I was at a wedding this past weekend and I asked several people about using flashes during the wedding. Nobody knew the answer. The photographer was no where to be found prior to the ceremony when there was time to ask. There was good natural light so I didn't even turn my SB900 on. About half way through the post-ceremony wedding shoot the photographer kind of snapped at everyone because of all of the flashes. Those who shoot weddings, do you provide instructions to the audience regarding flashes prior to the shoot? Do you allow some time before or after your shots for others to take photos with flash? Or do you simply ban flashes all together? I was caught off guard by the lack of initiative on this issue.
How many wedding photographers allow flash from audience?
(19 posts) (15 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Welcome to the forum, timmy. I'm surprised, too. If the photographer had a problem with it they should have said so before. How could the audience be expected to know?
I'm really laid back about other people taking pictures/using flash at weddings. As a still photographer, I don't know why other people using flash would matter. If I were a videographer I'd be more concerned because it could ruin a clip to have flashes going off all the time. I have had the experience of people firing my studio lights accidentally while they were on optical slave, but I fixed that with some cheap radio triggers.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sound like the hired photographer had little tact or asked others when you not there.
The brides know who he family shooters are and most the time will tell their family before
no Flash and keep the photos to a minimum, I hired a professional photographer.I shoot wedding and its a waist of time to ask people not to flash. A good portion do not even know how to turn their auto flash off. I shoot fast and I'm in their shot until I shoot a image. Them move them to the next spot NOT allowing others to shoot what I have set up.
I have had a couple uncles attending the wedding that want to shoot everything I shoot.
I've said to the uncle to STOP shooting, I'm the hire photographer. If uncle keep shooting
I inform the bride who hired me the professional photographer to ask the Uncle to stop shooting. In my contract I've asked no other photographs from family or friend with 35mm cameras with detachable lens will be taken. Not to mirror the photographer shots or every shot and or slow the photography process down. I've stopped shooting until they have been dealt with.Snap shots are ok it added effect and everyone has a mom that tries to take a photo
that end up as undesirable image.It can be a problem if you set up the shots and everyone shots you set up. NO resale of prints. Additional Flashes can be a problem if people are shooting paparazzi style
3, 4, 5 flashes at the same 1/30th sec. can blow out a good shot. Big problem if you are shooting natural light and one flash could kill a beautiful shot. it become obtrusive.I've had Church lady charge up to me and stare me down with blood in their eyes saying "NO FLASH". Nearly loosing my cool, show her my camera "NO flash attached, talk to the bride uncle, he is your flasher!"
Posted 2 years ago # -
It's a bigger problem then you would think. I've seen people snapping their own shots during the after ceremony shoots. It's really bad form b\c the subjects sometimes look at the wrong thing.
Even worse, sometimes they trigger flashes set up with optical slaves (Which is one more reason to buy some radio triggers). It's OK to take your own pics at a Wedding, but if you do it around the photographer it's probably going to piss them off a bit.
Nobody follows me around the office with a 486 computer running lotus 123 and trying to replicate my spreadsheets, but if they did, I'd have a word or two for them.
Posted 2 years ago # -
When I am at an event that has an obvious professional photographer present, I do not take photos of anyone while they are under the control or direction of the photographer. Depending on the circumstances, I will sometimes pose my own individuals/groups for photos, but NEVER take a photo of a group or individual posed by a professional photographer.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I specifically state that I will take the official photos first and when I am done the guests can have their way with the groups etc
And most churches do not alllow flash so I make sure the pastor states this at the outset.Posted 2 years ago # -
Picturepro said:
It can be a problem if you set up the shots and everyone shots you set up. NO resale of prints. Additional Flashes can be a problem if people are shooting paparazzi style
3, 4, 5 flashes at the same 1/30th sec. can blow out a good shot. Big problem if you are shooting natural light and one flash could kill a beautiful shot. it become obtrusive.Willis said:
It's a bigger problem then you would think. I've seen people snapping their own shots during the after ceremony shoots. It's really bad form b\c the subjects sometimes look at the wrong thing.Good points and I have run into the problem you mention, Willis. I just remind the subjects to look at my camera if I notice them looking at another camera.
