What are your thoughts about blocking guests from seeing the ceremony? Like, standing at the front of the church? I feel like a bit of a spectacle there sometimes, but I've seen other photographers blasting away, with flash, standing almost directly on top of the in-laws, no problem. (ps, I don't use flash during the ceremony)
I seem to find a place at the front of the isle most of the time (low down) and do a fair bit of shooting there.
I would like to (hypothetically) walk around the b&g and be able to say, shoot them both looking back at the officiant and get their profiles (if that makes any sense).. like, behind the groom, shooting across to the bride. I'm not sure if its polite or good to be that visible.
I stay in the main aisle and crouch down but occaisionally stand up to take a few shots. I always work with a second shooter so they are shooting from the side aisles or from the choir loft. That said, I try not to block guests view of the ceremony.
I like to stay out of the way as much as possible, but will stand in the aisle or block someone's view momentarily to get a shot - then slink back to my corner again...
we have two shooters but I usually crouch in the front when everyone is walking down. After that I roam from side to side and the back, almost never in the front.
As far as getting cool angles, you may want to try getting a cheap remote camera trigger from phottix (20 bucks on ebay) and set a camera on a tripod behind the alter somewhere. Then just fire away and get some unique shots that would be very intrusive otherwise.
I NEVER stand up in the middle of the aisle blocking anyone.......if i need to get a shot, i move up quickly, crouch down, get my shot and leave...the rest of the time im shooting with my 70-200 2.8 from the back of the church or the aisle......and have a second shooting from the side.............
Can't tell you how many times guests have stood right there in the middle though without any regard for anyone.......those "butt" shots look great in the brides proofs.......anytime i have someone blocking me, i take their photo.....proof that I was not the one mucking up things.......
Walking on the altar is prohibited, stages are usually allowed depending on the minister.......but be advised that YOU walking all around the ceremony to get your shots will definitely put YOU in the limelight..........
Some photogs don't care.......some do......it's all a matter of your own personal style and professionalism.
Doing your job with the LEAST amount of intrusion should be your goal.
technocraft wrote:
I like to stay out of the way as much as possible, but will stand in the aisle or block someone's view momentarily to get a shot - then slink back to my corner again...
I agree, be considerate of others yet you still get the shot because your the pro.
Two shooters. Scope out the venue well in advance. Place the shooters where they will get the shots with minimal impact. When all else fails, we get the shot and try to get out of the way ASAP. I'd rather get the shots and have a couple of dirty looks from the audience than miss the shots because I want to be invisible. The B&G want the photos, after all, not excuses. I've never had a complaint.
I try not to stand in front of people (a long lens helps), but I will do it to get a quick shot if I need to. I try to be discrete. I feel that I can get most of my shots just walking around the outside perimeter. Just find out the house rules and plan your shots according to those boundaries.
Don't let those out of control priests tell you or anyone else what you can and cannot do. Worse still are the organ ladies sitting there in circus tent size dress trying to eek out some retched tune.
Be there - be prepped, professional, proud and profound. Get the deed done and leave.
hassy501 wrote:
Those organ ladies can be pretty randy in the back office !!
And who said being a wedding photographer isn't like being a rockstar. I'm just picturing hassy in the back office with a bunch of coked out organ ladies...
Always out of sight to the side or in the middle isle down low so I do not block any views. Try to hide in back of a wall or post depending on the venue. I would not walk in front of the guest unless I have no other option to get into position.
I started out following the advice of more experienced photographers who said, "Be as invisible as you can and don't use flash during the ceremony, even if they say you can." My second wedding, I was at the back not using flash and suddenly half the guests were firing off cameras with flash - at the brides' request. After that, I ask what they want and I do that. If I'm free and it's local, I'll go to the rehersal and talk with the couple and the minister and ask what they want and then practice being in the right place to get the shots they want and I'll check with them and the people there to see if that was alright with them and if it was distracting or not. Sometimes they want me to be all over the place getting everything and everyone supports it. Sometimes I'm limited to the choir loft during the ceremony and the minister has to approve my camera not having too loud a shutter sound. I do my best to give them what they want as inobtrusively and professionally as I can. Last wedding I did, they wanted me to be all over the place gettting everything from the best possible angle. I expressed my concern, that even if it wasn't distracting to them it might be distracting to the guests. The 30ish minister said, "No one's going to remember you or any of the rest of this. All they're going to remember is what they see in the photos you took."
Horrors.
My motto is that the photographer should be invisible. The feedback that I treasure most from my clients is that they didn't know I took that picture because they didn't see me.
Brian Lingle wrote:
... and the minister has to approve my camera not having too loud a shutter sound.
Hollymacromoly, are you kidding? Assuming we're all smart enough not to stand within an inch from the mic Ah well, you can always use a blimp. Another thing to add to the camera bag, or more like an other bag to add
