Ultimate Guy With Camera

These two are from a wedding I did last summer.
When the Limo Bus showed up at the venue to pick up the bride, bridesmaids and me, the father of the bride was on the bus with the guys. That's to be expected. But he was in blue jeans and a knit shirt taking pictures of the bride as we approached the bus. With his Canon 5D and 24-105mm lens. (My first thought was the studio had sent a second photographer and forgot to inform me. )

He then spent most of our city tour photo session shooting over my shoulder, and getting some other shots of the bridal party. He jumped in a cab to get back to the hotel to change with one stop still on the list.

And, as you can see in the second shot below, he also had time to download his shots from the city tour onto his iPAD for the cocktail reception before the ceremony.

Time stamp on first image is 2:46:45p and on the second its 6:21:32p

The silver lining; I got one shot of the skyline with the clouds. And make some fine art prints which sold.

He's footing the bill, no?

That's annoying. I always step back and let them go first which obviously delays everything until the bride gets annoyed and yells at the guy with camera.

Not sure who was paying, the couple was older and seemed to be on their own. Came to the pre-event meeting in a Beemer.

Adam, That's what I do as well. In this case it could have meant not getting a lot of pictures. Him shooting over my shoulder wasn't too annoying, it was seeing him at the reception with all his pictures on the iPAD.

To top it off, the venue owner was there for the ceremony with his Fuji X10 and there was a 13x19 inch print on a stand by the front door before the guests were done eating.

Next time push him in the drink or trip over him sending his rig to the concrete below. Think of yourself as the heavy on scene.

sounds like it worked well in the end

This is why I have it written in my contract that no other pro-photographer or pro cameras are not aloud to shoot. Doing so breaks the contract and will result in an immediate stop in professional services. I make it very clear to my clients as well. They are paying me and should not have their photos compromised by amateurs or others fighting for the couples attention. The wedding day is long and the couple has enough to deal with anyway, this can actually be a relief for them.

See I have no problem as a pro as I know my photos are better, I have this in my contract because of the distraction it can run and take away from the professional photos I can achieve for the couple who have paid me good money to do so. I suspect I will never have to leave a wedding over this, it just makes sure everyone is clear on the rules and will keep their guests in line.

Candyann wrote in post #14874789
This is why I have it written in my contract that no other pro-photographer or pro cameras are not aloud to shoot. Doing so breaks the contract and will result in an immediate stop in professional services. I make it very clear to my clients as well. They are paying me and should not have their photos compromised by amateurs or others fighting for the couples attention. The wedding day is long and the couple has enough to deal with anyway, this can actually be a relief for them.

See I have no problem as a pro as I know my photos are better, I have this in my contract because of the distraction it can run and take away from the professional photos I can achieve for the couple who have paid me good money to do so. I suspect I will never have to leave a wedding over this, it just makes sure everyone is clear on the rules and will keep their guests in line.

I hope in your contract it says 'allowed' but I agree, put it in the contract and put an end to the problem if you don't like it.

If I were contracting directly with the couple I'd probably have similar language. I shoot weddings as a contract photographer, so the studio's contract is something over which I have no control. My suspicion is that these GWC situations do impact the studio's sales, but again, its beyond my control.

When I notice that the couple or group has wondering eyes, I just stop, look at the photographer that is distracting them and say, loud enough for the couple to hear, "when you're done, I'd like to get some pictures too". That, invariably, gets the couple to say something.

This situation was a little different, not so much that he was causing me problems, (he was, for the most part, shooting over my shoulder) rather that he had the images on an IPAD sharing them with guests while mine were still on memory cards waiting from me to get them to the studio.

All the talk about we're professionals so our pictures are better is, to me, a little trite. In this situation especially, we were outside, he had essentially the same camera and lens, and he was shooting from essentially the same angles most of the time, in locations that I selected and where I had setup the couple or wedding party. So, all the professional work was done, all that was left was for him to click the shutter.

Candyann; "pro photographer" or "pro cameras" how are these defined in your contract? I hope it was written by an attorney and that you have thought about the potential impact on your future business if you do stop providing your professional services.

I get the point you are trying to make, I also have a sense that the outcome could be far worse than you may anticipate.

