Do you ban guests from bringing cameras to a wedding?
In the last few years Ive noticed more and more photographers that I’ve worked with are asking couples to not allow guests to bring cameras or other devices. Seriously, holding a regular sized iPad to take pictures or video just looks silly.
Recently at my daughter’s play, a mom was in the front row holding her iPad up and blocking the view of those sitting behind her. She was so happy and proud seeing her child on stage, it was cute yet the people behind her had to adjust so they could see.
Anyways, I never really fully pondered the thought or worried about potential issue until my last wedding when an over zealous guest jumped in front of me and ruined many shots of the couple coming down the isle. There wasn’t anything I could do but hope my assistant got the shot. I’ve seen articles where guest’s have ruined shots because of on camera flashes. Thank goodness, I didn’t have that issue and hope I can avoid that in the future.
This experience left me frustrated and truthfully after seeing the actually image from the family member on Facebook, I just had to shake my head. They are probably super proud of those images and getting it onto social media within hours.
Im glad they are happy but the couple was paying me to get those shots. Heres a side by side of her jumping in and me unable to get the shot I needed:
Unfortunately the space I was in was so tiny I had no leverage to move leading to a ruined shot.
Is this is lesson learned or just expect this in general at weddings? Im still pondering.
Im torn, I think its great people can take bring cameras and cell phones and yes even iPad’s to capture whats dear to their hearts but how can you avoid an issue such as this while the guest is blissfully ignorant in what they did AND keep the bride and groom happy?
As of now, I won’t do a ban but I will let the couple choose what they would like to do and use this image an example. Unfortunately, you cannot teach people common sense or awareness but you can educate those paying for images. For now on, my wedding contracts will warn of such potentials and advice with options for the couple who want to make sure this doesn’t happen. And if it does happen, they were warned.
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People are excited taking photos at weddings and jumping around. I guess as a photographer you have to anticipate this and position yourself accordingly. For example you have the same problem when visiting the National Parks. As a society we just have too many restrictions already and don’t need one more! I think it is OK to advise the couple of the problem and have it in your contract. But can you imagine if you are being paid for a magazine to get a good picture at one of the parks and you tell them someone jumped in front of… Read more »
Again, I think educating the couple is the best route and they can decide what to do for their own special day.
My biggest reason for not allowing guests to bring cameras is because of social media.
You pay $4000 for a professional photographer but then a dozen guests go ahead and post their crooked, poorly lit photos of the dress and the moment on Instagram. So when your good photos come in then everyones like..”oh yeah, i saw that 2 weeks ago”. (It also happens with new babies. You want to present the kid on your own terms but aunt jackie already posted a shot of your blotchy, crying, snotty angel.)
Very good reason and thoughts. Social media has create quite the unique dynamic with this. We need to adapt, learn, an be better for it especially when we are being paid thousands of dollars.
I can get what you mean, but I also think people appreciate quality, and that’s the reason for them to pay for photographers. Social media allows to put the event (or whatever you want) out there within seconds, but that doesn’t mean if your picture is amazing they’re not gonna appreciate that because “I’ve already seen that a couple weeks ago”. You always stop to appreciate the beauty of a well captured moment, which I think it doesn’t happen with lots of social media mediocre pictures.
you are totally right. as a wedding guest I have experienced the proud family/friend blocking my view while they stand up during said wedding recording or taking pics with their iPad. Have you always noticed it is an iPad? But seriously, just rude. However one wedding I attended with a Marine Corps saber recessional at the end I managed to grab the money shot because the pros were not aware of the traditional playful swat on the bride’s backside welcoming her to the Marine Corps family. I was a guest because my husband officiated the wedding so I sat in… Read more »
I think what you did was awesome! Can you image if more people treated others like that by providing a very special(and awesome) moment? :D
I would ban cell phones definitely. We were at a wedding where everyone in either side of the couple had their cell phones out. I don’t know how the photographer got pics. Plus aren’t people there to enjoy the moment? Isn’t that why you hire a photographer?
Agreed. I once went to a JayZ/JT concert and ended up with seriously amazing seats. I purposely left my phone in the hotel because I decided to 100% enjoy the moment and the experience. It was the best decision. Everyone around me was watching the concert through their cell phones.
I think it should be in the contract. More and more I have found I face a harder course to really get those special non artificial moments that make up the best photos. Couples need to be aware and address those at the wedding that as a courtesy please refrain from/be aware of where the photographer is at during the event and allow them to capture what is needed. I mean bluntly, they are paying the money and they should want to help you in that endeavor.
