Pro wedding photographer loitering?

[pilsburypie]

How bad is it? I have read some posts with people saying how rude it is that guests take pictures with their cameras next to the hired pro while he takes his.

As an amateur photographer who is at the age when all his friend are getting married, I must say I have done this in the past. I'm now thinking twice about doing it.

Half of me thinks he is getting paid a wedge to turn up, then sells prints to the aunts and uncles etc. I would never buy his prints anyway nor would I distribute my own thus reducing his sales. He hogs the bride and groom for most of the day and after he has finished, the last thing the bride and groom want is more posing instructions from me and other guests. Why shouldn't I stand near him as long as I don't interupt him or get in his way? They are my mates, they want me to take photos....

The other half of me thinks about what others have said on here... is it that much of a liberty? It is his livelyhood..... Is it "stealing"?

[sando]

Why shouldn't I stand near him as long as I don't interupt him or get in his way? They are my mates, they want me to take photos....

That's my view on it when Uncle Frank turns up with his SLR. As long as he doesn't get in the way, what's the issue? :)

[FamilyJules]

It's not stealing. Most weddings that I shoot ALMOST ALWAYS have other people with their cameras trying to get in on the action. I don't mind it, for the most part.
The thing that really gets photographers, though, is when other people are invasive during the formals. That's when we get our subject's eyes going in all directions because they don't know which lens to look into. This can get quite annoying, sometimes. I do find that sometimes, when there are a lot of other people around (friends and family) when I am shooting the B&G formals, it can be distracting to them. they don't totally get in the moment when they know they have such a large audience. Once alone, I really can get more affection out of them as a couple, thus resulting in the photos that they wanted in the first place: Romance. It's hard enough to be romantic when ONE person is following you around and telling you what to do, but imagine how hard it is when 5 or 10 people are doing the same.
As long as you are respective to the main shooter, then click away! they're your friends... you have every right to capture some shots for yourself and for them. Oh, and as far as "hogging" the bride and groom.... That's what we're paid for, haha.

[Permagrin]

Oh, and as far as "hogging" the bride and groom.... That's what we're paid for, haha.

lol. That's what I was thinking :lol::lol:

[bnlearle]

During group shots, I don't think most photographers care (so long as it doesn't interrupt the process).

When it comes to the couple portraits, yeah, I can see why some would consider it stealing. If you've been around here for any amount of time, you'll know that the question of posing is one of the biggest that beginners and intermediates have.

Personally, no one is allowed around for my couple shots so I don't have that problem. It's not because I don't want people "stealing" my poses - couldn't care less about that, really. It's because I shoot the couple portraits better that way, they've hired me to do what I do, and that's how I do it :)

So to sum it up - group shots are fine. Couple shots? Not so much ;)

Bobby

[FamilyJules]

During group shots, I don't think most photographers care (so long as it doesn't interrupt the process).

When it comes to the couple portraits, yeah, I can see why some would consider it stealing. If you've been around here for any amount of time, you'll know that the question of posing is one of the biggest that beginners and intermediates have.

Personally, no one is allowed around for my couple shots so I don't have that problem. It's not because I don't want people "stealing" my poses - couldn't care less about that, really. It's because I shoot the couple portraits better that way, they've hired me to do what I do, and that's how I do it :)

So to sum it up - group shots are fine. Couple shots? Not so much ;)

Bobby

+1 ...totally agree

[KayakPhotos]

I have been to a couple of weddings as a guest and try to remain as non-invasive as possible. I'll usually try to find things I can take pictures of that the professional photographers weren't able to get to or didn't think of. That way I add something to the photos that the pro's will get for the couple. Just my approach. I try to stay out of the way for the most part.

[tim]

Why shouldn't I stand near him as long as I don't interupt him or get in his way? They are my mates, they want me to take photos....

If you stand near him and point a camera at the same people, some people instinctively look at your camera. So basically you're spoiling the photos that the B&G have paid thousands of dollars for. A good pro will deal with it, either by telling you to get lost (and if they're nice explaining why) or telling you to shoot after he's got the shot. I do the latter, usually, unless we're on a really tight timeframe.

