Photographers make terrible wedding guests...

I want to start out by saying that if I am an invited guest at a wedding where I am not the official photographer, I leave my gear at home. All of it. I'm of the opinion that there is nothing more unprofessional looking that a pro/amateur shooter flying around someone elses gig taking shots.

Obviously there is a big difference between Grandma taking a few snaps with a compact point and shoot, to 'Uncle Photography' turning up with his D/SLR and an assortment of lenses. You might be trying to do the bride and groom a favour by providing them with some extra coverage free, out of the goodness of your heart. The problem is that regardless of the motivation of the individual who happens to be crashing the photography party, it just doesn't look good.

I was at a wedding recently, as a guest, and I left my gear at home, as I always do. The official shooter was doing a great job, very low key and inconspicuous, but she was getting all the shots. I was impressed with her calm and professional approach. I was not impressed by another two guys (separately) who had turned up with their D/SLR's and L lenses (both currently trying to crack into the pro market). They were up on chairs, up and down the aisle, one was even trying to get the wedding party's attention for a shot at one stage.

I've seen this type of scenario happen time and time again, and it simply looks terrible.

Can I please plead with you all, if you are a wedding photographer (or even aspiring to be) and you're an invited guest at a wedding, please leave your gear at home. You're only damaging your own reputation, because it makes you look unprofessional and desperate.

You might even enjoy the ceremony more, too.

YOu are SOOO right!

Not to mention potentially hurting the pro's sales. Great post Mizuno! When I'm invited to a wedding, I'm there to enjoy the open bar...not take pictures!

The more wedding shooting I do, the more my gear sits on its official shelf at all other times. Good admonition!

You'll get no argument from me!

Many people fail to respect the solemn, religious nature of the occasion and turn it into a day at the zoo. Sometimes the priest/pastor needs to take control of the situation and lay down some ground rules.

Next wedding I'm invited to, I might take a camera to the reception. Plenty of candid & fun opportunities there and it's easy enough to stay out of the pro's way. But definitely not the ceremony.

my best friends wedding is coming up in aug 2007,iam the "man" of honour for her, so no pics, but i do plan to have my 20D at the after party cause i want to have some memories of this

NOW, i wont be getting on chairs and doing stupid things like the others, iwill just be getting the odd shot here and there, and respecting the pro's job and space.

i dont see anything wrong with taking your gear, as long as it is not intrusive to the wedding / photographer.

I really think it's ok if they are respectful and courteous.

I actually have more trouble with amatuers getting in my way rather than other pro's. The amatuers have no sense of space or regard to what I am trying to accomplish. The pro's are very nice and introduce themselves and ask if it's ok and stay out of my way.

It's nice to chat with someone briefly about their gear and how it's going.

I had a wedding in May where the groom's stepmom's cousin was there with some DSLR and a flash. He didn't do any photography at the church but at the reception he was running around and gathering people for photos etc. I didn't mind so much during cocktails as I was getting details and candids and if he wanted to pose ppl, so be it.

But once the dancing started he planted himself on the edge of the dance floor and it made it more challenging for me to compose the shot and not have him in it. I wasn't lucky 100% of the time, but it happens.

At one point I saw the father of the groom dancing with his granddaughter and I had my 85mm on so I was backing up to get them in the frame and all of a sudden I tripped and flailed to catch myself and not wipe out or land on a camera. It really scared me!

(Remember in junior high when you go talk to a kid and distract them, then someone else gets on all fours behind them and then you push them at shoulder level and they fly over the person kneeling behind them?)

Turns out this guy with the camera saw me moving to get the shot and he decided he wanted the same shot at the same time and had crouched low to get it. He crouched directly behind me!

I was too stunned to say anything and walked away to gain my composure. I mentioned it to my husband who was video'ing this wedding. And a few minutes later my husband had to move around him and decided to say, "Just so you know, we are working right now. We have been paid by the bride and groom to be here and do our jobs and you're making it difficult." The guy got all belligerent and said, "I'm not getting in your way!" And my husband said, "Is that so? Mind telling me how my wife, the photographer, tripped over you a couple minutes ago?" And the guy walked away and stayed away from us the rest of the night.

Next time I encounter someone like this I am going to pull them aside and ask what they do for a living. Then I am going to ask them how they would feel if I showed up at their office/retail store/etc Monday and tried to do the same thing they did while interacting with their clients.

Hopefully they'll get a clue.

Mathiau wrote in post #2073419
i dont see anything wrong with taking your gear, as long as it is not intrusive to the wedding / photographer.

You have to take into account what other guests perception will be, though. That's all I'm saying.

It's all well and good to say you'll stay out of everyone's way and you'll not be intrusive, but I can guarantee you that someone will see what you're doing and wonder why you couldn't help yourself.

Here's a shocking and controversial suggestion: buy some prints of the pro shooter if you want some memories to keep.

I have seen such an increase in guests who have consumer digital cameras of the P&S variety. I hardly think they would wonder what another guest with a camera is doing.

My perception from your comments here that you are more upset about losing out on print sales b/c of someone else getting certain shots? If that's the case than shouldn't you suggest that all guests check their cameras at the door?

Thanks for saying in a seperate thread what could have been said in another. Keeping perspectives clear.

As a full time shooter now I find my camera stays at home a lot. I certainly would not take my gear to a wedding unless asked.

edit: Rachael, I see point and shooter shooting from the tables in a differnt light than the Uncle that you end up tripping over of one that blocks your shots. I think the OP was going for something beyond the P&S dribblers.

RachaelSilvers wrote in post #2073476
My perception from your comments here that you are more upset about losing out on print sales b/c of someone else getting certain shots? If that's the case than shouldn't you suggest that all guests check their cameras at the door?

Your perception is wrong, as I'm not referring to weddings where I am the shooter. I have nothing to gain in this scenario.

I just don't think there is any good reason to pull out your rig at someone else's gig, despite your best intentions.

Mizumo, my bad! I'm sorry! I didn't quite catch that you were a guest and were appalled by the actions of the guys on the chairs and in the aisle and basically making themselves look bad by jumping around. And that these 2 were also trying to break into the pro arena. They do give the rest of guests with camera (of all levels) a bad rap.

You know this makes me think of the reasons that most of the churches in my area have restrictions for photographers, because other goofballs have been obnoxious and ruin it for the rest of us who are more considerate.

Do you know if the hired photog at the wedding you attended said anything to the guys?

RachaelSilvers wrote in post #2073513
Do you know if the hired photog at the wedding you attended said anything to the guys?

I did speak to her afterwards and she was quite shocked by their audacity. Apparently they were even trying to find out where the party was going for location shots between the ceremony and reception.

She refused to tell them, naturally.

mizuno wrote in post #2073524
I did speak to her afterwards and she was quite shocked by their audacity. Apparently they were even trying to find out where the party was going for location shots between the ceremony and reception.

She refused to tell them, naturally.

:teehee: Thattagirl!

matthewlrigdon wrote in post #2073521
Well, what would you think of a wedding guest who showed up wearing a Vera Wang gown and diamonds from Tiffany's?

I'd ask her if she came alone.

Trying to inject some humour in a dull day.