At today's wedding, I had my first somewhat negative experience in 5 years of full time shooting. The bridal party started drinking heavily before the ceremony and shortly into the reception, they were drunk. Not a little buzzed. Drunk. Slurring words, drunk. Stumbling around, drunk. Eyes half closed all night long drunk. Can't stand like a normal person and pose for photos in front of the fireworks like they said they wanted drunk.
About 2 hours into the 4 hour reception (and at least 1 1/2 hours after the drunken antics began), the MOB comes off to me and say "Why isn't your assistant taking more photos?" I wanted to tell her that I didn't see any point in both of us taking hundreds of photos of the bridal party stumbling around on the dance floor or off on the deck smoking (especially when all of the women in the bridal party said "Don't take any photos of me smoking!" and then proceeded to spent 5/6 of the night... smoking... but I bit my cheek and said my assistant had already taken of her standard shots and would continue shooting when any events occurred.
I was really pissed off because everyone could see the BP was drunk, as were a hearty portion of the guests. All weddings have a few buzzed people, but I've never seen this many people sloppy drunk at one event outside of a frat party. And, with the bride and groom being 21/23, I guess that was their idea of fun. But I don't need to take hundreds of photos of drunk people acting drunk. And I highly doubt they're going to want many, if any of those photos in their album. I mean, at sunset I took the b&g onto the golf course to get some shots in front of the great, red sunset. And all the bride wanted to do was stick her butt toward the camera and have her friends smack it. And I still had 2 hours to go at this point so you can imagine it just continued to spiral downhill as the night progressed.
Anyway, I just wanted to vent. If the MOB comes back after the wedding and complains (the bride herself told me this morning that her mother was a "royal bitch") how would you handle it? I'm extremely pleased with my photography of the day up until the point that everyone was three sheets to the wind, but after that, it's just photos of drunk people. A few are pretty funny, I'll admit, but I just have a nagging feeling that the MOB will be like "Why did you take photos like that and not of (insert random inane moment)..."
You didn't do anything wrong, don't worry too much. If anyone gets up in your grille, just play it straight. You did all you could do. It's not your fault everyone was drunk!
Thanks, CarminaF. I actually was having fun until the MOB came over and complained. After all, a little liquor loosens up the party and makes them easier to work with, but these guys took it way, way to far. It just baffled me that the MOB couldn't see the debauchery that was going on around her, lol.
you can only control what's within your sphere of influence. this definitely falls under the 'cooperation' clause in the contract. when the entire place is hammered, you can't be responsible for their behavior.
Rose colored glasses? Haha. Her daughter is clearly an angel.
I've had to take some questionable pictures (bride handcuffed in police cruiser/bridesmaids spread on the trunk, etc) but those were the exception, not the rule.
Again, wouldn't worry too much about it. Even if the MOB is a PITA later, it still doesn't reflect badly on you.
I had a MOB send me home because everyone was drunk at the reception. She said she wasn't paying for pictures of drunks. When I reminded her that she had already paid me, and there were no refunds, she smiled at me and said "I know that, but I am not paying for drunk pictures. Consider it a bonus for having to put up with this." I thanked her and went home.
Tony,
This is exactly why we started putting in our contracts that if the bridal party is going to be drunk and out of control, we will stop shooting, pack up and leave. Since we started putting that in our contracts and explaining it to brides at our initial meetings, we havent had any real problems since.
Andrew Villa wrote:
Tony,
This is exactly why we started putting in our contracts that if the bridal party is going to be drunk and out of control, we will stop shooting, pack up and leave. Since we started putting that in our contracts and explaining it to brides at our initial meetings, we havent had any real problems since.
Andrew
I think that clause is a bit ridiculous. The only reasons our contract allows us to pack-up and leave even if the party hasn't ended is if we get harassed (sexually or otherwise - after the 2nd warning we're outa there) or if the time runs out and they don't want to pay for the extra time.
I can't believe you'd truly enforce such a clause. Bride's about to toss the bouquet but you're not shooting it because the best man and one of the groomsmen are in the rest room puking out the vodka? C'mon.
if this is your forceful way of telling the bride "if your BP gets plastered your reception photos will suxers" then fine, but if you'd really consider enforcing it that's amazing to me
I would have just kept shooting, get all those pics of them being drunken idiots. When it comes time to proofing let them see that they messed up the pictures, not you. They arent going to remember much from that night so showing them pics will give them a dose of humility and will cover your butt. Maybe they want pics of them being drunk and stupid, most likely not. But having pics of it will show you were doing their job while they were doing everything in their power to prevent you from doing it.
I have shot weddings like this and I do the same thing I do at every wedding, document the day. If they dont like seeing what actually happened thats their problem not mine.
I had a bridal party devour 6 bottles of Jager, to the point where the MOH passed out at her table as soon as the intros were done. She couldn't even give a toast.
What's surprising is that this couple actually booked a pretty big package, just under $4K. I know that's not super high end for a lot of the country, but in rural PA, I'm very happy when I can book that collection.
And I did keep shooting. I just couldn't see the sense in having my second shoot everything too. I figured one of us getting photos of stumbling - I mean dancing - was good enough.
I'm looking forward to some of the shots. (pun intended)
Surely you got the photos of everyone copping a feel of the bride's butt? Maybe in 10 years she will actually be able to remember the names of some of the guys.
Thats a hard one I mean the bride and groom are your clients realistically you need to keep them happy. Perhaps if this is their idea of fun they may like a few photos of this but I agree why keep taking TWO sets of them all night. I do not envy you!
CRFTony wrote:
.... MOB will be like "Why did you take photos like that and not of (insert random inane moment)..."
Unlike you, the MOB, FOB, MOG, FOG, has NO say so. My clients are the bride and groom no matter who is paying. The B&G name is on the my contract and no one else.
I'm sure you captured all of the key moments plus the extras. That's what matters most.
That sounds rough! 
