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How can guest  be the reason you  get fewer professional pictures from your wedding Photographer?

No, I’m not talking about Uncle George and his two fingers over Aunt Martha’s head.

Weddings and families members with cameras go hand in hand.  After all, a wedding is a joyous occasion and who wouldn’t want to join in by taking pictures of the bridal couple and guest. It’s a fun and cost effective way to get extra pictures, or is it?

Planning a wedding is a wakeup call to any one getting married.  The cost involved for all of the vendors that supply your wedding services are not cheap.  You would not have Grandma in the kitchen with the caterer while they are getting your reception meal ready would you?  So why do guest think it is ok to stop the work of a photographer to get their shot of the arranged pose or group shot. What many guests don’t realize is that your photographer in most cases is being paid by the hour. Every time a pose arranged by the photographer is held a minute or two longer to allow guest to take their shots is money out of your pocket.  Every time a photographer has to wait for someone to put a camera down to be in a group shot is money out of your pocket.  Even if money is no object the missed shots that could have been but didn’t because of lack of time should be everyone’s concern.

It’s true the more pictures the better but wouldn’t it be better to have as many professional pictures as possible?  Most photographers in the wedding business will work with the guest and are very polite and stand back while guest take the shots.  I have seen everything from guest asking to have their camera used by the photographer, to asking them to wait until someone comes back from the restroom so that they can take the picture also.  I have seen guest follow a photographer around asking for photography advice and how to fix their camera. 

A classic example below shows what can happen to a special moment when other cameras are being used when the photographer is shooting.   The red lights on the bridal couple are from guest cameras focusing on the couple.   The photographer’s camera picked up the infra red which is on all of the digital camera these days.  Since most photographers use cameras that pick up every detail they will also pick up all flashes from the guest.

Notice the light on Groom from guest camera

What’s the solution?  I suggest having a person assigned to work with the photographer.  Someone not in the wedding party.  Let’s call this person the photo liaison.  The requirements of this person should be close to a drill sergeant and the duties would be as follows.

• Follow the photographer until  he/she is finished.  At the very least, until the guest shots are completed and they have left for the reception.
• Have list of names of guest for group shots to be taken with or without the wedding party.
• Start gathering the group together so that the photographer can move from one shot to another without waiting.
• Run interference or when a guest asks the group to wait. Be prepared to say sorry can’t wait. Need  to get this done so we can celebrate (or something to that effect).
• Be prepared to ask for cameras not to be used while low light shots are done.
• Be prepared to step in when guest want their camera to be used.
• Have access to water, tissue, lipstick, powder for the bridal couple.
• Water for the photographer would be nice too

Anything to get the best results from your photographer and the best pictures for you.

Also it would be nice to remember the photo liaison with a special thanks of some kind.