I agree to make it apart of the contract. If you are educating the couple about it, then they can decide on how they want to approach it. I’ve seen many officiators (by request of the couple) make the announcement so that the couple doesn’t “look” like the bad guys.
Many weddings request no guest photos during the ceremony which I think is respectful to the wedding party and other guests. Contracts often have a clause that the professional photographer is not responsible for missed shots caused by guest issues.
As an enthusiastic amateur photographer in the UK who got married a little over a year ago, I’m pretty surprised by the tone of this article. I think you’re forgetting what your role is, whose happiness is paramount, and the true purpose of the day. 1. The photographer doesn’t make the rules at a wedding. 2. Imposing bans on guests (no cellphones? Seriously?) is very quickly going to start spoiling the atmosphere 3. There’s a place for professional photos that typically come through weeks after the event, and another place for the amateur candids that appear 24 hours later. There’s… Read more »
While I understand both the tone of this post and the majority of the photographers thinking bans are appropriate – (their hearts are in the right place) I have to admit that back when I did weddings (a LONG time ago) I tried instituting these bans and it angered most brides. I don’t think it was worth the trouble since angering your clients and their family is a surefire way to miss business. But I do think there are ways that you can control the guests from getting in the way without being authoritarian. You just have to get creative.
The tone isn’t negative at all. I was making an observation. I’ve not really had an issue from guests before. I have had serious issues as a videographer in a photographer ruining my shots. I even posted an example years ago when I was set up shooting a first dance. I had set up behind the cake and had the cake in focus and did a rack focus to zoom into the couple during the dance as they kissed. It was beautiful. Right as the couple was about to kiss, the photographer jumped in front of my camera. Your could… Read more »
It’s the bride’s and groom’s day and their parents’ day. Somewhere it should be mentioned to the guests to please be respectful of others and sit down!. More than likely, the family have hired a professional photographer and Aunt Tilly photo bombing is just not appropriate.
I would suggest couples thinking a marriage is a photo/movie set for your ‘be a pricess for a day’ children dream to avoid to invite guests at all. If you invite them just to be a nice background for your photos, and pay your gifts, and not to share your joy, well, better you pay some professional actors then. A photographer is there to shoot an event, not to direct it. Once I attended a marriage where he was doing that, I, and others, left it, it wasn’t a party, it looked like unpaid work… That said, being an amateur… Read more »
I too have seen photographers direct. Thankfully, I LOVE when weddings work with wedding planners, the wedding planners take care of all of that. I have on occasion had to tell couples what to do on certain things like cake cutting LOL but that’s when I get the look of “oh crap, what do I do” :). More often I’ve seen DJ’s have to direct things mostly out of necessity.
i should start by saying I’m a professional photographer and shoot weddings for hire on occasion. My feeling is that everyone is there to enjoy themselves, and if part of that is taking their own photos, they should be allowed to do so. Yes, I want to get the best photos possible for the bride and groom, and yes, I’ll lose some shots when others get in front of me, but I keep in mind that this wedding isn’t about me. It’s about the couple, their family and friends. I can work around those taking photos and still get good… Read more »
I agree, I agree everyone is there to enjoy the day and for the most part we do need to work around this age of social media and happy guests. I also feel education to the couple provides ultimate outcome so they can decide.
Not a photographer, and got married before the digital photo craze so it wasn’t an issue, but my feeling is that it should be left up to the bride & groom. As the article states, make them aware that some of the ceremony moments have the potential to be disrupted by enthusiastic amateurs getting in the way of the pro, and let the couple decide what to do about it. I’ve also seen pastors/priests/officiants tell a crowd that photos can be taken after the ceremony is complete, but not during. I’m not sure if that was a venue restriction or… Read more »
I too have seen the officiator say something and that has usually come down from the couple. They have the officiator set the rules so the couple doesn’t look like the “bad guys”
Reblogged this on empire360.
As an amateur photographer, I had this thought for my own wedding and we made a point of asking guests not to use their cameras during the ceremony to ensure our photographers didn’t have to deal with this situation. We didn’t ban cameras for the entire event, just the ceremony. It worked out very well for us and we didn’t have any complaints from our guests, while still getting a nice range of photos from them for the rest of our wedding celebration.