I guess I've never been somewhere with enough people taking pictures to catch other flashes (I can only remember one shot that I had someone else's flash in it, and I kind of liked the effect if I remember right).
Posted 2 years ago # -
most people back off whenever I'm leaning down for a shot. . .i've never had an issue, the bride/groom is paying me to be there, so whatever it takes has been the attitude I've taken (and they've allowed). . .I'm only using 1 SB900 though, if I had multple lights setup, might be a different story.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The bride was my cousin so I was in the very first group shot with the whole side of the family (30+ ppl). It's possible I missed the warnings but I doubt it. It was kind of comical because few knew how to turn off their flash. That kind of killed the party if you will. Many P&S cameras don't deal with low light all that well -- maybe more because people don't know how to adjust to the changing light conditions -- so many just left.
The hired shot was using radio triggers with two umbrellas and a hot shoe mounted flash. I know that optical triggering wasn't the issue. The church was pretty small (which helped for good natural light shots) so with all the light stands and the tripod it was hard to get a good shot without distracting elements in the image.
I tried be as respectful as possible of the hired shot, concentrating on more impromptu type shots that make you laugh and document the moment. Something no one would buy but provide some entertainment. To me that's more fun than shooting formals. Some good feedback, so thanks.
I guess I was expecting, hey you're the pro who knows what happens at weddings. If you care, find a way to deal with it up front. You can be firm and professional at the same time. I just feel the situation was simply poorly handled.
Posted 2 years ago # -
i'll be honest, I do get annoyed with guests getting in the way of my shot. . .it's happened far too often, but I guess you can't steam roll their guests either. . .delicate balance. . .
Posted 2 years ago # -
We've not really had a problem with flashes, it's more if you have to set up some family formals shots right after the ceremony before everyone leaves, and there's people milling about, that's when you have 30 cameras behind you trying to take the same picture.
My wife and I shoot together at weddings, she often positions the photo subjects, I snap a pic, and she moves to the next "configuration" of family to be in the next shot. It happens all the time that me/she will take the shot, go to move people, and we'll hear "no wait!" from the crowd behind us who want to take pics while everyone's standing posed. We're usually not dictatorial about it, and will give maybe 3 seconds, but then we'll move them out despite the protests. Most people figure it out after the first time this happens that we're not going to let them waste our time.One time, however, I had two family members follow me up a trail while I was doing the shots with the bridal party. One was the typical uncle, another a friend, but they both had better cameras than I did! I started to pose the bridal party and took one picture, and heard about a dozen shutter snaps behind me as these two were just giv'n'r at 5fps! I was really annoyed, but then thought, "I haven't been in this business THAT long (about 1 1/2 years), maybe this will actually help me as I have to work under pressure." (I was shooting this wedding alone, sans wife). So I made the decision to let them stay while I did the bridal party shots, making sure I was efficient, commanding (without being harsh, of course), and in charge of the situation. It actually worked to my advantage as I felt the pressure of the big guns behind me and had to be sure I chose my settings, poses, etc carefully so as to not be fumbling about. I did the bridal party shots, then when it was time for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to peel off so I could shoot some more intimate stuff with the B&G, I then also asked the backseat photogs to leave as well.
I probably wouldn't ever do this again, and would ask them to leave immediately, but for this one time it actually worked to my advantage.
This probably had little to do with the original question, but for some reason my typing fingers felt the need to share that! haha
Posted 2 years ago # -
I use to do lots of wedding and sometime you just have to deal with whatever comes your way. If I start to have this problem with everyone wanting to photograph the set up shots. I would just request, as nice as I can, that after I take my picture I will stand to the side and anyone interested could then take their photo. Only take a second, people are happy, you don't come off as a greedy grumbling photographer. You should price as wedding that re-prints don't matter to you. Be nice, smile, everything in your mind does not matter, keep everybody happy and more work will come your way.
