Dealing With Amateur Photographers During a Wedding

By Robert Hillis
Friday, October 8th, 2010

I’ll never forget the first time I had to deal with other photographers at an event. I was standing next to the altar waiting for the ceremony to start. As soon as the music stopped suddenly there were 15 other amateur photographers up at the front taking photos. I literally had to fight for space and for shots. It took me by surprise and I had to adjust my thinking with how to deal with other photographers when I am the hired gun. Here are a few tips that I use.

Talk with your client. Explain to them that they are hiring you for this event and while you want your guests to enjoy the photos they also want to make sure that guests don’t disrupt the event. Ask them to have an announcement made that you will be the photographer for the event and to please stay in their seats during the ceremony and that you will make the photos available for purchase to friends and guests. Doing this can eliminate having to fight for space.

Work around other photographers. Remember that even though you are the professional you  don’t want to step on the toes of the guests of your clients. Politely ask if you could switch positions with them. Many times they are unaware that they are in your way and are more caught up in the event and have no problem moving.

Remember your manners. Always be as polite and accommodating as time and the situation allows. I make it a habit to always make sure I am aware of the other guests and what shots they are trying to get. Kindness goes a long way and it keeps you from becoming the bad memory of the pushy photographer.

Pass out your business card. Hand out your card and let them know you will make the photos of the wedding available for purchase. Everyone you meet is a potential client and you want to leave a lasting impression.

Use these tips and you will find that many guests are simply trying to emulate what you are doing so they get that great shot too.

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Categories : Make Better Photographs, Wedding Photography
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Comments

  1. At my mothers latest (5th) wedding, the photog got so mad because people with other cameras would A) either get in his shot, or b) take a picture right at the same time and his pictures would have a flash in it or something…

    great article!

    <3 kelly

    • Great point Kelly. And unfortunately you and the other guests walk away from the event remembering the photographers unfortunate disposition which would ruin any other chances for repeat or additional business that they may have had an opportunity to capitalize no matter how good the photos were. Kindness and a polite voice can go along way and we should remember that as professionals. Thanks for the feedback.

  2. I tell the other photographers to wait until I take the photo or I let them take the picture first. But I do tell them that they need to put the camera down so the people in the group won’t be looking at their camera when its my turn. This is during the group photos after the ceremony, and yes I do ask them nicely. The only drawback of letting other people take photos during group pictures is that it takes longer and the bride and groom want to leave or get tired or something. So to move things quickly as soon as I take the picture, I go up to the couple and ask the next for the next group of people. This way I am in the way and in front of the group and will prevent others from taking photos. Is this mean? probably, but I have to keep things moving especially when there is the church coordinator, giving you the evil eye so you can hurry up or when the bride and groom are anxious to keep going. I have notice this types of behavior on certain types of weddings…

    • Great points Raul. It is very important to keep the event moving along as quickly as possible and I have employed your methods several times. Your are in charge of this portion of the event and most guests realize this but you will always have the inconvenienced few. It is always good to remind the couple that we have to keep things moving due to time and guest restraints. Thanks for the feedback!

  3. Good advice. I have been a wedding photographer for 20 years & you will always run into people who want to get the picture on their little camera too because they are excited & want to share later ( still on their camera). Most today never print or buy any of them.
    The observation I’d like to share is this – notice the amateur never complains about YOU. They just love taking pictures & are having fun – perhaps we can learn a lesson from that!

    • I completely agree Cathy. We are all artists and we all did not start out as professionals rather we started out as the guy with the little camera standing behind the guy with the big one. Many times I have had guests come up to me and talk photography and I enjoy sharing my knowledge. Too many photographers are not willing to share what they have learned and I think that is sad. This is a great hobby whether you get paid for it or not and I enjoy meeting and sharing with people that share my same passion. Thanks for the feedback!

  4. I often find that amateurs at a wedding will take their cue from the pro. So if you act like you are in charge they will typically defer to you.

