June 30 07 Wedding... bride left the photoshoot!

ok, I have to say this has never happened to me before.

Things were moving a little slower, it rained and ruined a couple plans, and then it stopped and the sun came out and things started drying up a bit. GREAT! So let's go outside and get the photos done!!

With 25 minutes to spare, we go outside, I set up one shot of the entire bridal party. Then I quickly arrange the guys for the groomsmen shot. During that time the bride decided she was hungry so she took off with one bridesmaid, her mom, and her mother in law to walk quite a ways away so she could buy a hot dog. I was like... HUH??? So she pretty much spent 20 of the 25 minutes out buying and eating a hot dog, and apparently talking to a baseball team that was having a game by the hot dog stand. She got back and I got a couple shots of her with her girls, her family, his family, and a couple quick shots of her and her groom, and then we had to leave for the reception. She said we could take some more after the dance started.

Finally around 10:20 pm she agreed to pull away from the party and take a couple pictures.

Managed to get a couple shots and then she sat on the ground and had sore feet so she didn't want to get up. So I was like... ok, we'll work with that. So for the rest of the 10 minutes they were either sitting or laying down.

I was a little baffled. She is such a sweetheart and I was a little surprised, but it sure made it difficult to get some good non pj shots.

1. The wedding cars were old Chevys. He's an auto mechanic and car nut!

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The shots are up to your usual high standard, which is a great achievement given how the day sounds!

I love the way your shots turned out - especially the sunset ones. They are beautiful!

I can sympathize with you - I had a bride who didn't want any shots with the groom before the ceremony and would only give me 15 minutes between the ceremony and the reception and about 15 minutes after the reception. I've never shot so fast in my life.

It was really an interesting situation - it was her second wedding so she wasn't all that concerned about the photos, but his first wedding and he wanted everything documented. I told them to work it out and let me know what they decided because I didn't want to get in the middle of it.

So, because she was sort of disinterested in the photos, I ended up taking more photos of the groom with all of the wedding party than I did of the bride with the wedding party (not a lot more, but a few). Of course, after they talk about the pictures later, the bride says to me - I know you took one of my husband alone with the entire bridal party but I don't remember you taking one of me with the entire bridal party - did you get that shot? I really like that. Of course, I hadn't - I didn't even remember taking that one of him.

So, the moral of my story is that even though they seem disinterested in the photos at the time, they sure want all the photos after the fact. Grrr.

Wow! Why pay a photographer if you don't really care about the pictures? That's kind of weird! Well, I think you did an excellent job and I'm sure she will be just thrilled with them. I had a bride last month do sort of the same thing. Well, we took all the group shots no problem, then I had about 10-15 min with the bride and groom. She was irritable and wanted a drink. The sun wasn't really setting nicely like we expected so he basically said she's done with the photos I think I still did an alright job given the circumstances.

BTW- I really like the first dance photo. Did you use a slave flash in back of them?

The ones with the clouds in the background look dreamy.. like they're in heaven or something. Nice work as always. Your lighting and exposures are phenomenal.

I can't understand the differences between Canada, the US and here. (Australia) We get a minimum of 1 hour, often 2 or 3 with the bridal party between the ceremony and the reception.

Just attended a great seminar with Jerry Ghionis and Bambi Cantrell where the same issue came up. From memory was seen as a cultural thing.

Great shots incidently!

#2 is fabulous! I have had similar situations with Brides. For me, formals are always the most frustrating aspect of the wedding day; you seem to always have time going against you... and when the Bride goes against you too... well, what can you do? You just have to work with it... and as usual, I'm sure you pulled it off wonderfully.

Silverwool wrote in post #3472854
I can't understand the differences between Canada, the US and here. (Australia) We get a minimum of 1 hour, often 2 or 3 with the bridal party between the ceremony and the reception.

Just attended a great seminar with Jerry Ghionis and Bambi Cantrell where the same issue came up. From memory was seen as a cultural thing.

Great shots incidently!

Cutural - yeah, I think so. For me, so far, about 1/2 of the B&G couples are more interested in getting to the reception and partying with their friends and guest - worried that they are getting bored and that they are wondering, "what's taking them so long to get here..." In one case, however, I've been able to convince the bride that her guests were having a good time as I was involved, to some degree, in the planning of the "pre-arrival" entertainment of the guests. Calmed her down a bit and I was able to get an additional 1/2 hour out of them.

great shots again! I can't imagine how you felt when she walked off- I've had grooms leave, groomsmen leave- but not the bride... I do love the shots you got of them later- just think, you wouldn't have gotten the great sky pics had you been any earlier!


Which I can't imagine light at 10:20!! Crazy!

I think the photos are wonderful. I wish I could get images like that!

Wow, lloyd, those are some really great shots considering what you had to deal with. Loving the late night shots. Must be because you are further north, I don't have light like that at 10:20 at night here.

Did you get a photo of her with the hotdog?

Excellent work, as always. I'm envious of those skies!

beautiful! Need a 2nd shooter?