Wedding Etiquette

[markgozz]

I just think there should be some common sense used , yes no flash yes don't get in the dam way of the pro and yes no incessant clicking during the ceremony . But for the love of god it's your family and close friends enjoying the day and supporting you in this one off event . At this point I must put my hands up and admit that I'm not married but if I was going to be then I would want everyone to enjoy themselves and feel part of the day and not be restricted by rules and regulations , what's next a ban on children because they may make a noise and spoil the day .

Mark

[Mr Bump]

If we are talking about the indoor wedding ceremony, rather than the external shots following the ceremony, I personally think it is right to have a complete camera ban for guests. Most compacts and camera phones flash every time they are used indoors and many of them also beep. This, to me, repesents as much of an unwarranted intrusion as mobile phones going off.

When it comes to outside shots the Pro should be allowed to do his/her job without becoming part of a firing squad of snappers. That means taking action similar to that suggested by Cathus, otherwise the pro's work can be compromised and lead to the disappointment experienced by messyhead.

[gbkirk]

All the weddings this year have said it and one let me only shoot walk in ,rings and kiss .
The pro can end up with no shots of the ceremony if a flash went off when he took one and the bride is not going to be happy , You see it a lot in cheap video when a flash goes off the whole room goes white . you have to remember out of 40 guests 20 will have a flash and 15 will not know how to turn it off (to a guest it's only a little flash to SLR at 1600iso it's a BIG one) .

[julip]

i went to two weddings last year and the registrar asked that no photos were taken during the ceremony because the professional would do it and it would minimise the disruption in both cases. They didnt ask for no photos full stop though, that seems a bit draconian :-/

[xavier]

Friends am I being abit thick here or should there be enough light at the ceremony to negate the use of the flash? as I understand the ceremony is usely in the AM rather than the PM. As for the case messyhead's mess up at the wedding the photographer at a wedding I wos at asked people to get their snaps of the happy couple before he started his round, I guess this stoped sume people being noughty and makeing his job harder.

[ap4a]

Originally Posted by xavier

or should there be enough light at the ceremony to negate the use of the flash? as I understand the ceremony is usely in the AM rather than the PM.

Not necessarily. Some churches are pretty dark all the time, and for brighter venues there's often the need for fill flash to compensate for bright light pouring in through windows.

The last wedding I attended the ceremony was done about 4 foot away from a huge picture window with the bride & groom facing into the room away from it. The photographer was forced to use fill.

[KernowPhoto]

Speaking as a Semi-Professional Wedding Photographer with quite a bit of experience of these matters all I can say is that the rules vary from venue to venue and to some extent who is conducting the ceremony.

Many venues do restrict the taking of photos during the actual ceremony to the professional photographer only, the reason being to simply avoid destractions that would occur if all guests started taking photographs while the ceremony was taking place. Some venues restrict the use of flash, others permit it (persoanlly I try and avoid it anyway)

Ironically the rules at some registry offices are stricter than those in churches, some even prohibiting the professional photographer from taking pictures during the actual ceremony and insisting that all shots such as the exchnage of rings are 'staged' afterwards.

As a professioanl photographer I have no objection to guests taking their own photos before and after the ceremony. Most guests will respect the fact that a professional photogrpaher has a job to to and will not get in your way. Occasionally though it may be necessary to have a quite word with the usher or best man if guests start to get in the way and/or compete for attention.

[KernowPhoto]

BTW - as for Lands End, technically its private property and as such the owner can palce whatever restrictions they wish on photography.

[markgozz]

Originally Posted by KernowPhoto

BTW - as for Lands End, technically its private property and as such the owner can palce whatever restrictions they wish on photography.

There seem to be more and more areas of the country that are now private property and have all sorts of restrictions placed on them from town centre shopping precincts to ( and I can't believe I'm saying this ) Lands End .
I can feel another rant coming on but it's late and I've got work in the the morning so I'll sleep on it .

Mark

PS Thanks for your response .

[jet_kit]

I haven't shot a wedding for nearly 40 years, and I thank my lucky stars for that.
As far as I'm concerned, it's the Priest's church and he can make the rules. Put yourself in his position - he's trying to conduct a solemn ceremony and 20 people are wandering about with their camera/phones trying to get the 'unique' shot up the bride's nose, framed by the candlesticks on the alter.
NO! Ban all photography in the church and leave it up to the pro. He, at least knows how to be discrete and to keep out of the way.