More people are (finally) beginning to realize this, and gradually the public is seeing the need for “unplugged weddings”. I think this choice is ultimately up to the couple getting married, but it’s probably a good idea for the photographer to suggest it, and let them decide. Then, it’s not the photographer’s job to police the guests. For the photographer to insist that guests should not take photos is wrong (in my opinion). If an “unplugged wedding” hasn’t been requested by the couple (and properly announced, so all guests are aware), you can’t blame the guests for doing what is… Read more »
Agree with Jared ….
Me and my fiancee don’t want any phone/camera guest usage at our wedding. Not because we want everyone “to be in the moment”, not obstruct other people’s views, not interfere with the professional photographer, or put low-quality images on social media. We want to ban them because this is a private family event and we don’t want any images at all shared on Facebook or anywhere on the internet. We will not even be sharing the professional photos ourselves on any social media platform. My fiancee is very anti-Facebook and doesn’t have an account. I do, but am very private… Read more »
you are totally right. as a wedding guest I have experienced the proud family/friend blocking my view while they stand up during said wedding recording or taking pics with their iPad. Have you always noticed it is an iPad? But seriously, just rude. However one wedding I attended with a Marine Corps saber recessional at the end I managed to grab the money shot because the pros were not aware of the traditional playful swat on the bride’s backside welcoming her to the Marine Corps family. I was a guest because my husband officiated the wedding so I sat in… Read more »
I think what you did was awesome! Can you image if more people treated others like that by providing a very special(and awesome) moment? :D
It’s the bride’s and groom’s day and their parents’ day. Somewhere it should be mentioned to the guests to please be respectful of others and sit down!. More than likely, the family have hired a professional photographer and Aunt Tilly photo bombing is just not appropriate.
People are excited taking photos at weddings and jumping around. I guess as a photographer you have to anticipate this and position yourself accordingly. For example you have the same problem when visiting the National Parks. As a society we just have too many restrictions already and don’t need one more! I think it is OK to advise the couple of the problem and have it in your contract. But can you imagine if you are being paid for a magazine to get a good picture at one of the parks and you tell them someone jumped in front of… Read more »
Again, I think educating the couple is the best route and they can decide what to do for their own special day.
My biggest reason for not allowing guests to bring cameras is because of social media.
You pay $4000 for a professional photographer but then a dozen guests go ahead and post their crooked, poorly lit photos of the dress and the moment on Instagram. So when your good photos come in then everyones like..”oh yeah, i saw that 2 weeks ago”. (It also happens with new babies. You want to present the kid on your own terms but aunt jackie already posted a shot of your blotchy, crying, snotty angel.)
Very good reason and thoughts. Social media has create quite the unique dynamic with this. We need to adapt, learn, an be better for it especially when we are being paid thousands of dollars.
I can get what you mean, but I also think people appreciate quality, and that’s the reason for them to pay for photographers. Social media allows to put the event (or whatever you want) out there within seconds, but that doesn’t mean if your picture is amazing they’re not gonna appreciate that because “I’ve already seen that a couple weeks ago”. You always stop to appreciate the beauty of a well captured moment, which I think it doesn’t happen with lots of social media mediocre pictures.
I think it should be in the contract. More and more I have found I face a harder course to really get those special non artificial moments that make up the best photos. Couples need to be aware and address those at the wedding that as a courtesy please refrain from/be aware of where the photographer is at during the event and allow them to capture what is needed. I mean bluntly, they are paying the money and they should want to help you in that endeavor.
I agree to make it apart of the contract. If you are educating the couple about it, then they can decide on how they want to approach it. I’ve seen many officiators (by request of the couple) make the announcement so that the couple doesn’t “look” like the bad guys.
Many weddings request no guest photos during the ceremony which I think is respectful to the wedding party and other guests. Contracts often have a clause that the professional photographer is not responsible for missed shots caused by guest issues.