I've shot weddings where the bride's family were all "part time pros" I have a shot of three of them aiming cameras at the bride while she is getting her hair done.

Yesterday I shot a wedding where the bride's sister had a "pro-sumer" camera. One that I've had second photographers working with me use, so it would certainly fit the intent of your contract. It was out and she was taking pictures while they were getting ready, it was out through out the day, often with her husband or a friend shooting. When were were doing the group shots at the Gazebo (outdoor wedding at a country club) she was taking pictures from a few feet at my left. I next shot was the wedding party; I asked her to bring her camera (she was a BM) got them all setup, then told everyone to look at the bride and asked her to point her camera at the bride, then I took my picture.

Point is, there will always be people with cameras distracting the people you are shooting. Mostly because you are shooting. How many times have we all heard "Oh, isn't that a sweet picture" just before about 12 flashes pop around us?

Back to the contract language; The reason I said I'd include it is not so I can enforce it, but so I can talk to the couple about it during the meetings about their wedding, and then remind them or the parents about it if something is getting out of hand. I would NEVER stop shooting, I might not deliver the proofs until we had a conversation.

Yes, spelled right in the contract, haha, that is what I get when I post from my phone!

Thanks for your concern dmward, my contract is very solid with the advice of my lawyer. I think you missed the point of why it is in my contract. Like I stated before, it is not to keep out said potential pro photos, its to minimize distractions and interference.

I have the same thing stated in my contract, I would have never put up with someone shooting over my shoulder.

Andrea.Allure wrote in post #14889112
I have the same thing stated in my contract, I would have never put up with someone shooting over my shoulder.

What are the options? Tell the bride's dad to take a hike? That would get the day off to a great start.

As I think I mentioned above, if the P&S shooters are distracting the subjects, I stop and say with some volume, that I'll wait for them to finish, then get on with it.

I did a wedding in January where the groom told two of his friends, one shooting stills with a Canon and the other shooting video, that they could shoot "for the experience". And there were three videographers, and I had a second shooter with me. With the two tag alongs I made it a point to step in front of them whenever I wanted a shot and they were in the way.

Again, what are the options? Tell the groom that we're not going to shoot until his friends leave? The bride was up tight enough because the limo was late picking her up.

I understand about contract language. The reality is you can't pull it out and renegotiate at the church.

dmward wrote in post #14890198
What are the options? Tell the bride's dad to take a hike? That would get the day off to a great start.

As I think I mentioned above, if the P&S shooters are distracting the subjects, I stop and say with some volume, that I'll wait for them to finish, then get on with it.

I did a wedding in January where the groom told two of his friends, one shooting stills with a Canon and the other shooting video, that they could shoot "for the experience". And there were three videographers, and I had a second shooter with me. With the two tag alongs I made it a point to step in front of them whenever I wanted a shot and they were in the way.

Again, what are the options? Tell the groom that we're not going to shoot until his friends leave? The bride was up tight enough because the limo was late picking her up.

I understand about contract language. The reality is you can't pull it out and renegotiate at the church.

Exactly. A wedding is a fluid situation and will present any number of unexpected things, roll with it. It's the bride's dad for pete's sake.

I am really happy to see experts communication here.... Guys its fantastic read you all

elrey2375 wrote in post #14890248
Exactly. A wedding is a fluid situation and will present any number of unexpected things, roll with it. It's the bride's dad for pete's sake.

My situation is probably a bit different than a lot of you since I do all my weddings as a contract photographer. The studio(s) book the job, design the package, and make add-on revenue from the print sales. So, personally its no skin off my nose, as long as I get the coverage expected by the studio.

On the other hand, even if it were my gig, I doubt that I'd do things any differently.

In fact, with this dad, if it had been my wedding booking, I would have asked him if he was shooting raw, and if ye said no, I would have said, why don't you today, then if you get some shoots that "bride" really likes we can incorporate them into the album. I think doing something like that would have been a better approach than to stop shooting until he put his camera away.

Which reminds me, I was shooting a TV commercial many years ago and there was a union cameraman. The client pulled out his Leica and took a picture. The cameraman saw it, got up and walked off the set. The art director had to go over to the client, get him to put his camera back in his briefcase, then go out to find the cameraman. He came back onto the set only after being assured by the art director it wouldn't happen again.