who would have stopped the ceremony and told people to sit down, I wish this guy would have.

Looking back, I should have asked the Priest to set out some rules for other people during the ceremony. I certainly wasn't going to cause a scene by telling them to get out of my way or to sit down.

I'm sure some of you have dealt with this, any tips for how to avoid this? Do you tell the B&G and leave it to them to tell the guests? Do you ask the Officiant to do it?

[jamiewexler]

Not being from the States (especially the southern states), you might want to refer to them as "Uncle Bob's"!:o:lol::lol:

Other than that, there's only so much you can do. You've already covered it with the couple and in your contract. During the ceremony it's up to the priest to control the audience. During the formals, you are in authority, so you can ask them (firmly but nicely) to help you get your job done quickly. Other than that, try to work around them. Also, be sure to include a shot of all of the other "photographers" in the proof set!

[Lord_Malone]

I was curious about where you were going with that "Uncle Tom" thing, but I see you're Canadian so it's all good. ;)

[GertS]

10 uncle Bob, that's really to much.

The lasts two wedding I shot, everybody had it written in the program that no photography except the hired photographer was allowed for not disturbing the ceremony. Both times I had spoken with the priest before the wedding and I knew exactly when I could move and when taking pictures.
Everybody accepted it.

This year I was at a communion, when the priest suddenly stopped and said "Sorry, this is not the Photocina" (largest photo exhibit in Germany). You should have seen their red faces and they really stopped for the rest of the ceremony.

[jamiewexler]

Guys - I know you're not from the US, the the term "Uncle Tom" is typically offensive here (google it). Thus my suggestion to use the more common "Uncle Bob" instead.

[00silvergt]

LOL...Harriet Beecher Stowe...great book! Check out the King and I...

[Big Mike]

:o I'm so sorry, I didn't realize that I was using an offensive term. It's been fixed but but I apologize for that.

[00silvergt]

LOL, I don't think it was that bad...

[picturecrazy]

Let me guess... this was a Chinese wedding, right? I don't know about other cities in the world, but around here I'm always bombarded by "advanced photographers" at chinese weddings. I've even had a wedding where there were two 1 series cams and a D2X in the guest pool. It's crazy.

[00silvergt]

Let me guess... this was a Chinese wedding, right? I don't know about other cities in the world, but around here I'm always bombarded by "advanced photographers" at chinese weddings. I've even had a wedding where there were two 1 series cams and a D2X in the guest pool. It's crazy.

My wife's best friend got married in Chinatown, that was a few years ago. I shot the video with my PD-150...I swear there were people with Sony VX2000's, Medium Format cameras and SLR's (film) all over place. I remember thinking, what the heck do they need me to shot this for? LOL

[GertS]

My wife's best friend got married in Chinatown, that was a few years ago. I shot the video with my PD-150...I swear there were people with Sony VX2000's, Medium Format cameras and SLR's (film) all over place. I remember thinking, what the heck do they need me to shot this for? LOL

I remember the wedding of my cousin some years ago. Heaps of Uncle Bobs with Hasselblad and Leicas shooting everything.

On the long run the only pictures the couple received were these my father had taken with his 35mm SLR.

How many share their images with the couple? That's a good question.

[Bob Charnier]

Personally, being an Uncle and a Bob, I find Uncle Tom or Uncle anything else preferrable............

[Big Mike]

Let me guess... this was a Chinese wedding, right?
Not quite, the bride was Philippine.

I had never attended a Philippine wedding before, there were some very interesting traditional parts to the ceremony.

[peanuthead]

Personally, being an Uncle and a Bob, I find Uncle Tom or Uncle anything else preferrable............

Ha ha, I feel your pain. Where does the term "uncle Bob" come from anyways?

[00silvergt]

Not quite, the bride was Philippine.

I had never attended a Philippine wedding before, there were some very interesting traditional parts to the ceremony.

'Philippines' or 'Philippine Islands' as it was referred to by GI's in WWII. The native people prefer the Philippines or Republic of the Philippines or simply RP. Two major languages are predominant and is considered official: English and Tagalog. There are hundreds of other 'dialects' or languages throughout the 7000+ islands.

The people are known as Filipinos or from their alphabet Pilipinos. The country was named after King Philip of Spain. The people are part of the Austranesian group.

Many of the traditions are part of Philippine folklore (pre-spanish rule) and the Roman Catholic Church.

