This ever happen to you?

I shot my son's wedding this past weekend. I shot everything in raw and I've been spending my free time the past couple of days tweaking and making my shots look their best. It will be at least a few more days before I can get the pictures to the couple.

As I'm sure is the case at most weddings, there were quite a few people there with cameras. One of the GWCs sent an email out this morning with a link to all the pictures he took. I didn't realize that in addition to scores of his own candid shots, apparently he was standing behind me during the vast majority of the shots I took. His shots are not bad, not great, basically just snapshots of what I was shooting, but what bugs me is it feels like someone stole my thunder. I was really looking forward to seeing the reaction of my son and daughter in law when they went through the pictures for the first time. Now as they look at them I think they will just view them as nicer versions of what they've alread seen.

Since it was for my son there is no loss of money involved, but geez!!!

Yep...that happens. I typically sell my clients on purchasing a disc with all of the images upfront---so print sales or someone shooting similar shots does not hurt my business.
The other thing that I do is grab a few shots and do a quick edit right away and post them for the couple. That way any other photographers work is 2nd rate in comparison.

That sucks! He definitely stole your thunder

I suppose one good thing came of it. I learned a valuable lesson cheap. The only real price I paid was some aggravation, not money. For any future gigs that bear any resemblance to this, I will be sure to get paid up front.

Guilty. At the last wedding I went to as a guest I went home in between the ceremony and dinner so I could process, print, and frame a shot of their first kiss at the altar and they could have the photo on their gift table. The couple was surprised and I think their pro was, too.

i always put up 10 shots...which i think are really good the next day or the day after ....same as stathunter...!!! this way no matter what happens even though people have seen other peoples photos...they will be craving to see yours asap!

Since it's family, no loss, but if it was a paid gig, I'd be fuming too!

I love the idea of posting 10 shots asap with a 'more coming soon' banner or you could even do a 'click here to be notified when more are available.'

For the pros, how cool to have a portable printer to do an 8x10 for the cake table, along with your business cards and link to the wedding porfolio!

I also saw a wedding with the digital picture frame cycling photos from the rehersal dinner and the pics of the couple. You could easily cycle pics from the ceremony, sans edit. Those things are small enough, no one will notice!

TheHoff wrote in post #6106328
Guilty. At the last wedding I went to as a guest I went home in between the ceremony and dinner so I could process, print, and frame a shot of their first kiss at the altar and they could have the photo on their gift table. The couple was surprised and I think their pro was, too.

I hate to say this, but I think you crossed the line on this one. Yes, it was a nice gesture, and would have been great if you were the wedding photographer. But think how you would have felt if you were the pro.

Might just be me, but kinda sounds like a child jumping in front of someone just to show they could do it.

Pinto wrote in post #6106689
I hate to say this, but I think you crossed the line on this one. Yes, it was a nice gesture, and would have been great if you were the wedding photographer. But think how you would have felt if you were the pro.

Might just be me, but kinda sounds like a child jumping in front of someone just to show they could do it.

I agree.

Or better yet it showed the Pro how to do it better next time and get more business.

When I attended one my friend's weddings the hired photographer asked me to step away when he is doing his 'creative' shots.

Pros don't always have time to load an image and print it. Although advertising is nice, my goal at a wedding is to capture the wedding, not sell my services to guests. I wouldn't want to have to explain that I missed a shot because I was printing a photo or setting up business cards.

kenwood33 wrote in post #6106751
When I attended one my friend's weddings the hired photographer asked me to step away when he is doing his 'creative' shots.

I certainly understand the reasoning behind this but my biggest concern would be getting people upset and starting heated exchanges of words. I attempt to be as fun-loving and happy at these things as I can. It would be hard to do that if you are angry. Some people can be jerks though.

My dad was a wedding photographer for many many years. At one wedding he politely asked the aunt of the bride to let him finish taking his (formal) pictures and then she could take all she wanted. She sat down and started crying and then the bride got upset. Sometimes there is no winning.

TheHoff wrote in post #6106328
Guilty. At the last wedding I went to as a guest I went home in between the ceremony and dinner so I could process, print, and frame a shot of their first kiss at the altar and they could have the photo on their gift table. The couple was surprised and I think their pro was, too.

Guilty as charged too *L* I only made a 5X7 but my sister loved it.

Phil Light wrote in post #6106816
I certainly understand the reasoning behind this but my biggest concern would be getting people upset and starting heated exchanges of words. I attempt to be as fun-loving and happy at these things as I can. It would be hard to do that if you are angry. Some people can be jerks though.

My dad was a wedding photographer for many many years. At one wedding he politely asked the aunt of the bride to let him finish taking his (formal) pictures and then she could take all she wanted. She sat down and started crying and then the bride got upset. Sometimes there is no winning.

Some Pro's explain why and I think that goes a long way. When a pro is taking picts, the other flashes interfere with the flash. The pro was hired for a reason. It is a nice jesture to let the guests take thier picts after the Pro does the pose. Typically a PS is not going to give you a good result when in the hands of rookie. They will NOT compose the picture properly.