I won't let anyone spoil the photos that my customer has paid me many thousands of dollars to take, but i'll be nice about it. I really don't care if anyone else takes photos, print sales from most weddings are zero anyway.

[OdiN1701]

Gap wedge, sand wedge or lob wedge?

Even if a set I don't think I'd do it for that.

[OdiN1701]

Also, if you aren't going to distribute or show your images, why do your friends want you to take them?

[jonwhite]

If your capturing images from the same angle as the pro of poses that he has set-up then you cant really claim that the images are yours.

We never actually stop people taking shots during the group photos but it does get annoying when your working through a long list of groups the B&G want and people are looking at others with cameras.

When we do the couple shots we don't allow anyone else to come with us for the same reasons Bobby stated.

If your an uncle Bob shooting at a wedding for your own portfolio then find your own angles and set-ups and stay out of the pros way and then you can call them your own, stand at the side of the pro shooting his and they aren't really yours and you shouldn't pass them off as your own.

[skysi]

Whatever those picture snappers capture is not what the wedding photographer captures ( speaking of poses). They get pictures of people looking away. It's for personal collection at best. All you need to do is to stand in front of the group you are shooting and ask them not to shoot when you are shooting (triggering the camera or about to trigger). When they shoot before or after, all they get is people looking in different directions.
Besides, I get much better pics with my 5D and 50D than they can with their Powershots. Why worry?

------------------------------------
http://www.phototerrestrial.com/weddingportfolio

[pilsburypie]

It's good to hear that it isn't such a big deal - I just read some comments previously that didn't share this reasonable view..... With regards to distribution of my photos, sure the bride and groom will get them..... They can give them to their aunts and uncles if they like....

All about manners really then - don't mess the hired pro's shots up!

[airfrogusmc]

My advice, if you're going to a wedding leave the gear at home, get drunk, dance with the wife and leave the photography to the people the B&G hired to do it. All you're probably going to do is SLOW everything down and make the photography sessions much longer for the B&G keeping them away from doing what they really want to do and thats not spend their entire wedding doing groups and formal photographs. But then that would be putting the B&Gs best interests first.

[tim]

It's good to hear that it isn't such a big deal - I just read some comments previously that didn't share this reasonable view..... With regards to distribution of my photos, sure the bride and groom will get them..... They can give them to their aunts and uncles if they like....

All about manners really then - don't mess the hired pro's shots up!

If you have an SLR there's about a 75% chance you're going to mess up some of the pro's shots, just judging by the hundred or so weddings i've photographed. People with an SLR just don't seem to be able to sit back and relax, they're always looking for the photo.

[Svetlana]

If you have an SLR there's about a 75% chance you're going to mess up some of the pro's shots, just judging by the hundred or so weddings i've photographed. People with an SLR just don't seem to be able to sit back and relax, they're always looking for the photo.

I totally agree with Tim here. Last wedding I shot with a fellow photographer we were followed by a guy with a Nikon (:-O :)) all day...He wouldn't stop taking photos and I actually happened to use the light from his built-in camera flash during the dance shot. :lol:

[tim]

followed by a guy with a Nikon (:-O :))

If he has a modern Nikon camera he's probably thinking "those poor saps are still using Canon gear"... :p

[Mrsjperry]

I shot a wedding where the bride hired me and another photographer so she can have 2 "different styles"

Had no problem until the photog kept shooting behind me....then when no one was looking I politely asked her to step-off.

(just paraphrasing...didn't really say "step-off" :p)


Worse of all she was shooting with Nikon! EWwwwwwww.....

[FamilyJules]

I shot a wedding where the bride hired me and another photographer so she can have 2 "different styles"

Had no problem until the photog kept shooting behind me....then when no one was looking I politely asked her to step-off.

(just paraphrasing...didn't really say "step-off" :p)


Worse of all she was shooting with Nikon! EWwwwwwww.....

I have a clause in my contract saying that I am the ONLY hired professional for this very reason. I have a hard enough time competing with uncle Bob... let alone someone else who's getting paid

[skysi]

I shot a wedding where the bride hired me and another photographer so she can have 2 "different styles"

Had no problem until the photog kept shooting behind me....then when no one was looking I politely asked her to step-off.

