This has been bugging me for a couple days. I want to get your feedback on it. I went to a wedding last Saturday. The groom was a friend of my husband. We get seated and of course I'm checking out the photographer. She was an older lady (older than me, Im not saying she was old), wandering all over the church. So, the ceremony starts, she is still wandering, right up to the alter standing between the bride and groom on our side so she can get the close ups of the rings. They moved over to light the candles, she jumped up and ran across the front to get the shots of that. When the bride and groom came down to give the flowers to the parents, she actually grabbed a fist full of the groom's tux and pulled him back so she could get in there while the bride gave her mom n dad a kiss. To me that was very distracting. She also took communion, sang, and did the prayers. Im not Catholic, so I don't know if that's common. The organist and the singer did not come down to do communion.

 

Anyway, there was something even more distracting than that. The groom's sister. While they were saying their vows, the groom's sister got up from her seat, walked up to the alter off to the side and stood behind the priest and snapped away with her camera. Her whole family was looking at each other like "Oh my god, what is she doing". She did this 2 or 3 times durring the ceremony. I was waiting for the priest to yell at her. After the ceremony, her daughter, who is only 15 told her she was way out of line. She told her daughter, "well I want to remember this day". She thought it was perfectly ok to be up on the alter. What if everyone who was there with a camera got up and went up to the alter?

 

Fast forward to the reception. The real photographer was dancing, drinking like she was a guest. It's not like someone grabbed her and dragged her out there. She would jump up and just go. Without her camera. So then I was thinking maybe she was a friend of the bride's family and this was her gift to them? Who knows. But it was one of the strangest weddings I was ever at. I couldn't even tell you what happened at the ceremony cause I was too busy watching the photographer and the sister jumping all over the place.

 

Sandi

Me, personally, I hook up my 100-400L USM lens and stand off waaay to the side as much as possible and make my images from there. I do my best to be a fly on the wall.

As for dancing, yeah, maybe she's a friend of the families which is why she probably felt she could be all over the place.

Grooms sister standing behind the Priest to take photos... total lack of class.

-Koa-

Dangggg, I don't even shoot weddings,( I did one and tried to stay so far out of the way, it wasn't even funny) and that is crazy for the photog and sister to act like that. I would never do that, have never seen it done, and would be ticked if it was done at my wedding. Good for the 15 year old for speaking up!

 Hmmmm, if that had of been my little sis and that happened at her wedding, I am sure she would have had no problem telling them both to knock it off, and in front of the priest,lol.

Yeah, i was at my nephew's wedding the end of May, and their photog was completely annoying....at the ceremony when his bride was getting ready to come down the aisle, he was standing right in front of my nephew taking pictures of the bride....he couldn't even have the decency to stoop down if he felt that is where he needed to be....my poor nephew couldn't even see his bride until she was almost to the alter.....then at the reception....we found him drinking quite a bit of alcohol...and was taking pictures of things like potatoes on the food plates, asking people to check them out.....what is up with that??? And this guy was supposed to be a professional photog...they had their engagement pics done by him.....and paid him some good money....still have yet to see a picture he took from this wedding yet......i'm very curious to see them though.....to me...very, very unprofessional....

 

tina

Boriken Warrior:

Me, personally, I hook up my 100-400L USM lens and stand off waaay to the side as much as possible and make my images from there. I do my best to be a fly on the wall.

OK - I am going to get blasted for this but here goes anyway.

im catholic and i took communion at a wedding i had in may - however, the wedding was for two people i have known for a pretty long time, so i felt comfortable doing that - as for catholics, its a pretty private prayer time during communion and i didnt expect to "miss" anything related to the ceremony itself.

 would i have done it if i didnt know the couple and 90% of the 400 people in attendance? eh, probably not.

not really sure how to answer that one.

 Lowry,

( how are you doing by the way?)

I'll blast you   by saying   her ignorance is not an example of  " editorial photography"  even worse.  just bad photography!

 I agree with you, but I think it should be taken even further....   some photogs......  suck!  or have bad manners.....or both.

lphoto:

OK - I am going to get blasted for this but here goes anyway.

This is the current trend in photography...what is commonly referred to as "photojournalistic" style.  Bull.  It isn't "photojournalistic" and anybody that believes that, well.....

There is a way to capture what you need.  It is highly unprofessional be walking in front of guests, interrupting the ceremony, and jumping around all over the place.   It isn't necessary, so there  you go.  Jump all over it.

I was at a wedding 2 weeks ago - not shooting but attending as a guest.  The photographer (obviously hasn't done many weddings) was all over the place, shot the entire wedding with a flash and a fong dong.  Never took it off.   What was even worse, he photographed the bridal party, coming down the aisle while standing dead center in front of me.  There was an empty pew between me and the next guests.  

Uggh...

Sorry, but that is my opinion.

Blast me.

You won't get blasted by me. There was a recession in the wall to the left of the alter that she could have hid behind and gotten the whole thing if she had a long enough lens.

 

Sandi

Patrick:

( how are you doing by the way?)

lphoto:

Patrick:

( how are you doing by the way?)

Doing ok.  

I just need to figure out how to get the bulls eye off my back.

Do what I did.

I took it off my back and when you were not looking, I stuck it to yours.

-Koa-

Boriken Warrior:

I took it off my back and when you were not looking, I stuck it to yours.