Sorry, just thought I share some information with you so that you will not once again post and offend another group of people. :D;)

I minored in Asian History in College.;)

[notapro]

I did a friends' wedding a few weeks ago with another person. It was a casual beach wedding, and most of the guests stood during the ceremony. I guess that made them feel free, because there were probably 15+ people roaming around with point and shoot cameras taking pictures during the ceremony. Most of them got out of my way because I had an SLR (I think I was the only one) but the other "photographer" had a crappier P&S than most of the guests and I had to go ask a couple of people to please let her take a picture because she wouldn't ask. One woman stood in the middle of the aisle and kept moving closer and closer until she was about 10 feet from the couple, which I thought was kind of odd and a little intrusive regardless of photography.

[cosworth]

Ok peeps, put the PC pipe away and get back to photography. :P

I just shot a giant asian wedding with Guju and there was a bevy of p&s cameras. No DSLRs of note in the crowd that was %30 doctors and every guy had a Rolex.

[00silvergt]

Ok peeps, put the PC pipe away and get back to photography. :P

I just shot a giant asian wedding with Guju and there was a bevy of p&s cameras. No DSLRs of note in the crowd that was %30 doctors and every guy had a Rolex.

The title of this thread...nevermind...:p I shot this one wedding before as the videographer, one of the videographer's mission is to befriend the photographer, if s/he knows what's good for them. The photographer will always setup the nice shots and I will sneak right in after his exposure to record it on tape.

So half-way through a Chinese wedding, we had some downtime, between the Jellyfish and the Shark's fin soup, anyway, we both started talking about this one 'guy' who kept blocking my shots and shooting his P&S's flash right before he opens his shutter to take the exposure. He was using a medium format Mamiya, so it got really expensive for him, I had a b-roll assistant that helped me from another angle to get the shot this guy was blocking. But this guy insisted in getting great shots. When I delivered the DVD to the couple, I asked to see the pictures this guy has taken and sure enough he kept them all for himself. B&G responded, "what pictures?" LOL

[picturecrazy]

Not quite, the bride was Philippine.

I had never attended a Philippine wedding before, there were some very interesting traditional parts to the ceremony.


ahh, I just did one of those a couple weeks ago. They are really photo happy people too. I had someone tap me and push me out of the way during the registry signing! hahaha. It's all good. It's usually a large event for Filipinos, (as are their 18th birthdays/cotillions) but I was lucky and the bride didn't want any of that.


you can't perform miracles. If a zillion bobs are in the background then I don't think they'd be upset with you, more than likely they'll be upset with the bobs.

(sorry bob charnier)

[00silvergt]

ahh, I just did one of those a couple weeks ago. They are really photo happy people too. I had someone tap me and push me out of the way during the registry signing! hahaha. It's all good. It's usually a large event for Filipinos, (as are their 18th birthdays/cotillions) but I was lucky and the bride didn't want any of that.


you can't perform miracles. If a zillion bobs are in the background then I don't think they'd be upset with you, more than likely they'll be upset with the bobs.

(sorry bob charnier)

Pic crazy, I haven't done a wedding in still before, but doesn't the 'stray' strobes firing mess your shots up? With video, depending on the angle it can actually cause some weird abnormalities to the capture that can mean agony at the cutting room floor during post. So is it just part of doing weddings?

[Big Mike]

'Philippines' or 'Philippine Islands' as it was referred to by GI's in WWII. The native people prefer the Philippines or Republic of the Philippines or simply RP. Two major languages are predominant and is considered official: English and Tagalog. There are hundreds of other 'dialects' or languages throughout the 7000+ islands.

The people are known as Filipinos or from their alphabet Pilipinos. The country was named after King Philip of Spain. The people are part of the Austranesian group.

Many of the traditions are part of Philippine folklore (pre-spanish rule) and the Roman Catholic Church.

Sorry, just thought I share some information with you so that you will not once again post and offend another group of people.

I minored in Asian History in College.
I must be having one of those days. I was pretty sure I had it wrong by my spell check wasn't being very helpful so I picked the spelling that seemed most appropriate. I think I will go slam my fingers into a car door...before I offend somebody else...:o

[00silvergt]

I must be having one of those days. I was pretty sure I had it wrong by my spell check wasn't being very helpful so I picked the spelling that seemed most appropriate. I think I will go slam my fingers into a car door...before I offend somebody else...:o


Don't trip bro, no harm done. Seriously, I ain't mad at cha! Now let's keep discussing these Darn Uncle Petes! Pesky Bastids!

