interesting wedding yesterday...

I wanted to share a couple stories from the wedding we shot last night.

First, the couple had hired a videographer, but had not told us in the survey. Ok, not that big of a deal... Except that he was in a stained t-shirt, insisted on being right in front of the bride and groom during the ceremony, was using a dslr in his right hand (with flash) while taking video with his left, AND, I swear I saw him open a reeses peanut butter cup during the ceremony!

Crazy, right? That wasnt even the worst of it. One of the guests decided to be a photographer for the day, and ruined a great deal of shots. He held the wedding party up outside of the front of the church, pre-cerimony to take pictures, which made the wedding start late, then walked backwards down the isle when the groom with parents walked in. He then stood in the middle of the isle, around the second row of pews for most of the ceremony! We normally would have said something to him before, but we didn't realize until it was too late. I saw the flashes outside the front door, and peaked to see what was going on... Then the groom entered, and everything got going.

We usually have to deal with guests using their cameras... Maybe they stand off to the side, or lean into the Isle... But this was pretty bad.

After the ceremony, there are 2 limo waiting for us. Great! Except that the groom only contracted one... Turns out that they are 2 different companies who both claim to be the correct limo, and both are demanding payment. This begins a 1.5 hour fight between the groom and the limo drivers that gets physical at one point and the military police become involved. (we were in a military base!) Now I think the groom is going to jail for going after the one driver... So we pull the bride and the bridesmaids off to the far side of the church, to get her away from that mess (she did not see the fight luckily) we take bridal pictures, pictures with her family, and with the bridesmaids right there, instead of where the limo was going to take us. Finally the limo thing was figured out (groom will have to sue the one company), they have to cut one limo stop to save time. We take some.pictures at the one location, then head back to base for the reception. (limo was only to take everyone to have pictures taken at a park, then head right back)

Oh, and the bride lost her engagement ring center diamond at some point in the day!

I feel so bad for them. I didn't see the groom truly smile after all this until the very end of the night.

Yeah, so many mishaps can happen on the big day. We shot one this weekend and had to deal with folks trying to direct the formals on our behalf. It always feels rude asking people to let us do our jobs, but that's what we're there for.

It seems like a lot of bad communication all around. Did you meet with couple beforehand to talk about the potential difficulties of other photographers at the wedding?

frugivore wrote in post #14590781
It seems like a lot of bad communication all around. Did you meet with couple beforehand to talk about the potential difficulties of other photographers at the wedding?

Twice, and it is in the contract that we are to be the only photographers for the wedding. The bride even asked the guest to stop during the getting ready pics and explained that they are paying us, and guests should be enjoying the day. Unfortunately she can't yell at him while they are exchanging vows! lol

2ndshooter wrote in post #14591073
Twice, and it is in the contract that we are to be the only photographers for the wedding. The bride even asked the guest to stop during the getting ready pics and explained that they are paying us, and guests should be enjoying the day. Unfortunately she can't yell at him while they are exchanging vows! lol

You are going to get this at every wedding. Just deal with it the best you can. Take a few photos of them getting in your shots just to keep a record of it. If they are in your shot and make you miss something, there is really nothing you can do. I it gets really bad like having them hold things up, you have to do your best to be authoritative and keeping things along.

Although I have very good communication with my clients about other photographers shooting on the day, it sometimes does happen that 1 or 2 guests will play main photographer--or try to.

I'm normally sizing up these folks 10-15 minutes before the ceremony. I'm looking for the ones with fat cameras, the ones with tripods especially. My first point of contact with them is simply to look at them to let them know that I know they're there. I don't think I scowl exactly, but I'm usually concentrating on preparation so possibly appear stern. Sometimes they approach me and are very meek and deferential--most times it stops here and they just shoot from their seats.

As it turns to the ceremony time, I'll totally approach anyone standing up with a dslr and let them know what policy the B+G and I have arranged (normally no guests up shooting during the ceremony). If someone gets up in the middle of the ceremony to shoot, I'll first try to shoo them away with a gaze; if that doesn't work I very politely, calmly, whisper to them that I am the main photographer (as if they didn't know) and that I'd appreciate it if they ('he' always !) would sit so they weren't getting in the way of my wide shots. I've never had someone not oblige me.

A couple of lessons here. One, look out for the folks most likely to try to shoot during the ceremony and introduce yourself. Also--if it isn't clear visually (your actions, your dress, how you address people, your style of gaze, your posture) that YOU are the main photographer, it's possible people will assume you're just one of the family; that may very well lead to other members of the family to feel free to shoot as well.

Finally, If you set yourself up as someone to take seriously, others will usually take you seriously.

I was just sharing the story. I'm surprised that everyone is focusing on the guest taking pictures, and no comments about the groom getting in a fight and having the military police show up, or the videographer with a dirty t-shirt, eating a candy bar while videoing and taking pictures at the same time only 5 feet from the bride and groom! lol

A few of us in this thread shoot professionally and honed in on what is important for you to learn. The rest is crazy to be sure--I've seriously never seen that much drama at a wedding. The cool thing about it though is that with your job, you can have some control over the narrative of the day and how it is presented via your shots.

