I have taken to asking any other shooters (be they Uncle Bob's with SLR's or just friends with point and shoots) to hold off with their camerras until I get the shot.
I explain how distracting it is for the subjects.
Most poeple understand and respect my request, some however just ignore me as if I was not talking to them. They seem to think that a cell phone camera won't distract the B&G !!!!
When I used to shoot weddings part of my contract with the B&G required a designated "family liason" from each side of the party. Usually an actual family member was required to serve this function since "friends" don't hold any sway over family members. The only routine exception to the "family member" rule was for professional wedding planner/coordinators. Either way, I made sure that I met with these folks at the beginning of the wedding day (if not earlier). They had 2 primary tasks... Corralling people for the formal group photos AND controlling the "Uncle Bobs" in the crowd.
This was invaluable to keeping things moving and freed me to concentrate on the photography rather than managing the wedding.
I'm also gonna start addressing b&g's about this before the day. The ridiculous and embarrassing Uncle Bob is becoming ubiquitous, especially at asian weddings, and is only going to get worse unless we educate the market.
last year it was getting people to see each other before the ceremony, now its telling people to ask that the hobbyist photographers in the family be discreet and not ruin the atmosphere.
You're nicer than I am. I would have put a stop to it. I can take the point and shoots from behind me. I can take a row of bride's maids with cameras. I can't take a wanna be pro shooting every shot and disrupting my formal session. He would have been history. There is a tackful way of handling it, which I have done in the past. Yvette
I've been a uncle Bob at a few weddings. I always try to stay out of the photographers way and not ruin a picture for anyone. I'm not that interested in taking pictures of the wedding anyway, it's the reception afterwards that's fun to take pictures at.
The last wedding I attended was a good friend of mine. I did notice all the AF beams in many of my shots. I can imagine how a Pro feels editing all of these.
dennisyvette wrote:
I have a claus in my contract about guest and family shooting pictures. It states that they are allowed as long as they are not shooting all our posed shots and causing a a problem. There have been several times where I put my foot down about people shooting. It's distracting to me and the people that are having their pictures done. For instance, the other day the groom's sister was looking at someone else's camera. I stopped Dennis and pointed at his camera. I then said..Ladies, this is the camera that has been paid for. These are the pictures that will go in the album. Usually they get the message and so does ther person behind us. Yvette...Show more →
Dunno why they would wanna copy your poses...
The hired pro has a contract with the B&G (whoever) and that contract can be enforced. That contract can impose a duty on that party to regulate the behavior of their guests and associates, it can be tailored to limit the performance requirements of the pro, if the other party's associates create an adverse environment, etc. Takes good contract skills from the lawyer and people/business skills to "sell" it. The WP should still use good people skills in dealing with the other folks there because you are still better off avoiding a contract dispute if you can.
MRRiley wrote:
At the risk of reopening a dormant thread....
When I used to shoot weddings part of my contract with the B&G required a designated "family liason" from each side of the party. Usually an actual family member was required to serve this function since "friends" don't hold any sway over family members. The only routine exception to the "family member" rule was for professional wedding planner/coordinators. Either way, I made sure that I met with these folks at the beginning of the wedding day (if not earlier). They had 2 primary tasks... Corralling people for the formal group photos AND controlling the "Uncle Bobs" in the crowd.
This was invaluable to keeping things moving and freed me to concentrate on the photography rather than managing the wedding....Show more →
This is an absolute must. You just never know what will arise. The last thing you want to do is approach the B & G for anything, whether it's an Uncle Bob with the monopod or Aunt Mary who is drunk and knocking into your lightstands.
when i meet with the bride, groom and parents, i stress for a few minutes the importance of encouraging the guests and family to refrain from pictures. i know it's impossible and too much to ask that there be NO other cameras at the wedding. there will always be cameras poppin' flashes and stickin' in the aisleways.
but i explain to the bride and groom what other cameras can do to the pictures they are paying for and how they can't re-live that day again. all B&G and parents completely understand. i ask their permission that on wedding day if anyone is being a nuisance, i have a right to ask them to step down (also in the contract). that way if they get upset, it won't be a surprise to the B&G and the rents paying for it.
i've had a couple of upset family members but with the support of the B&G and parents, if i keep my cool and stand polite, in the end, the Uncle Bob's and Aunt Sally's just look foolish.
I had one recently where during a big reception the cake cutting (which, against my wishes, the toastmaster announced I would take pictures of first....hopeless) I ended up moving slightly in front of one of the guests which evidently spoilt the masterpiece he was about to create on his P&S, at which point he said loudly "F*ckin cheers mate....Peasant...."
Unbelievable. Keenness I can get, abusing the paid pro....sorry I just don't get it.
"Well if the idiot photographer would get out of the way I could take my picture".....
....this coming from a groomsman who was taking photos of my formal setups, which he was supposed to be in, but was holding up the works because he wanted to take photos........amazing.....
I shot my son's wedding last month. One of his co-workers who was about my age showed up with a Rebel whatever and a big flash not sure of the model. While I was discussing the chain of events for the reception the DJ, I overheard my son talking to this fellow not far behind me.
"I brought my camera because you know the hired professionals always miss things, that way you have everything you want," said the co-worker.
"That professional is my Dad," my son responded, "He's been doing this for a living since before I was born."
I didn't see "co-worker Bob" with camera in hand the rest of the day.
butchM wrote:
I shot my son's wedding last month. One of his co-workers who was about my age showed up with a Rebel whatever and a big flash not sure of the model. While I was discussing the chain of events for the reception the DJ, I overheard my son talking to this fellow not far behind me.
"I brought my camera because you know the hired professionals always miss things, that way you have everything you want," said the co-worker.
"That professional is my Dad," my son responded, "He's been doing this for a living since before I was born."
I didn't see "co-worker Bob" with camera in hand the rest of the day. ...Show more →
Awesome........idiot co worker...........as if HIS thoughts on the days coverage really carries any weight................
The "Uncle Bob" in the OP probably had the slave triggered by CLS. By default, the flash beeps to tell you a bit of info about the shot (if the flash was triggered properly, or if it thinks the shot is underexposed despite firing at max power) and also beeps to tell you it's recycled. You can turn it off though. (Thank god.) However, being default, most people that aren't aware, never change it. >:
I'm not a paid pro WP by any stretch, but even I have experience with Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary in my lousy McFormulaPrintALot job (which I'm getting out of shortly). Really, I think since photography has become so much more accessible in recent years, the number of amateur photographers is only going to rise, and those who are being paid to take pictures in any situation are going to have to deal with them more, as things like the D40/Rebel become more and more popular.
Oasis on the first page of this thread made me smile:
oasis wrote:
Prof - Haha, wouldn't be surprised if he's an FMer. That is, if you're a hobbyist and have a Fong on your flash, you've got to be a member of SOME photography forum right?!
i'll shoot some pics during a friend's (and co-worker) wedding in 2 week (I declined to be the "official" photog) and though i'm a hobbyist I have a Gary Fong lightshere II on my 580 EX.
So YES I'm a member of SOME board and I just hope I won't be the "Uncle Bob" of someone else
350 guests for the cocktail and 120 for the dinner, but not "high society" at all