[picturecrazy]

Pic crazy, I haven't done a wedding in still before, but doesn't the 'stray' strobes firing mess your shots up? With video, depending on the angle it can actually cause some weird abnormalities to the capture that can mean agony at the cutting room floor during post. So is it just part of doing weddings?


yeah, it can mess up your shot with a million flashes going off. oh well, just part of the job. It doesn't make it easy, but nobody said it was! :)

[00silvergt]

yeah, it can mess up your shot with a million flashes going off. oh well, just part of the job. It doesn't make it easy, but nobody said it was! :)


That's what I figured. At least with photos, it is all visual. With video, we got to deal with some jerk who wants to say something stupid real loud during a pinnacle moment of the wedding...

[Gujustud]

Ok peeps, put the PC pipe away and get back to photography. :P

I just shot a giant asian wedding with Guju and there was a bevy of p&s cameras. No DSLRs of note in the crowd that was %30 doctors and every guy had a Rolex.

Accctualllly there was one ;) doubt his name was uncle bob, however, he was super cool, and never once got in the way! I spoke to him the morning of at the brides house (he was shooting nikon :P) and was ho humming over my gear ;). Specially the 1.4! He knew his stuff!

[Bobster]

couldn't have been too many - i wasn't there ;)

sounds harsh!

last wedding i did (couple of weeks ago) had people shooting all over the place (i've seen some pics from other ppl - facebook - wonderful thing and they're not that good..)

[Gujustud]

last wedding i did (couple of weeks ago) had people shooting all over the place (i've seen some pics from other ppl - facebook - wonderful thing and they're not that good..)

Haha I saw some pics from the wedding this weekend on facebook (from others) and its funny to see yourself in the background :P

[LeesaB]

Don't forget about the Aunt "Janes" also..I've had my fill of them...

8 gig card...I think she shot everything but the carpet.

[italianfemmy]

Don't know how I missed this thread. Oh how I hope this never happens to me because I am Italian and don't think I'd handle it well. Well.. I'd tell everyone flat out that I need them to return to their seats and take photos of ceremony from their seats so that the bride and grooms money did not get wasted on photos of everyone and their cameras blocking the bride and groom. Some people are so rude! I could never do this to anyone else.

[bangarang]

Not quite, the bride was Philippine.

I had never attended a Philippine wedding before, there were some very interesting traditional parts to the ceremony.

You can call any Filipino woman a "Pinay" and any Filipino man a "Pinoy". Or if you like Filipina for female, filipino for male.

Notice the location of the A and O for each gender.

Anyway, what did you find interesting about the wedding? Did they do the coins, veil, and rope? :lol:

<--Filipino

[Big Mike]

Anyway, what did you find interesting about the wedding? Did they do the coins, veil, and rope?
All of the above. :D
Also, they had 'Principle Sponsors'. At one point they had the entire wedding party, the sponsors and the family members with the veil and rope...all standing at the front at the same time.

I forgot to mention that the groom was a pretty smart guy and often reminded the bride to 'look at Mike, he's the one we're paying to take photos'. So I guess it wasn't all bad.

[00silvergt]

All of the above. :D
Also, they had 'Principle Sponsors'. At one point they had the entire wedding party, the sponsors and the family members with the veil and rope...all standing at the front at the same time.

I forgot to mention that the groom was a pretty smart guy and often reminded the bride to 'look at Mike, he's the one we're paying to take photos'. So I guess it wasn't all bad.

Yes, I've done my share of Filipino weddings, the Principal sponsors- God parents, Cord, veil and coins sponsors and bearers. I think the cord represents the love and unity which binds the couple. The veil is a symbol of purity and the coins for health and wealth.

The reception may have also included a traditional dance called the 'tinikling'. Two long sticks while two dancers dance around the two slapping sticks. Looks easy, but man, looks can be deceiving.;)

[Big Mike]

I heard someone say that the veil was to symbolize that the groom was to 'shelter' the bride, provide a good home...something like that. It's interesting to see the different traditions that people have and maybe more interesting to hear how they have come to mean different things to different people.

One ritual that I thought was funny/interesting, was at one of the many Ukrainian weddings I've been to. The B&G put on crowns and walked around the pulpit three times.

[expressivelyjOhO]

this might seem to be a very unprofessional thing to say, but while i would still try my best to get the shots, my contract covers me if i don't due to this reason.

especially in a ceremony like this where you can't really go up to the bride, groom, officials, priests etc to tell them, i'd just make the best of it and if any complaints come from the couple i would bring out the contract (which every page is signed...)

as mentioned, not something i'd like to do, but that's what the contract is for.

OF COURSE, there would be a pic of all the bobs, toms, or "kelefe" as we call them here in singapore, don't ask me what it means..., to prove to the couple that i wasn't not doing my job. :P