What is the polite way.......

[pigtailpat]

to ask the person who is doing the wedding ceremony - to remind him or her that at the moment of the kiss at the end of the ceremony - to kindly step out of the way of that moment? What do you suggest?

Is it better for the family to ask the pro photographer to bring this subject up to the officiant at the time of the rehearsal (so that it puts the family out of doing this akward request??)??????

Do you pros go to the rehearsals?

The reason I ask, is because my niece is getting married in August (the first of the next generation of my family to get married), and I am so accutely aware of this problem. I was just wondering how you pros handle this.......

Thanks for your advice........

Pat

[Federkeil]

I don't think there is anything wrong with asking that. I always talk to the officiator anyway. To introduce myself, and ask if he has any preferences with regards to me and photography in general (flash, ect...)

[cory1848]

If I am able to go to the rehearsal I do, its like a dry run with no pressure. Thats where you interrupt and ask the questions as well. Personally I dont mind the Officiant in the photos...its a wedding, thats how everyone else is seeing it. There is no way I would interrupt the actually ceremony though. If you find it necessary, stage it after when doing photos.

[randplaty]

Why do you want him/her to step out of the way?

[tim]

I never thought of asking them to step out of the way... has anyone tried asking?

[pigtailpat]

Why do you want him/her to step out of the way?

Because I feel that particular moment, the kiss at the end of the ceremony, is between the bride and groom, and no one else should be in that shot, and it is so much better having a clean shot - rather than cloning out the officiant.....

During the actual ceremony, absolutely the shots should contain the person doing the ceremony, but the kiss at the end is entirely different........

:lol::lol:

[sapearl]

Perhaps it's just me, but as much as I always want to get that particular shot, this is not really MY show. It's almost (not quite) like telling the clergy/officiant how to do his job. I am a guest in HIS house as it were. It would actually be a bit peresumptuous on my part.

But..... I believe there is a very pleasant and diplomatic way this can be handled with no casualties :lol:. I always try to introduce myself to the clergy ahead of time. Simply "chat" with the individual, explaining how you want to get the best coverage possible, and where the best place would be to position yourself for the exact moment of the kiss to get the perfect shot.

Most clergy are pretty aware of your needs and considerate as long as you act the same, and this will just reinforce in their minds the thorough job you are trying to do. I have had many actually look my way and stand aside at the key moment, to make sure I was getting my shot. Hope this helps. - Stu ;)

[sapearl]

I certainly agree with you - this is what I would prefer in an ideal world - but again, it's all in how the officiant chooses to run the show.

Another suggestion when you meet with the b/g ahead of time is to have them ask the officiant if he could "make way" for your shot. Coming from the b/g it will have more weight.

.....During the actual ceremony, absolutely the shots should contain the person doing the ceremony, but the kiss at the end is entirely different........

:lol::lol:

[_Jo_]

If I can see a direct on shot will include the officiator, I just slightly change my angle. Sometimes, in small spaces, it cannot be helped.

[sapearl]

We do the best we can Jo..... been there done that ;).

If I can see a direct on shot will include the officiator, I just slightly change my angle. Sometimes, in small spaces, it cannot be helped.

[stathunter]

I am there to capture memories as they happen, in my creative way. I am not there to move people around--- if the couple would like him out of their wedding shot-- that is up to them.
I rarely go to rehearsals --- but I know some photographers do. I have done so many weddings and understand the process better than many others. I always prep and am debriefed prior to the wedding-- but you just have to be ready for anything-- because sometimes it does happen.

[D Smith]

I've had the officiant step between the couple and crowd before so it was blocked when they kissed, kinda wanted to throw my gear at him, but they picked him, not me.

[razyl]

I usually ask celebrants to move to the side when they announce the kiss.... it can ruin the shot a little to have them in the background. I approach them before the ceremony, keep it low key, and most of them say they move anyway.

However, I dont ask ministers / pastors / priests the same thing. Guess I feel like sapearl and dont want to tell them how to do things in their church. Celebrants are a little different.

[pigtailpat]

Everyone -

thanks so much for your responses and kindness in helping me out. I really appreciate it. I will try very hard not to be an auntie bob at this wedding, but I'd also like to pass some tips along to my niece, this being one of them....

Pat

[The Moose]

I had my sister's celebrant in the background and I regret not saying something. Hopefully it works out well for you.

[bnlearle]

I've never even thought about the officiant during the kiss until reading this. Not once :)

[howzitboy]

wow, ive done a lot of weddings and wouldnt dream of telling the officiant where to stand or how to do his/her job. im there to capture the moment, not to force my will on anyone.

and if u want, u can always repose the shot afterwards and do it again!

[TMCCaptured]

At our wedding last year our Photog was awsome...she took control and did everything, she told the pastor to step out of the shop please. She was a small wee thing but boy she really did a great job at getting those annoying onlookers out of frame

[TMCCaptured]

sorry I forgot to add, just tell them and smile

[sapearl]

She do that during the ceremony?

At our wedding last year our Photog was awsome...she took control and did everything, she told the pastor to step out of the shop please. .....

[cdifoto]

I never thought of asking them to step out of the way... has anyone tried asking?
It never occurred to me to ask either. I consider them to be a natural part of the process. IMHO, the officiant looking on with a smile can add to the shot.

[JeffreyG]

This must be a culture thing, I don't grasp the whole it's all about the couple thing. I've been invited to weddings in the past where there were no children invited, which always struck me as an odd way to conduct what is actually a ceremony and party that is joining two families and which has continuation of the families as the underpinning.

If the wedding is in a church then it is a religious ceremony. I don't see the need to clone out the officiant. Even in a secular wedding, the officiant looking on shouldn't be all that bothersome.

[sapearl]

I completely agree with you Jeffrey - it is afterall a festive and joyous celebration of family, and the officiant is part of it.

I would never dream of telling the officiant/clergy to move out of the way during the ceremony. This would be the height of rudeness and one of the reasons why some photographers give others the bad rep of being pushy and obnoxious. Again I will reiterate that this is not my ceremony or "house." I view myself as a guest who hopes to be invited back to this same house in the future ;).

This must be a culture thing, I don't grasp the whole it's all about the couple thing. I've been invited to weddings in the past where there were no children invited, which always struck me as an odd way to conduct what is actually a ceremony and party that is joining two families and which has continuation of the families as the underpinning.

If the wedding is in a church then it is a religious ceremony. I don't see the need to clone out the officiant. Even in a secular wedding, the officiant looking on shouldn't be all that bothersome.