Those pesky videographers....

I'm pretty sure I've experienced what most of us have experienced when shooting a wedding and a videographer (or videographers) are also on the job... But on the last wedding I shot, the assistant videographer really took the 'get in the way of the photographer' to a whole new level... All day and night, they were in the way, and all day and night I adapted, and shifted over, etc... to be honest, I think to this point, it was business as usual! Bride & groom sat us at the same table, us photographers were there first, had our drinks out, jacket on the back of the chair, etc... and eventually got in line for the buffet dinner. Upon returning to the table, the assistant video guy is sitting in my chair! I gave him a big grin, and asked if that was his jacket... he looked, said no, then asked if it was mine... of course I said yes, so he turned around, grabbed it and handed it over... I then went with "can you pass me my drinks, or should we just switch seats and make it easy on everyone?" and he handed over my drinks (1 coke, 1 water)... I quickly came to the conclusion that videographers really are clueless!!

SMP_Homer wrote in post #12528457
I'm pretty sure I've experienced what most of us have experienced when shooting a wedding and a videographer (or videographers) are also on the job... But on the last wedding I shot, the assistant videographer really took the 'get in the way of the photographer' to a whole new level... All day and night, they were in the way, and all day and night I adapted, and shifted over, etc... to be honest, I think to this point, it was business as usual! Bride & groom sat us at the same table, us photographers were there first, had our drinks out, jacket on the back of the chair, etc... and eventually got in line for the buffet dinner. Upon returning to the table, the assistant video guy is sitting in my chair! I gave him a big grin, and asked if that was his jacket... he looked, said no, then asked if it was mine... of course I said yes, so he turned around, grabbed it and handed it over... I then went with "can you pass me my drinks, or should we just switch seats and make it easy on everyone?" and he handed over my drinks (1 coke, 1 water)... I quickly came to the conclusion that videographers really are clueless!!

Well one videographer was clueless. Most of the time, professional videographers are just as thoughtful and courteous to other working pros as anyone. This guy sure sounded like a jerk.

Depends on the videographer. From my limited experience with them, they seem to have less manners than photographers. Not to mention their annoying video lights, etc. It really only takes one bad mannered videographer to hate them all!

Just seems like a lot of them don't get the concept of being aware of their surroundings. Making sure they are not in the shot, etc. They'll just get up on the subjects, light them up with the blinding video light, and stay there for what seems like forever. They once they are done, they'll just stand there, still in the shot...

When clients ask me for videographer recommendations, I have a few names to offer. But it's NOT based on the quality of their finished product (I've never actually seen it). It's based soley on the fact that they know how to work collaboratively with other professionals and they know how NOT to be intrusive.

I had a doozie of a videographer today. I sort of understand his issue because he's an employee of the venue and I'm not, but still, you can be considerate! I understood that my flash was bothering him so I tried turning off my flash and using his light as my lightsource (back lighting) but every time I tried he'd just move right next to me, then get in front of me. So on came my flash and he can deal with it later. I tried!

He also didn't speak much English and when he was interviewing the poor bride she couldn't understand a word he said and she was getting really annoyed with him and said they didn't want to do staged interviews, just wanted him to capture their day as it happens. But he just kept on asking questions over and over and over... I'm guessing her request was lost in translation.

nicksan wrote in post #12528784
Depends on the videographer. From my limited experience with them, they seem to have less manners than photographers. Not to mention their annoying video lights, etc. It really only takes one bad mannered videographer to hate them all!

Just seems like a lot of them don't get the concept of being aware of their surroundings. Making sure they are not in the shot, etc. They'll just get up on the subjects, light them up with the blinding video light, and stay there for what seems like forever. They once they are done, they'll just stand there, still in the shot...

Some are better than others, but yeah, in my experience they seem to not know (or care) where they stand to get the footage. In a small venue there are only so many good vantage points, and a lot of the time I just cant manuever away from the videographer to not get him/her in the shot.

The other thing about videographers is if you ever watch the finished product, a lot of their video comes from how you, the photographer pose and light things, especially during the bride/groom photoshoot. It's a bit weird, seeing your poses on video, and think how much money they made of your poses...

most of the videographers i work with know that I shoot first, then I let them shoot. Its easier that way since im doing the hard parts of setting up the shots. If they insist on getting in front of me, i let the couple know that the videographer is in my way.

I'm pretty sure the videographer at the last wedding I shot got a lot of video of my backside...

I bet you can find this same thread on the videographer forum. If you don't work together on a regular basis, then the dance will be awkward at best.

I think the problem is the video folks need continuous coverage so they tend to stand there, in the way, and stay there until they are good and ready to move. Not to mention the annoying video lights they've got glaring.

Photographers on the other hand can take the shot and move out of the way. We can kind of scope out a location, stay there, and shoot away. Video folks tend to follow the action, especially folks with a steadicam type of thing.

The last wedding I shot, I was situation where I normally would be, all scoped out, ready to roll. The video guy was following the bride and groom and continued to follow them, so he's in a lot of my shots. Some video folks don't give a damn about you, some do. It's the luck of the draw.

I had the WORST one yesterday. I should have taken some pictures of him. The bride was crying and he insisted on being a foot away from them. UGH !!! Fortunately I only had to deal with this jerk at the brides house at the end of the day.

As far as the video lights, I try to use them to my advantage.

I've worked with a couple great videographers who, even though they were in the way often, knew there were times when it was my priority to be front-and-center, so to speak.

I did work with one in early May who didn't know or care that he wasn't only in my way, but just about everyone's way the entire day! His assistant(/fiancee) was going around "just taking a few photos for the slideshow" (and getting in the way of both me AND the videographer). Then I came to find out she was telling everyone that asked that SHE was the professional photographer, and I was just a guy... Needless to say, the client had some issues with the product they delivered.

a few years ago i experienced probably the worst it can get with a videographer. he constantly set up his tripod so it was behind me and since i use primes, i was moving around a lot and i can't prove it, but i think he actually set it up once so i would trip over it.

it was the most horrible experience i have ever had and by the end of the night he and his assistant had me blocked off so i could not get anywhere near the main table. the venue was small and there were so many tables that they knew if they set up in the spots they did, i would be severely limited.

i did the best i could but i informed the couple afterwards and as it turned out they had had several complaints from their guests as well, not only that, but they showed up looking so disheveled, it looked like they had been caught in a hurricane before the wedding.

that experience forever grayed my feelings towards videographers in general.

but on the other hand, i love their video lights during the first dance . . .

On a wedding we shot a while ago, the videographer managed to crash his car in the rear end of the grooms car when going to the church. He then let out the brides parents cat from a room. The cat was pregnant and they told us that we could absolutely not let it out. Other than that, I think he was okey. He tried to not be in my way and vice versa.

Quite honestly, I think photographers get into the videographers' lenses far more often than vice versa. A good video team will often have three cameras running during a ceremony just to deal with us pesky photographers. And their job is difficult, as they have to take up lots of room because a tripod is not optional. That also limits their movement, but they're there to do a job, just like us, so they need to get good angles too.

That's not to say there aren't inconsiderate videographers. I've worked with my fair share of them. But overall, I think we're more of the pests than they are.