LOL @ Koa & Lowry

What the hell is wrong with people?  It's a religious sacrament, not a circus! 

Singing...

"Where oh where has the common sense gone?

Oh WHERE Oh WHERE can it beeeeeeeeee?"

lphoto:

This is the current trend in photography...what is commonly referred to as "photojournalistic" style.

 

This isn't photojournalistic style it's paparazzi style. I've seen these photographers also, it's the main reason some churches won't allow a photographer in during the ceremony.

It's always been my understanding that as a photographer, I'm working for the Bride and Groom (regardless of who's paying me) and capturing the event as it unfolds. Just as a photojournalist doesn't or shouldn't interfere with the news event or make it happen, I try to remain out of view. That's not an easy task for someone of my size.

There's a time for close-ups and posed shots before and after the ceremony.

Just an Old Man's opinion.

The Old Man:

This isn't photojournalistic style it's paparazzi style. I've seen these photographers also, it's the main reason some churches won't allow a photographer in during the ceremony.

lphoto:

Boriken Warrior:

I took it off my back and when you were not looking, I stuck it to yours.

so.....you were the one.

 

Dave reminds himself to do a nightly back check, just in case.

LOL

Dave W:

Dave reminds himself to do a nightly back check, just in case.

LOL

 

 

Just do like I do. When I shave my back I make sure there's no signs taped to me.

I agree. As a paid vendor, you are not a part of the wedding, you should not interfere with the ceremony. At the same time, you do need to capture what you were hired to capture but that doesn't mean you have to be in front of guests to do so.

I generally kneel down in front of the first pew or row of chairs to get everyone walking down the isle. I am never standing. After the bride walks down, I will sneak around the side to stand in the back of the isle. Sometimes I will move up to the last row with seated guests but never go in front of them. 

If you have the proper equipment, there is no reason not to capture everything from behind or the sides. I think its unprofessional and just plain tacky! 

Lowry, I completely agree that there are some that have taken the whole "photojournalistic" approach too far. There should be more photogs like you who actually snap that shutter for a reason, not to just sort through a billion wasted images later. Sometimes the "art" is lost.

As far as the reception, Ive been asked if I would like a drink and I politely decline. I am not there to party it up with everyone. You cant drink on the job anywhere else, why would you at someones wedding? I do have fun with the guests but I also do my job. I think there should be some kind of etiquette training before you are allowed to start shooting weddings!

Just my 2 pennies!

The Old Man:

Dave W:

Dave reminds himself to do a nightly back check, just in case.

LOL

 

 

Just do like I do. When I shave my back I make sure there's no signs taped to me.

If you can shave your own back then you've got tallent.  Pretty flexible for anybody, much less an "Old Man".

LOL at Koa and Lowry--Glad you guys are here. Like I tell my little boys when they "He started it"... Just ignore him (uhh them).

You do not need to even defend yourself

Those who KNOW you won't care about others opinions and those who care don't KNOW you and therefore do not matter.

lphoto:

I just need to figure out how to get the bulls eye off my back.

I've been trying to figure out how to do that for a long time.  Good luck.

I move around a little bit during the ceremony, but almost always have a long lens and I try to stay behind all guests.  I always ask the officiant what their house rules are, and once in a while get one that says to do whatever, go wherever, they don't care, and I just wonder how other photographers take that.  I don't want to be noticed during the ceremony.  There have been a couple times I've gone behind the alter, but only if I am totally hidden and only if the couple requests it (and the officiant is ok with it), and even so, I make it quick and I am out of there.  With two shooters, we have plenty of coverage now with minimal movement.

I have a wedding in July and I was planning on crawling on my hands and knees up the center aisle and laying on the floor to get some shots.  Would that not be appropriate?

 

 

 

 

LOL, I hope you know I'm kidding.  I hope to stay as unnoticed as possible. 

 

When I had my BIG wedding (you know, the marriage that didn't last), I never even saw the photographer during the ceremony.  He was there and I had photos but he stayed invisible somehow.  That sister would have to erase the imprint of my shoe off her butt for doing what she did.  Good grief!!

gnrhaze:

I have a wedding in July and I was planning on crawling on my hands and knees up the center aisle and laying on the floor to get some shots.  Would that not be appropriate?

lphoto:

gnrhaze:

I have a wedding in July and I was planning on crawling on my hands and knees up the center aisle and laying on the floor to get some shots.  Would that not be appropriate?

Be sure to wear the low cut pants so the thong will show........

(snickering....)

Believe it or not, this is something I have seen......

Photographer steps down front, kneels.......

....it was bright yellow and didn't do a good job of covering what it was intended to cover.

Oh geez, Lowry!  Thanks for the mental picture!  lmao!

paparazzimama:

lphoto:

gnrhaze:

I have a wedding in July and I was planning on crawling on my hands and knees up the center aisle and laying on the floor to get some shots.  Would that not be appropriate?

Be sure to wear the low cut pants so the thong will show........

(snickering....)

Believe it or not, this is something I have seen......

Photographer steps down front, kneels.......

....it was bright yellow and didn't do a good job of covering what it was intended to cover.

Oh geez, Lowry!  Thanks for the mental picture!  lmao!

Lowry, I don't even want to see my ass in a thong.  I def wouldn't want to put anyone else through having to see that.  LMAO!!  Too funny!!