    Be polite, but be firm. “Excuse me but I need to be there” works wonders.

    The other thing I tend to do is accommodate the amateurs when we are taking group photos asking the the group to look at each particular camera in turn. I make it a bit of a joke but every one loosens up at the humour of it and when I shoot last I don’t get everyone looking at a different camera.

    If you try to ride roughshod over Uncle Ernie, everyone will just think you were a d**k. Befriend them and the will generally defer to you and stay out of your way. If you are gracious with how you deal with the amateurs it goes a long way to having your clients relax and go with the flow.

    That said, I have had some amateurs try to critique my posing of the couple and I generally have to say “yes that would be a good pose but we are doing this one right now”

    A good friend of mine once said with the right attitude and a clipboard you can rule the world. In this case with the right attitude and the big camera you can rule the wedding.

  5. I completely agree with you, politeness goes such a long way! As a photographer, just because we take pictures does not mean we shouldn’t know how to communicate with people. I hear too many stories from family, friends, and other clients about how a photographer was being rude or pushy. Even though I know it can be frustrating, your absolutely right, these could be potential clients! Why would you want to ruin that? Just recently I shot a wedding and the mother of the groom was in the room with the girls while everyone was getting ready. She had her camera and flash, an older film camera, but still better than a point and shoot. I let her do her thing, and I took my pictures. We talked for a little bit about cameras and such, and then later in the evening she thanked me for ‘letting’ her take photos while I was working! I was lucky that she was such a sweet woman and not rude like other guests can be, but I would much rather be remembered for being nice! 🙂

    • We all got into photography for some reason right Stephanie? All we wanted to do when we started was soak up as much knowledge as we could. Who we were are who these folks are now. How great would it have been for someone just to take a few minutes and give us a few hints. Doing the same now helps network and it builds on your reputation. It’s all about collaboration.

  6. I’m having issues with videographers. Seems both of us (types) feel we have ‘right of way.’ I lost out on the cake cutting when a videographer stepped in center and turned on his huge light casting shadows of bride and groom. My shot ended up off center and caught his casted shadows. Not happy and not sure what to say, to whom and how; and especially now that I’m in post-processing stage. Was not taught the ins and outs of space competing with a “hired” video cameraman.
    .
    Additionally, people KNOW without a doubt that the photographers and video persons are HIRED guns. I seriously feel that the guests should always respect that the bride and groom’s HIRED photographers come first. I find it rude that too often they do not respect this. It was a bit crazy once and I stood back and allowed the guests to shoot first. The bride’s comment to her party was: “We need to be looking at the person we are paying to take these pictures… hellooo.”

    • Great points Kathy! Your comment resonated with me so much that my next post deals with this exact issue. I, fortunately, have never had an issue with back videographers but they are out there as you know. Sometimes you do need to assert yourself and I can assure you that if they are like me, they are probably a little oblivious to your needs. You are so focused on getting what you need that you forget there are others involved. Asserting your needs is a great way to overcome that. So check out my next post and thanks for the inspiration!

  9. @TrevorCurrent faced this over the weekend. I let them shoot first then let them know it is now my turn. Most responded well.

  18. In my wedding contract, I have a clause to the effect that images that may have shadows or overexposure due to conditions created by any other person taking photos or video, is not cause to deny full payment or to publicly criticize the images.
    I don’t have the exact wording but you get the idea.

    I also ask the bride and groom to ask all guests to be aware and not to intefere. When I do the table shots, I have my assistant give each guest a biz card and let them know they can purchase photos.

    As I arrive at the event, I seek out the videographer and introduce my self and discuss the obvious concerns. I try to find out which side of him he prefers I stand and this allows us to work more as a team. Whenever possible, I would reccommend a videographer that I am comfortable working with.

    For those shots that a bunch of guests seem to jump up en mass, I actually direc the shot for them, so it doesn’t drag on.