Request from one of the wedding party . . .

[stepatee]

My wife and I shot a wedding on 7-7-07 (pictures to come soon) and the wedding party was very slow to get ready, the reverend was a complete pain, and we were running behind to get all the picture that the bride wanted. Everyone knew that we were running late, we were rushing to get people in position. On one of last big group shots, one of wedding party pulled out a point and shoot camera and tried to give it to my wife to take a picture. Not wanting to be rude, we took the camera and snapped a quick shot.

Have you ever had someone hand you their point and shoot to take a picture -- and how do you tell them that you don't ask a professional (hurrying to do the job they were paid to do) to use your point and shoot so that they won't have to pay for the picture that you are taking?

Thanks!

[thewavebb]

you could take a really bad photo with it.

[jessiper]

Yes, I have. I politely ask them to hand it to a guest or family member. Most of the time, the bride or groom will tell them not to give it to me, to let someone else do it.

[mizuno]

I've done it plenty of times. Always with a smile on my face.

[tim]

I'll happily do it for one person, but if more than one person tries to get me to take photos I don't have the time and I tell them that. I let people get photos after i've gotten them, if you don't then they're going to do it anyway but they'll interrupt you instead of waiting.

[CyberPet]

I do it for one or two people, but usually I don't take a good picture - but not on purpous, but because I don't know how the controls works on their camera, so it is really a point and shoot image and they might take better pictures with it, as they are used to their camera (wich I do explain to them).

[italianfemmy]

I'd say something clever like, " In a week, all of these photos will be available at this website (hand them business card). Huge smile, very humble, "feel free to purchase as many as you like or save the low resolution images off the website. "

[Banbert]

Always do it and always with a smile, although its more usual for some little kids to want to take mine or Jon's photo themsevles, thats the great kid logic going on there, weve been shooting them all day so they want to shoot us

Its great when its small kids as well cos its always a cool perspective they get of us!

[sierra_nova]

As has been said - always, with a smile.

You catch more flies with honey... or some such.

Cheers,
Naomi

[cdifoto]

I wasted a guest's film at the wedding Jamie and I did. It was a rebel t2 and I had no idea what mode it was in. I didn't even check. Only thing good about the image I took was the framing, I can almost guarantee it. But the husband asked me far too nicely that I couldn't say no, and he and his wife posed so cheerfully that it made me smile being able to do that for them. I think I snapped like 3-4 frames. They'll probably hate me for it.

It only takes a second to create a really bad image.

I did the same for the owner of the local Chevy dealership right before a parade was starting and I was shooting it for the paper. He was in a new something-or-other with the cheerleader up top. Handed me his D1X (or some such Nikon) so I just snapped like 10 frames. I have no idea if they came out or not since I was in a hurry.

Same thing happened at NASA. Another tourist handed me his camera. I don't know what kind it was but it was tiny. Again, smiles. Happy to make someone's day.

Think about how big of a jerk you sound like if you say no...

[Tomi Hawk]

Originally Posted by mizuno

I've done it plenty of times. Always with a smile on my face.

and with my finger on the flash ..

[jarias]

I have asked plenty of photographers and no one has ever said no of course i wait till there done with there shot or ask them right before they take theirs and hand them my camera

[thekid24]

Yes I politely obliged, but at the same time I didnt have to make the photo "bad", it was an outdoor photo so add the flash and Im sure it was pretty washed out.

[LeesaB]

I do it, I kinda laugh or smirk and say...You REALLY want me to take a picture with THIS? not in a mocking way...I have never offended anyone...

Why not...

[jessiper]

Originally Posted by CyberPet

I do it for one or two people, but usually I don't take a good picture - but not on purpous, but because I don't know how the controls works on their camera, so it is really a point and shoot image and they might take better pictures with it, as they are used to their camera (wich I do explain to them).

That's exactly why I do't do it. Also, they usually ask at the worst times. I would though, if I were walking around the reception and a small group of people asked me to take a picture of them, but just never during the formals.