(just paraphrasing...didn't really say "step-off" :p)


Worse of all she was shooting with Nikon! EWwwwwwww.....

I'd never shoot a wedding where another photog was hired. That's just insane. How do you share the space?

[Gnhntn]

I read on here from another photographer who does weddings, and remember him saying that when he shoots a wedding that he has everyone stand off while he does his photos, then let's all the guests move in for a minute or two and get theirs. That way it doesn't interfere with his shots, and they are still able to get theirs. Granted, I don't do weddings, and would not attempt one now or any time soon, but this seems the easiest way to me to deal with it. But, I do agree that the guests need to respect that you are the one being paid for this, and they aren't.

Also, as for being the only paid photographer present, what is the problem with the B&G hiring 2 photographers if they want to. Hust make sure to talk before hand and find out what each of you was to shoot, and try to respect that instead of getting in each other's way. If it was my wedding, and I wanted more then one photographer, and some I talked with about hiring told me I couldn't have another, then they would taken out of consideration immediately. Again, this is just my viewpoint on this, as I am sure others have a different one.

[cdifoto]

Also, as for being the only paid photographer present, what is the problem with the B&G hiring 2 photographers if they want to.
Because fulfilling a contract is a serious legal requirement and a situation with all chiefs & no Indians is a recipe for disaster.

A couple who wants multiple photograph coverage with different styles can hire one main photographer and let HIM supply the other photographers. At least then someone has seniority for conflict resolution without bothering the couple. The couple are supposed to enjoy their day. They aren't supposed to be approached every time two people want to stand in the same spot.

You can't do your job effectively if you're spending most of your time being sure to stay out of someone else's way.

[Eric]

I recently had a wedding of my own...

During our formals there were a few people hovering around our photog taking pictures of their own including "uncle frank with the DSLR" (he even gave it to the pro and asked if he would take a family picture for him). We've gotten a lot of pictures back from family and friends during the formals, problem with their shots is we weren't looking at their camera.

Probably because I know more about photography than the average bride and groom we knew not to look at anyone else during the formals. I think it would be a good point for any wedding photog to make to the bride and groom before the formals that they only look at you not everyone else taking pictures around you.

Just thought I would share my thoughts from a different perspective than what most of you deal with on a regular basis, from the other side of the camera.

[OdiN1701]

I just leave my lights on so that flash sets them off. Ruins P&S images nicely.

[cdifoto]

I just leave my lights on so that flash sets them off. Ruins P&S images nicely.
Also drains your batteries and/or puts unnecessary strain on your flash units and/or forces you to wait longer between shots while you wait for them to recycle.

Seriously, instead of playing pranks just be a diplomat.

[tim]

Also drains your batteries and/or puts unnecessary strain on your flash units and/or forces you to wait longer between shots while you wait for them to recycle.

Seriously, instead of playing pranks just be a diplomat.

Everyone needs a laugh sometimes. I don't do that on purpose, and it wouldn't happen now I use radio slaves, but it happened once when I was using optically triggered studio lights. I just apologies and pointed to my lights which were about 14' up in the air and said sorry not much I can do, you can order a print if you like.

[SuzyView]

I have conversations with all the family and friends who have cameras at the weddings I shoot. I tell them to let me shoot the formals or group shots and then I will allow others a chance to shoot. I am doing that now with Jim, so people don't look at the wrong camera. I will shoot, then I point to Jim and they look at him. Then we let others join the fun. I like that other people want to celebrate, but I can't afford to have them mess up the way I shoot. That really is not fair to the B&G. Asking no one else to shoot is hard. I can't imagine that as sometimes, people are not going to see the pro work or have the chance to order anything, but a few of their own shots make it a more enjoyable time.

[OdiN1701]

Also drains your batteries and/or puts unnecessary strain on your flash units and/or forces you to wait longer between shots while you wait for them to recycle.

Seriously, instead of playing pranks just be a diplomat.

Oh don't go taking me so seriously.