ckhagen wrote:
I've been warned by the mother of this weekend's bride that there are two belligerent family members who will do almost anything to get the shot and that they've had problems with them at other weddings. She said she's ok with me asking them to stop.
My question is... why make me handle this? Why not tell them up front to leave their cameras at home? I hate doing other people's dirty work. Sigh.
That's kind of silly; it's like they're outsourcing the problem to you. Good luck with it.
I absolutely doubled over with laughter. I'll bet the guy's name is actually Bob. That should be the touchstone "Uncle Bob" image. The ultimate Avatar to what the Uncle Bob phenomenon is all about. Leaning in at precisely the wrong moment as he concentrates on "getting the shot". Now THAT is friggin hilarious.
davenfl wrote:
Well you can mock her if you like but she seems to be attempting to stay out the way and frankly at that angle depending on the lens it appears she might just get one heck of a nice shot. She has a right to take pictures and appears respectful of the situation.
Maybe as photographers we need to educate brides/grooms into what makes a great looking wedding photo. If we get the proactive in not allowing other cameras during certain moments by giving them visual examples we could get shots without a camera in every photo. I may have to start a packet and see if I can convince the client to disallow others from using their cameras during the ceremony...
I was curious as to how others handle this. I have only shot two weddings; both were without charge. In both instances, it was a struggle to keep the focus of subjects since every guest had their phone or small camera with them. My own wedding was almost 14 years ago and I don't remember exactly how, but we pretty effectively evacuated the church for the posed photos after the ceremony. Have no intention of becoming a wedding photographer, but curious as to how many of you address this specifically with your clients ahead of time.
Brian Phelps wrote:
I was curious as to how others handle this. I have only shot two weddings; both were without charge. In both instances, it was a struggle to keep the focus of subjects since every guest had their phone or small camera with them. My own wedding was almost 14 years ago and I don't remember exactly how, but we pretty effectively evacuated the church for the posed photos after the ceremony. Have no intention of becoming a wedding photographer, but curious as to how many of you address this specifically with your clients ahead of time.
You've got to be loud and direct. My wife gets their attention while I take the pictures. Usually works out well.
davenfl wrote:
Well you can mock her if you like but she seems to be attempting to stay out the way and frankly at that angle depending on the lens it appears she might just get one heck of a nice shot. She has a right to take pictures and appears respectful of the situation.
Dave
jared_irl wrote:
I will continue to mock her, and you're absolutely ridiculous for defending her.
Seems hypocritical to mock Uncle Bobs for their seemingly inappropriate actions and lack of courtesy, when we, as professional photographers, can't even hold a discussion without disparaging other members for their opinion.
codiac2600 wrote:
Maybe as photographers we need to educate brides/grooms into what makes a great looking wedding photo. If we get the proactive in not allowing other cameras during certain moments by giving them visual examples we could get shots without a camera in every photo. I may have to start a packet and see if I can convince the client to disallow others from using their cameras during the ceremony...
Wouldn't do any good. I was at a wedding last year as a guest (no, I left the camera in the car) and the paid photographer actually went to the front of the sanctuary just before the wedding started, and announced that the minister had requested NO FLASH during the service, and asked all the guests to please not take flash pictures during the wedding. I counted, just because of the announcement. 27 flash pics. None by the paid photographer. I think it is obvious, people don't listen or care.
Dawei Ye wrote:
Seems hypocritical to mock Uncle Bobs for their seemingly inappropriate actions and lack of courtesy, when we, as professional photographers, can't even hold a discussion without disparaging other members for their opinion.
In the end, as has been discussed time and time again, what the heck are these people doing with the photos they are taking ? NOTHING......it's all for selfish " I have this camera so I can do what I want" mentality. Selfish, selfish selfish.
marti.g3 wrote:
In the end, as has been discussed time and time again, what the heck are these people doing with the photos they are taking ? NOTHING......it's all for selfish " I have this camera so I can do what I want" mentality. Selfish, selfish selfish.
And the wedding photographer is being altruistic eh? Not after his/her pay cheque eh?
Maybe it's because they would like some memory of the event without paying $20 to the photographer for a shitty low resolution print.
I hate Uncle Bobs, but calling them names and disparaging them on an internet forum is non constructive, and is also unprofessional.
Anecdotes and war stories are useful because it educates us photographers and prepares us. Going on about how they are selfish is not only pointless, but makes you look narrow minded.
We need to learn to deal with uncle Bob's just like we deal with weather at a wedding, we don't k.ow what to expect but some how we have to get good shots regarless. Simple.
Brian Phelps wrote:
I was curious as to how others handle this. I have only shot two weddings; both were without charge. In both instances, it was a struggle to keep the focus of subjects since every guest had their phone or small camera with them. My own wedding was almost 14 years ago and I don't remember exactly how, but we pretty effectively evacuated the church for the posed photos after the ceremony. Have no intention of becoming a wedding photographer, but curious as to how many of you address this specifically with your clients ahead of time.
This is well over 20 years ago, but I had long, heart to hearts with my brides regarding this issue. I pointed out to them that the formals were the only part of the day that was specifically set aside for the professional photographer to capture images. I emphasized the need for me to work quickly, with no distractions, so that they could get to the reception where family and friends were waiting to greet them. I hate group photos where there is divided attention and showed examples where some of the wedding party were looking at me and some were distracted by Uncle Bobs. I asked for and usually got permission that I would be the only one shooting. In addition, this was before radio slaves and I used auxiallary lights with optical slaves, that their flash would fire.
I tried to keep all cameras out of the sanctuary during formals, but I'd start with an explanation of the bride's wishes that no others would photograph while I shot. I promised them that when I was done, they could take all the photos they wanted. By then, of course, the wedding party had disbanded and I hurried the B&G off to the reception.
I had a friend who encountered a particularly obnoxious Uncle Bob shooting with a Polaroid camera. When the Uncle Bob shot, my friend surreptitiously aimed his huge Graflex flash right in his lens. Of course, the photo turned out white. Uncle Bob asked my friend what to do and he told him to turn the exposure adjustment knob all the way down and try again. This time the image was black. My friend told him: "Sorry, looks like your camera is broken. Put it away and take it into the camera store next week for repair.
I have run into some nice Uncle Bobs, but overall my colleagues and I regarded them as an inconvenience at best and often a royal PITA. I had a female professional photography colleague actually physically picked up and moved by an Uncle Bob so he could get a better shot!
YMMV but during formals, I always let the Bobs photograph first. I stand and wait till they are done, and then I command full attention. If anyone attempts to photograph whilst I am photographing, I again stop and wait till they are done. I strictly put my camera down and just stand there until the others around me stop photographing.
I am never left waiting a long time because eventually the B/G and family start to lose patience and overtly start signalling that they want me to take my photograph, pressuring the Bob to stop. There have even been times where they have actually told the Bob to stop to allow me to take my photo. I then prompt them (the subjects) for another smile, and away I go!
dmacmillan wrote:
I had a friend who encountered a particularly obnoxious Uncle Bob shooting with a Polaroid camera. When the Uncle Bob shot, my friend surreptitiously aimed his huge Graflex flash right in his lens. Of course, the photo turned out white. Uncle Bob asked my friend what to do and he told him to turn the exposure adjustment knob all the way down and try again. This time the image was black. My friend told him: "Sorry, looks like your camera is broken. Put it away and take it into the camera store next week for repair.
It's things like this that really give a bad name to photographers, and is frankly embarrassing to the entire professional. Your friend should hang his head in shame for being not just a bad photographer, but a bad human being. Two wrongs does not make a right.
