Wedding shocker (what are people like)
Discussion
Ive never shot people before, just insects and flowers, and owning a lowly G5 with a knackered battery and a viewfinder which shows a triangulated inaccurate version of reality with the lense half-obstructing the view hasnt inspired me to learn my F stops and manual settings. Im the perfectionist type who prefers to spend an hour on a subject coming away with just one well composed and suitably lit photo.
I had heard saturdays wedding photographer was to be a family memember. Usually a big mistake I thought, but I bet the chap has some real talent or he wouldnt be doing it.
Outside: Takes a group shot about 100 people wide from 30 paces. People were still arriving, many still talking to eachother, I was blowing smoke when suddenly I realised he'd decided to shoot
Did you get everyone someone said? "Nope, got most of them though, hehe, thats good enough"
The shoot inside the church was an absolute shambles. The photographer needed to be in a family shot, someone vouched for me and seconds later I was holding a 5D
But I couldnt shoot because everyone was looking into the 2-4 other pocket cameras which were to my left and right, the situation needed to be controlled. I told the happy snappers step in to compose and get their own 'into my lense please' shots quickly, but I was instructed to ingore them and just take the pictures anyway, even though no one was looking into my lense 
It just went on and on like this, no one controlled anything, everyone was looking everywhere, but the show went on and the photographer didnt seem to give a monkies.
Sorry to waffle on, but for ****s sake... You'd have thought wedding day shots were THE most important shots of your lifetime. It wasnt my wedding, but the chaos was so profound, and the organisation So bad, it actually pissed me off.
I quipped to the photographer, done many of these before then? All smiles, pride and glee... "yup, two or three. All family stuff
" I could see why. Needless... I'd be surprised if more than one photo came out nicely.
>> Edited by UKBob on Wednesday 1st February 22:49
I had heard saturdays wedding photographer was to be a family memember. Usually a big mistake I thought, but I bet the chap has some real talent or he wouldnt be doing it.
Outside: Takes a group shot about 100 people wide from 30 paces. People were still arriving, many still talking to eachother, I was blowing smoke when suddenly I realised he'd decided to shoot
Did you get everyone someone said? "Nope, got most of them though, hehe, thats good enough" The shoot inside the church was an absolute shambles. The photographer needed to be in a family shot, someone vouched for me and seconds later I was holding a 5D
But I couldnt shoot because everyone was looking into the 2-4 other pocket cameras which were to my left and right, the situation needed to be controlled. I told the happy snappers step in to compose and get their own 'into my lense please' shots quickly, but I was instructed to ingore them and just take the pictures anyway, even though no one was looking into my lense It just went on and on like this, no one controlled anything, everyone was looking everywhere, but the show went on and the photographer didnt seem to give a monkies. Sorry to waffle on, but for ****s sake... You'd have thought wedding day shots were THE most important shots of your lifetime. It wasnt my wedding, but the chaos was so profound, and the organisation So bad, it actually pissed me off.
I quipped to the photographer, done many of these before then? All smiles, pride and glee... "yup, two or three. All family stuff
" I could see why. Needless... I'd be surprised if more than one photo came out nicely. >> Edited by UKBob on Wednesday 1st February 22:49
UKbob said:
Ive never shot people before
I should hope not!!
Ive shot people before
And myself. Ended up in hospital...
twas only an air rifle, dont ask
I don't think I want to know! Apologies I have nothing more useful to add to your post!!!
flashgitindenial said:
In situations like this you have to assert the voice of authority. You're not there to be popular but to record the event to the best of your ability in a proffessional manner. I've been told that I'm bossy but bride & groom have been delighted with their album.
This is rather a good point, if a touch too blunt for a 'client'
Fact is that most people who want photo's for any occasion don't know what it takes to create nice images. Any monkey can turn up with a 300D, fire away and they'll grab 5 decent shots out of 100 without ever really knowing how/why.... thats why photographers are actually paid decent money for gigs like weddings; every other shot is frameworthy. It didn't take me that long to get used to 'taking control' when out on a shoot, basically you know best as the eye behind the lense and if the results stand up most people respect that and are happy to let you control the scene. Obviously not so easy at a wedding but (outside of the standard posed photos) you just use a bit of creativity to find your unique take on the day - thats what the clients paying for (even if they dont realize it till after they've got the prints!!).
UKBob said:
Sorry to waffle on, but for ****s sake... You'd have thought wedding day shots were THE most important shots of your lifetime. It wasnt my wedding, but the chaos was so profound, and the organisation So bad, it actually pissed me off.
>> Edited by UKBob on Wednesday 1st February 22:49
I've only looked at my wedding pics a few times. the pics I care about most are of my son Lewis. most of which are snap shots.
Looking at the wedding photographers pics at a party this weekend, I counted 1 out of 15 people actually looking into the lens for one group shot, and about 2 out of 30 people actually looking into the lens in another Shouldnt a wedding photographer control the situation a little more professionally - ie people who are lined up for a group shot should be looking into the camera?
Trying not to sound too
...I only took a few shots myself - the wedding photographer took hundreds. I was chuffed to see my photo on married couples mantlepiece, and to be told it was their favourite wedding shot of the day 
(although imho it was crap)
Shouldnt a wedding photographer control the situation a little more professionally - ie people who are lined up for a group shot should be looking into the camera? Trying not to sound too
...I only took a few shots myself - the wedding photographer took hundreds. I was chuffed to see my photo on married couples mantlepiece, and to be told it was their favourite wedding shot of the day (although imho it was crap
)UKBob said:
(although imho it was crap
Isn't that annoying eh?! Of the 1k shots I took in Albania, the one everyone loves is one where one of the little lads stood up and peered right into the lense - so he's out of focus, but all the kids behind him are in focus and looking into the camera. It's a nice shot, but it's irritating that it's better than the shots that I took time composing
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