No photography during ceremony

As soon as the P&S's started going off, so would have my camera's

bigrob wrote in post #9040095
At a friends wedding in London two years ago, the priest said that if he saw any guests taking photos or videoing he would stop the ceremony.

They had two official videographers who were out of the way. The could video (but my friend had to pay the priest/church £200 for the privilege).

I was asked by a friend to take photos at their baby's christening recently. Having got their right early, I got talking to the priest about taking photos to be sure I didn't offend. He said that he didn't particularly want people taking photos during ceremonies, but realised that with mobile phones and compacts it was virtually impossible to police. However, he did say that videoing was another matter and that the choir/organist were entitled to payment under performing rights legislation and therefore charged an extra £200 for weddings that wished to do this. Still photography obviously doesn't fall into this category. Again, at a local registry office for another wedding I did, the registrar was quite happy for photos to be taken during the ceremony. I didn't use flash. The only thing they were a bit sticky about was the actual signing of the register. I can't think why? It had to be 'posed' afterwards.

I did a registry wedding last year for my GFs, uncle's workmate !!!!

Anyway no probs with flash nor signing of the book.

Did it for free (they actually gave me £100 after) as they really don't have a lot of money. Registry wedding, pub reception & caravan park honeymoon (which they couldn't even go on as their daughter came out in mumps).

I recently shot a wedding where the church restriction was simply no flash. For reasons I won't get into, there was a separate hired photog besides me. I stuck to the rules and the other photog used his flash throughout the ceremony. The priest never complained.

As far as professionalism and what Dave mentioned... I agree but I wonder if it rings through the same in larger cities vs. smaller areas. In the NYC area there are thousand upon thousands of churches with numerous priests/ministers each. It would probabaly take years to be known enough by a particular officiant in a particular church.

Back home in India, you give the priest some money and can have the ceremony any way you like.

RobNYC wrote in post #9043373
I recently shot a wedding where the church restriction was simply no flash. For reasons I won't get into, there was a separate hired photog besides me. I stuck to the rules and the other photog used his flash throughout the ceremony. The priest never complained.

It makes me wonder though if the the priest will start to become more cynical toward photographers and will really start to enforce some very strict rules in the future.

charger912 wrote in post #9043778
It makes me wonder though if the the priest will start to become more cynical toward photographers and will really start to enforce some very strict rules in the future.

to be sure, just because people act with utmost dignity and patience when they are being disrespected does not mean that they aren't making mental notes for future occasions. that photographer might be barred from the church if he is hired to photograph another wedding there, or worse, the priest might have told other local officiants of his inability to follow house rules...

that's why i don't do church weddings. That's the 1st question I ask.

I've had the priest actually came up to me during the ceremony and told me, if I kept moving around, he'll have to kick me out of the church.

That's why you ask in advance - but coming up to you during a ceremony isn't cool.

registry wedding in a couple of weeks for my niece , and have been told no flash during the ceremony , can still take pics but not of the couple signing the register

JAcosta wrote in post #8852842
...The minister isnt going to completely stop the ceremony because a couple people in the back of the church of snapping shots...

Funny you should mention this, because I did a baptism last sunday - and the priest did stop the ceremony when I popped off a flash. I couldn't believe it, given that this was purely a baptism and there were 20 P&S's in play as well. I always check with the priest before a wedding, but for a baptism? Seemed pretty silly to me, but I guess he didn't like the distraction.

And the lord saideth upon them: `thou shalt not shooteth of cannons, nor shalt thou shooteth of nikkons, nor shalt thou shooteth of olimpos, nor pentaks, nor soni shall be shooteth of´.

I'll make sure to remember a property release when shooting in churches or church property...

Sven-EOS wrote in post #9068821
And the lord saideth upon them: `thou shalt not shooteth of cannons, nor shalt thou shooteth of nikkons, nor shalt thou shooteth of olimpos, nor pentaks, nor soni shall be shooteth of´.

With camera in hand I walked into a wedding rehearsal once and headed towards the minister to say hello. I was still 20 feet away when he hollered, "I don't care where you go or what you do!"

Karl Johnston wrote in post #9068844
I'll make sure to remember a property release when shooting in churches or church property...

I wouldn't bother unless you have a real need to, unless you plan to use the images commercially.