At my own wedding our photographer was awesome. She would set up
the picture and after she had taken her shots she let our family
and guests take a few snaps. Then she would go on to her next shot.
After awhile the guests get tired and die down anyways.
Doing this left us with a lot of positive comments for her. I think
you have to expect this at a wedding and accomadate for them. These
are all special people to the bride and groom and hey, it's there
day not yours.
Sure Justin.
What I (as a pro) would NOT do is accomodate cheeky amateurs to the
camera settings I'm using, etc.
Example: at a wedding recently, the "uncle harry" of the day had an
identical high end DSLR to mine. I was shooting with studio lights,
witha 1m softbox, barndoors, the whole hog.
He asked if he may take a picture. As I always do, I smiled & said
"of course", while switching OFF my studio lights.
The guy almost went beserk.... but in a very soft & astute manner.
He asked me why i had switched off the lights, what aperture I was
using.
What would you have done?
I pretended to look the other way, looking for the head waiter;
when he repeated his request in a more insisting fashion.
Again: Forget your client perspective, imagine you were a pro for a
moment.......What would you do?
Remember; I have taken the trouble & time (years) to learn my
skills & develop my art; i had taken the trouble to bring & set up
MY lights....
......anyway: when I again pretended I was looking the other way,
this guy went up to my lights & tried to switch them on. My gosh,
what cheek.
"please don't touch my lights", I said. I gently but FIRMLY held
his arm, for my request fell on deaf ears.
I proceeded to tear down my setup, explaining to the bride that we
were continuing the session in another room. Which I did.
Needless to say, the guy followed. I did the professional thing. I
took the matter to the bride. I explained that I found no objection
to people shooting pictures, but only after we were ready & NOT
with my equipment.
thank goodness the bride put the guy in place with a mildly
sarcastic jibe ("Please let me enjoy my wedding, Uncle Harry")
NOW comes the important part of my post. many pros will stop there.
WRONG!
After the session i found Uncle Harry, started up a conversation on
equipment.....then dropped the bomb.
These "uncle Harry"s don't realise that they are harassing the
bride more than anything else. I diplomatically explained that this
is THEIR day, & that "I" (ie "he") did not want to ruin it by
taking a long time, or ranting over photo technique in front of the
couple.
I made sure I said all this in front of other guests; looking at
them while speaking to get their consensus. I turned it into a fake
"apology" on my part, so that he accepted my words.
Before he could delve iagain into what settings I used, etc.; I
excused myself 'cos I was "needed" elsewhere.
the guy did not hassle the couple (or me) anymore, not even during
the cake.
Hope this helps.
--
JF