I often have dirty clothes if I've been laying on the ground, or climbing a tree, or been in the ocean... you get the drift. There is some level of drama at every wedding, that comes with the turf and nothing would surprise me these days.

What I think you'll find is that the professionals who shoot regularly are focusing on the important stuff, which is getting the pictures they should... not paying any attention to what someone is wearing or eating.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #14593097
What I think you'll find is that the professionals who shoot regularly are focusing on the important stuff, which is getting the pictures they should... not paying any attention to what someone is wearing or eating.

Probably not such a fair comment.

I'd feel as though I had to vent under similar circumstances as well. I certainly sympathise with all the wanna be pro photographers getting in the way, it seems to be getting worse these days.

I tell the B&G before the ceremony that I'll unashamedly stand in front of anyone in my way and they are always supportive. But sometimes things happen so quickly or unexpectedly.

WOW! Sounds like a truly stressful day. Unfortunately, there really isn't anything you can do about the hired video guy, but he sounds like he was exceptionally unprofessional. You can always warn off prospective clients to this guy in the future if you feel he was that out of line. As to the uncle Bob, my approach is similar to others here - I will become pushy if necessary and make the "Bob" well aware that he is interfering with the progress of the day and impacting the quality of product that the bride and groomn have paid so dearly for. Only once did this not work for me and then I simply shouldered my way in from of the "Bob" and pushed him out of my way for a cake cutting. He gave no problem after that.

This is excellent advice. You should take charge of the event, even approach a guest during the ceremony if necessary, to have them get out of the way. A year after the event they'll still know you didn't get the "money" shots, they'll forget about your excuses (i.e., annoying relatives). I was always ALL business when I photographed weddings and told the guests at the group shots that I did the direction, not them, and that I'd have them removed from the event if they got between me and my client. Never had a problem!

I shot video as well as photography on many occassions. Don't disparage video people too much, on those events where I only did video I saw some pretty unprofessional photographers. The most recent wedding I attended (as a guest) had a friend of the bride, a female, doing the wedding, and I cringed every time I saw her. She wore black slacks with a hole in the knee, a bandana, had a Nikon and Canon DSLR, and no flash. I see a large percentage of people that don't want to learn to use flash, so they go the natural light route (that's what they call it), and man, do their photos suck. I got a copy of all the wedding images on disk (I made an album for the couple as a gift)...well, you get what you pay for folks.

If you're going to photograph a wedding, dress professionally. Take charge, after all it's your images that matter, not Uncle Bob's. Learn how your camera works, learn to use flash, buy the proper amount of equipment (including backup equipment).

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #14592287
Although I have very good communication with my clients about other photographers shooting on the day, it sometimes does happen that 1 or 2 guests will play main photographer--or try to.

I'm normally sizing up these folks 10-15 minutes before the ceremony. I'm looking for the ones with fat cameras, the ones with tripods especially. My first point of contact with them is simply to look at them to let them know that I know they're there. I don't think I scowl exactly, but I'm usually concentrating on preparation so possibly appear stern. Sometimes they approach me and are very meek and deferential--most times it stops here and they just shoot from their seats.

As it turns to the ceremony time, I'll totally approach anyone standing up with a dslr and let them know what policy the B+G and I have arranged (normally no guests up shooting during the ceremony). If someone gets up in the middle of the ceremony to shoot, I'll first try to shoo them away with a gaze; if that doesn't work I very politely, calmly, whisper to them that I am the main photographer (as if they didn't know) and that I'd appreciate it if they ('he' always !) would sit so they weren't getting in the way of my wide shots. I've never had someone not oblige me.

A couple of lessons here. One, look out for the folks most likely to try to shoot during the ceremony and introduce yourself. Also--if it isn't clear visually (your actions, your dress, how you address people, your style of gaze, your posture) that YOU are the main photographer, it's possible people will assume you're just one of the family; that may very well lead to other members of the family to feel free to shoot as well.

Finally, If you set yourself up as someone to take seriously, others will usually take you seriously.

Sorry you had a bad experience with the video guy. I can only say that most if us are very professional, when I do video or photo I dress with our black polo tshirts with our company name on but nice and neat, black trousers black shoes. If I work with a photog I am pleasant with them even if they get in the way!! When I do photo and work with a video guy I know not to get in his way because I know I don't want to happen to me. If people try to direct then let them, but make sure you get your shots first. Just politely tell them. All other plans cars church reception toastmasters all need to be planned before hand

highway0691 wrote in post #14594610
I'd feel as though I had to vent under similar circumstances as well. I certainly sympathise with all the wanna be pro photographers getting in the way, it seems to be getting worse these days.

People are going to get in the way on occasions, it comes with the turf. You work around it and do the job you are there to do. By all means be frustrated... but this it is not an unusual occurrence so they might as well get used to it. There is no point getting stressed out by something which is going to happen regularly. You find a way of dealing with it and then go from there.

As for what the video guys was wearing/doing we have no idea of knowing how good there end product is... they could be awesome but quirky who knows.

I have had my share of unplanned stuff happening at the weddings but this tops them all. I think you made the best of what happened. Part of being a professional.