As an enthusiastic amateur photographer in the UK who got married a little over a year ago, I’m pretty surprised by the tone of this article. I think you’re forgetting what your role is, whose happiness is paramount, and the true purpose of the day. 1. The photographer doesn’t make the rules at a wedding. 2. Imposing bans on guests (no cellphones? Seriously?) is very quickly going to start spoiling the atmosphere 3. There’s a place for professional photos that typically come through weeks after the event, and another place for the amateur candids that appear 24 hours later. There’s… Read more »
The tone isn’t negative at all. I was making an observation. I’ve not really had an issue from guests before. I have had serious issues as a videographer in a photographer ruining my shots. I even posted an example years ago when I was set up shooting a first dance. I had set up behind the cake and had the cake in focus and did a rack focus to zoom into the couple during the dance as they kissed. It was beautiful. Right as the couple was about to kiss, the photographer jumped in front of my camera. Your could… Read more »
While I understand both the tone of this post and the majority of the photographers thinking bans are appropriate – (their hearts are in the right place) I have to admit that back when I did weddings (a LONG time ago) I tried instituting these bans and it angered most brides. I don’t think it was worth the trouble since angering your clients and their family is a surefire way to miss business. But I do think there are ways that you can control the guests from getting in the way without being authoritarian. You just have to get creative.
i should start by saying I’m a professional photographer and shoot weddings for hire on occasion. My feeling is that everyone is there to enjoy themselves, and if part of that is taking their own photos, they should be allowed to do so. Yes, I want to get the best photos possible for the bride and groom, and yes, I’ll lose some shots when others get in front of me, but I keep in mind that this wedding isn’t about me. It’s about the couple, their family and friends. I can work around those taking photos and still get good… Read more »
I agree, I agree everyone is there to enjoy the day and for the most part we do need to work around this age of social media and happy guests. I also feel education to the couple provides ultimate outcome so they can decide.
I would suggest couples thinking a marriage is a photo/movie set for your ‘be a pricess for a day’ children dream to avoid to invite guests at all. If you invite them just to be a nice background for your photos, and pay your gifts, and not to share your joy, well, better you pay some professional actors then. A photographer is there to shoot an event, not to direct it. Once I attended a marriage where he was doing that, I, and others, left it, it wasn’t a party, it looked like unpaid work… That said, being an amateur… Read more »
I too have seen photographers direct. Thankfully, I LOVE when weddings work with wedding planners, the wedding planners take care of all of that. I have on occasion had to tell couples what to do on certain things like cake cutting LOL but that’s when I get the look of “oh crap, what do I do” :). More often I’ve seen DJ’s have to direct things mostly out of necessity.
Not a photographer, and got married before the digital photo craze so it wasn’t an issue, but my feeling is that it should be left up to the bride & groom. As the article states, make them aware that some of the ceremony moments have the potential to be disrupted by enthusiastic amateurs getting in the way of the pro, and let the couple decide what to do about it. I’ve also seen pastors/priests/officiants tell a crowd that photos can be taken after the ceremony is complete, but not during. I’m not sure if that was a venue restriction or… Read more »
I too have seen the officiator say something and that has usually come down from the couple. They have the officiator set the rules so the couple doesn’t look like the “bad guys”
I would ban cell phones definitely. We were at a wedding where everyone in either side of the couple had their cell phones out. I don’t know how the photographer got pics. Plus aren’t people there to enjoy the moment? Isn’t that why you hire a photographer?
Agreed. I once went to a JayZ/JT concert and ended up with seriously amazing seats. I purposely left my phone in the hotel because I decided to 100% enjoy the moment and the experience. It was the best decision. Everyone around me was watching the concert through their cell phones.
Agree with Jared ….
As an amateur photographer, I had this thought for my own wedding and we made a point of asking guests not to use their cameras during the ceremony to ensure our photographers didn’t have to deal with this situation. We didn’t ban cameras for the entire event, just the ceremony. It worked out very well for us and we didn’t have any complaints from our guests, while still getting a nice range of photos from them for the rest of our wedding celebration.
Me and my fiancee don’t want any phone/camera guest usage at our wedding. Not because we want everyone “to be in the moment”, not obstruct other people’s views, not interfere with the professional photographer, or put low-quality images on social media. We want to ban them because this is a private family event and we don’t want any images at all shared on Facebook or anywhere on the internet. We will not even be sharing the professional photos ourselves on any social media platform. My fiancee is very anti-Facebook and doesn’t have an account. I do, but am very private… Read more »
Reblogged this on empire360.
More people are (finally) beginning to realize this, and gradually the public is seeing the need for “unplugged weddings”. I think this choice is ultimately up to the couple getting married, but it’s probably a good idea for the photographer to suggest it, and let them decide. Then, it’s not the photographer’s job to police the guests. For the photographer to insist that guests should not take photos is wrong (in my opinion). If an “unplugged wedding” hasn’t been requested by the couple (and properly announced, so all guests are aware), you can’t blame the guests for doing what is… Read more »