Any advice for an un cooperative bride & groom?

[photo051698]

I did a wedding where I was attempting to get Some decent Photos, but all the bride and groom would let me do is get the same old stand in front of the first thing they saw and take group pics. We were at a nice golf course and they would not let me get any shots on the greens or in the golf carts anywhere. I talked them into some shots on a nice bringe but they let me take two shots then said "o.k thats enough". Does anyone have experience with this and is it ok to get a little pushy? If yes how pushy is too pushy? Going crazy lol. Just curious.
Thanks for any input.:D

[photo051698]

P.S. i know its thier day and i did not get pushy. But i would like to get the best photos i can.
Thanks again!!!

[reddyroc007]

i am in no way experienced in this sort of thing professionally, not to mention a newbie when it comes to a slr buuuut i would just tell them what you told us in your 2nd post about how you would like to capture the best photos possible of them on their big day. Also explain to them that the end product will be much more desirable with your suggestions than not. nice backgrounds also usually provoke the ooh and ahh factor. best of luck and dont piss off the bride.

[cory1848]

Well, you can try but have to remember, you are hired by them and you work for them. As long as you full fill the job and they are happy and the check clears... be happy yourself.

Sometimes people are just not photogenic and even camera shy. I would not be pushy, the last thing you want to do is piss off the bride on her day.

[photo051698]

both good advice and the last thing i would like to do is upset either bride or groom. But i do think that they will be happier with the pics if i get better shots, rather than just point and shoot like im a guest. but you are both rite i cannot upset them especially on thier special day. This couple just seemed very disinterested in thier pictures in any form or fashion,. I was wondering the whole time why they even hired me when the could have just had friends and family do it. oh well any advice is welcomed.
Thanks again.

[cory1848]

both good advice and the last thing i would like to do is upset either bride or groom. But i do think that they will be happier with the pics if i get better shots, rather than just point and shoot like im a guest. but you are both rite i cannot upset them especially on thier special day. This couple just seemed very disinterested in thier pictures in any form or fashion,. I was wondering the whole time why they even hired me when the could have just had friends and family do it. oh well any advice is welcomed.
Thanks again.

Document it in PJ style and try and have the B&G not notice you at all...sometimes you get the best captures that way. Some couples just hate following in their parents footsteps with formals.

[tim]

I've never had this. I talk to the bride and groom for at least an hour when they come to meet me, I find out what sort of things they'd like on their wedding day, and I help them plan their day, so I know what they want and they know what to expect. I'd not book people that didn't want to spend time on photos.

If it happened anyway you just have to roll with it and do your best with what you have, that's what being a professional means.

[macroshooter1970]

Do what they want, get paid and you'll never see them again.

[Peacefield]

I'll echo Tim's sentiments (it seems like I do that a lot). Everytime I read on this board of a challenge with the couple, it almost always tracks back to insufficient communications before the event. My initial meeting with the couple is always way more than an hour. All of it is spent getting into each other's heads; me trying to understand what they really want and my communicating to them what will be required to deliver it. One question I ALWAYS ask is, "are you into it?" Are they willing to take the time, try something a little different, etc. Even whether or not I can count on smiles from the groom. And if the answer to any of these is no, then I can express in advance how it will limit the photography of their wedding. And if they're cool with that, so am I, but we all need to be on that same page.

[SoccerRef]

I'll echo Tim's sentiments (it seems like I do that a lot)...

Ditto... I have learned a lot from Tim's posts on these forums. I have only been a photographer at 3 weddings (2 as second, one as primary) and I have 2 more currently scheduled, so I am by no means an expert, but even on the first few weddings which were/are for very good friends who I am not charging anything, I still went over a contract and we all signed it.

In that contract is a paragraph about this very thing...


COOPERATION

The parties agree to positive cooperation and communication for the best possible result within the definition of this assignment. The Photographer is not responsible for key individuals’ failure to be present or to cooperate during photography sessions, neither will The Photographer be responsible for missed images due to details not revealed to The Photographer. We recommend that THE CLIENT designate an "Event Guide" (see EVENT GUIDE above) to point out important individuals to The Photographer, whom THE CLIENT wishes to include in informal or candid photographs.