You are allowed to kick the front window out of your car on the way back to the studio.
framer
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi,
I've been doing weddings on the side for a long, long time. I think the first was in the mid 60's.
Framer has it right. I don't think it's any secret that one can print their own copies from some good printer source rather inexpensively with good results with our jpgs, so our services are likely in creating good jpgs - using our cameras and gear - and posing and light savvy - and post processing knowledge. I think we bring a lot to the party, but reselling prints isn't it.
Making a fuss over people snapping our setups is silly. In all likelihood, in some situations, there will be someone at a wedding that will have better gear, be a teacher of _Advance PhotoShop Techniques_, or just finished her 5th edition of _Digital Weddings of Royals_, and could teach us a thing or two.
If we price our product so that we now what we're getting for our time, it becomes less a burden to sell prints. I offer prints as an option - sometimes people want me to do, and I'm glad to make the extra cash, and the 'proofs' are a part of the package, but 'reprints' are not what I'm 'selling'.
'Flashing' from other people's strobes doesn't bother me, other than what it might do to distract my subject.
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
A friend of mine who makes her living photographing weddings posted this on Facebook today. I've never shot a wedding (and doubt I ever will), but given how many of you seem to, at least on the side, I thought it was worth resurrecting this thread and posting the article. I don't think I'm violating any rules by doing so, but my apologies if I have.
Posted 7 months ago # -
This is a great article... I am doing some snapshots of my youngest son's wedding tomorrow. And I will use a P & S discreetly and not even look at the results until I am in private. Then during the festivities after wards, the D4 and D90 come out. But, i simply do not use flash, always avaible light just like Fonville Winans http://www.fonvillewinans.com/Fonville/About.aspx taught me in 1964. And, not using any flash allows the "official" wedding photographer control over the venue, and when shooting a wedding as a job, this is critical to maintain control along with the wedding director.
It should be suggested to the guests, flash is prohibited as well as photos during the ceremony or formal procedures.
Posted 7 months ago # -
deleted by seven
Posted 7 months ago # -
I agree with not counting on reprints in the pricing. It is not too difficult for the family to make a copy from what you give them.
Where I get my photo's printed, they do not even ask if it is my work anymore. I could take in any photo (short of a watermarked one, though I wonder if they would even bother looking at it) and they will make me copies.
Posted 7 months ago # -
proudgeek said:
A friend of mine who makes her living photographing weddings posted this on Facebook today.
http://offbeatbride.com/2011/06/unplugged-weddingIndeed, a *very* nice article! So true. Thanks for posting!
Chris
Posted 7 months ago # -
Many years ago I did some shooting venues like weddings where others were planning on using their cameras as well. My first function was to provide to the participants to be photographed, a list of what the photos were to be in the order we would shoot them. And where the shots would be done. That is, Bride and Groom, parents, etc. Alter, front of church....
Second, a prohibition of all photos during the actual ceremony, except those of the professionals without flash, from the church balcony.
Third, during the actual formal shots, an announcement to all who had cameras, that it would be appreciated if no shots be taken until after the formal shots, and that a few moments would be available for each of the various groups to hold still for the "public" photos.
The above requires excellent coordination with the wedding planner, and by working together, providing a list of the photos to be shot, the process moves extremely quickly and efficiently.
And, of course, having the proper equipment is an absolute must, setting this up in an ante room so one can quickly move it into place, and also a redundant system in place so as to not have an equipment failure.
All of the above ideas come from shooting fairly large budget commercial jobs where the set up for the exposure may have been as long as half a day or more. But, the preparation for shooting live models is extremely important and the photographer maintaining complete authority in a very kind and friendly manner will result in photos which are of the best quality.
Posted 7 months ago #
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