Just had a really frustrating photographic experience

cdifoto wrote in post #17219194
When it's a paid gig, you get cooperation and a little strong-arming assistance from the people paying. After all, they don't want their money wasted. You also get respect. Sometimes.

It helps to have a huge camera with a flash bracket. People move for those.

OP stated there were 50 people with DSLR's at the event. I don't think if you told them you were getting paid to shoot would have made any difference. Everyone figures that a wedding photographer is paid but that still doesn't deter people from getting in the way.

Tony, where the hell did you get that picture of me and my ex-wife.

Try shooting a wedding where everyone has a cell phone and DSLR snapping away during important events. Thats what gets me. I dont understand the need for everyone to have their own ****ty photos when a professional is being hired to do just that, take photos. Why not chill and enjoy the event?

Tony_Stark wrote in post #17219972
I dont understand the need for everyone to have their own ****ty photos when a professional is being hired to do just that, take photos. Why not chill and enjoy the event?

It's the same need for power, importance, control and authority that leads many people to spend large amounts of money on camera equipment. From previous threads found on this forum, any attempt to encourage other camera owners to display restraint in favor of a hired professional at an event would generate bitter howls of offense.

DC Fan wrote in post #17220002
It's the same need for power, importance, control and authority that leads many people to spend large amounts of money on camera equipment. From previous threads found on this forum, any attempt to encourage other camera owners to display restraint in favor of a hired professional at an event would generate bitter howls of offense.

This has been my experience as well. You can ask all you want but in the end most people just disregard and do what they want to. In this photo below, right before the kiss this guy moves into the aisle and plants himself. Almost messed up me getting the kiss but I moved around him and firmly planted myself right in front of him. I couldn't care less if it pissed him off. I got the shot I was paid to get.

The last wedding I went to the paid guy was sneering and making snarky comments at everyone as they filed into the church. His gift to me was along the lines of "36 megapixels! You must be a pro". His sneering didn't have any effect on all of the guests - they all did the usual stuff that pro's hate. The only thing he really acheived was to put in many peoples' minds to recommend friends and family don't hire him and not to hire him themselves.

Really hammered home for me that if I'm ever in the position of being the paid photographer that I need to put my best attitude forward to everyone at the event if I want word of mouth to work for me.

smythie wrote in post #17220372
The last wedding I went to the paid guy was sneering and making snarky comments at everyone . . . His sneering didn't have any effect on all of the guests - they all did the usual stuff that pro's hate.

Maybe that was its effect!

chauncey wrote in post #17219490
Tony, where the hell did you get that picture of me and my ex-wife.

Heh!

Dave3222 wrote in post #17219460
OP stated there were 50 people with DSLR's at the event. I don't think if you told them you were getting paid to shoot would have made any difference. Everyone figures that a wedding photographer is paid but that still doesn't deter people from getting in the way.

That's not what I said at all.

DC Fan wrote in post #17220002
It's the same need for power, importance, control and authority that leads many people to spend large amounts of money on camera equipment. From previous threads found on this forum, any attempt to encourage other camera owners to display restraint in favor of a hired professional at an event would generate bitter howls of offense.

elrey2375 wrote in post #17220176
This has been my experience as well. You can ask all you want but in the end most people just disregard and do what they want to. In this photo below, right before the kiss this guy moves into the aisle and plants himself. Almost messed up me getting the kiss but I moved around him and firmly planted myself right in front of him. I couldn't care less if it pissed him off. I got the shot I was paid to get.

And of course everyone wants a photo to post to FB or Instagram or whatever

That's why I prefer to have a 50 on and always be moving around to get my shots. Prevents others from jumping in front like staying in the back with a 70-200. Obviously not all weddings are the same. All the ones Ive been to and have shot, the guests have been good and the pastor usually says to guests to refrain from taking images until the end. So far so good.