Wedding photo etiquette

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I'm going to a family wedding soon and there will be a professional photographer at it taking the official shots.

I'm borrowing a DSLR camera to see how I find using it before I consider buying one. Would the photographer at the weeding feel put out if I was to also take some shots that they had arranged? ie. the standard 'posed wedding photos'...?

Paulw

It totally depends on the photographer. Some don't mind at all, others mind a lot.

You will have to wait and see on the day.

The_Mask

Ask the photographer before the ceremony begins...he could use you an excuse if the newly weds are not happy or complain about the photos.

Effects

It makes their job harder to be honest. Lots of gumps at weddings won't look into his lens even though he's asked them too if you're standing over his shoulder. If you want to see if you're arsed buying a DSLR why do it at a wedding? Surely you should try it somewhere else. What's the point in wasting your time and also taking away from your family members photos?

eoglyn

Don't bother duplicating the formal shots, you'll probably just be getting in the way and definitely not adding any value.
However, the couple are likely to want as many memories of the whole day and evening as possible, and will really appreciate shots of as many of the guests as possible from when the official photographer isn't there. So the evening reception or even the next day if that's happening. Candid shots of people having fun or dancing will be the most exciting.
If your friend has a prime lens, 50mm or 35mm, borrow that and leave it on the camera the whole day. You'll get the best results and you'll think more about you framing. Use the manual setting. If you don't already know them, learn about the basic manual controls before the day and you'll get the most out of having the dslr.
Finally remember to enjoy the day, it's wedding not a photography project, use taking photographs as an opportunity to talk to more people than you would have and not an excuse to hide behind the camera

FoxT

I have done this a few times. My MO is

- Stay out of the pro photographers way. In Church, I usually try get a well positioned seat , and then I stay put.

- Afterwards, let the photographer marshal all the aunts & uncles etc & do the formal group shots. Stay away. If you are to be included in any of these shots, lose the camera. I never, ever shoot over her shoulder - will just let her work away.

- Wander around & take lots of informal shots. You can get some crackers that the family/couple will love.

- If the pro is having a quiet time, by all means go over, shake hands, & have a yak.

I've never had a problem, in fact 3 years ago the photographer gave me a loan of one of his 5D Mkiis & we had a great oul yak about gear, processing etc.

-FoxT

xshayx

FoxT wrote: »

I have done this a few times. My MO is
- Wander around & take lots of informal shots. You can get some crackers that the family/couple will love.

Exactly this!

Rew

Sylvia Important Mailbox wrote: »

I'm going to a family wedding soon and there will be a professional photographer at it taking the official shots.

I'm borrowing a DSLR camera to see how I find using it before I consider buying one. Would the photographer at the weeding feel put out if I was to also take some shots that they had arranged? ie. the standard 'posed wedding photos'...?

What ever about the photographer think of the couple. There paying a fortune for the photographer you jump in to the posed shots along with a few others with phones etc. A month or so down the line the couple get the shots from their photographer and every one is crossed eyed in the shot because everyone in the shot looked at a different camera.

I was at a wedding at the weekend, there were people wit all classes of camera and a well known and expensive wedding photographer (who looked quite amature so cant wait to see how the shots tun out). I cringed seeing them trying to do the posed shots, iphones, point & shoots, DSLR's coming out every where... Ive seen most of the results on Facebook already and they are as awful as you would expect.

This link explains it well:

http://petapixel.com/2013/05/15/guest-photographers-or-why-you-should-have-an-unplugged-wedding/

As FoxT said go take nice candid shots leave the wedding photographer to do their thing.

Logie-1

The advise you have been getting here Stevie is spot on, forget about the posed shots, let the pro take care of them, mingle through the guests taking candids, don't even ask them to pose, get shots of them laughing, talking, sipping the champagne and after the meal and speeches, go round the tables and get shots of all the guests, couples, friends, mums and sons, dads and daughters and the rest. Then you can make a photo book, for little money, or make a dvd and give it to the couple as a gift. Its something different, as mentioned above, they have already spent a fortune for the posed shots, so unless the pro makes a cockup they won't think much more of yours.

And trust me, they will be delighted with a photo book or dvd.