[Tommy]

Shoot what they want you to shoot... don't try to force them to do something they don't want to... you'll set a bad mood with the clients...

If they complain about what they got, then kindly mention to them that you were simply shooting the shots that THEY requested...

[g-money]

You can lead a horse to water but....................

Greg

[ImagesByInku]

I think the first thing is that you have to win their trust. Suggest a shot or location and really nail it - then show them the picture on the back of your camera. If you get "oohs" and "ahhhs" then you can suggest some other things and they might just be into it.

I feel that most of my couples are open to suggestions. I mean, that why they hired me, right?

[guntoter]

COOPERATION

The parties agree to positive cooperation and communication for the best possible result within the definition of this assignment. The Photographer is not responsible for key individuals’ failure to be present or to cooperate during photography sessions, neither will The Photographer be responsible for missed images due to details not revealed to The Photographer. We recommend that THE CLIENT designate an "Event Guide" (see EVENT GUIDE above) to point out important individuals to The Photographer, whom THE CLIENT wishes to include in informal or candid photographs.


Very interesting..........I like that. I will have to look further into contracts.

[geo1976]

What would really be awful is if the bride and groom hate the photos and want their money back. Hopefully your contract has something against this, especially since they weren't being cooperative.

[photo051698]

Well as far as talking to them upfront, when we sat down and signed the contract we discussed what they where looking for from the photos, they wanted candids and alot of fun shots on the course. when we were at the event it was as if we never spoke all they wanted was formals, And not even good ones. when i suggested some better locations they decided it was to far to walk so i offered them all golf carts wich the club said i could have full use of and they said "no lets just do them in front of this flower bush". I am all for them getting what they want for thier wedding but i truly feel they will not like the results as much as if i was able to advise them more.
and i do have all the stuff in my contract they cannot get thier money back for this. if i had not let them or taken the time to get good shots then i would return thier money immediatly.
Thanks again.

[tim]

If they were un-operative and unwilling to spend time on the day they can't expect great photos.

[photo051698]

thats true tim but I think of myself as someone who wants the finished pictures to come out as much (or in this case more) as the bride and groom. So i guess im more upset for me than for them. Though from everyones responses it sounds like i wont have to worry about this type of couple often if ever again. :D

[harroz]

x2
not a lot you can do there, but if you've got a contract then you're covered. Were you having fun with them?


If they were un-operative and unwilling to spend time on the day they can't expect great photos.

[tim]

thats true tim but I think of myself as someone who wants the finished pictures to come out as much (or in this case more) as the bride and groom. So i guess im more upset for me than for them. Though from everyones responses it sounds like i wont have to worry about this type of couple often if ever again. :D

There's nothing you can do about it. The quality of people images tend to reflect the amount of time and effort they spend on them.

[razyl]

You can lead a horse to water but....................

Greg

Right on the money! If they wont get involved definitely try your best, but if they still dont come to the party dont kill yourself over it

[tim]

You can lead a horse to water but.....

You can lead a horse to water, but if you can get him to gargle, then you've got something.

[Tommy]

Just refrain from calling your bride a horse... Worse things will happen... lol :lol:

[jblaschke]

Haven't shot any weddings yet, but have assisted the Wife on some family portrait shoots. Beforehand, the family indicated they wanted "fun and different" pics, rather than just the standard Sears Portrait Studio stuff. So she starts them off with some standard fare group portraits (in a lovely local park) then gets creative with bridge and riverbank and other interesting settings. Her background is in photojournalism, so the style was photojournalistic portraiture. She got some fantastic images out of the session.

What shots did the family order? The static, posed, generic ones. For some people, "best" don't enter into the equation. They want familiar and comfortable. Anything more than "good enough" is wasted effort, sadly.

[stathunter]

I did a ton of weddings this past year-- I would say that one bride was not thrilled with getting her photo taken-- but my job is to get her comfortable with me in a very short time --- thats what I do.
I would not be concerned -- the bride is the boss and if she does not want her photos taken-- then listen to the boss.