Event Question

[biggin]

Ok not trying to start something and maybe (I am sure it has been) it was covered somewhere else and I zoned out before I saw someone talking about it...

In the soccer mom thread(maybe not soccer but sports) Thomas said:

I've attended many weddings and sporting events where I wanted to give someone a hand or a tip, but it isn't my place. I won't bring my point and shoot to things like that.

Do you guys not take cameras to a wedding or something like that? I would assume you would not bring the same setup you would be photographing a wedding but do you forgo the camera all together?

If you saw someone with a DSLR at a wedding would you say something to them even if they were not in your way? (I get the deal if they are in the way, flashes going off, etc... but that is not what I am talking about...)

[groovyone]

I do. I took some photos at a friends wedding that she really liked, but I talked to the pro and stayed out of his way. Only used flash when he was not around. He was a pretty nice guy.

I had it at another friend's wedding as well, again, staying out of the gig photogs way. That photographer came over and talked to me for a while, asking a few questions. I think he was new or a family member though.

[J Eddington]

No I do not take my camera to a wedding that I was not paid to take it to. Family members and friends can and do cause many problems for the pros. Even just stopping what the bride and groom are doing for a minute. Shooting over the pros should can interupt the schedule. Even though you think you are out of the way, they have to be always on the lookout to make sure you are not getting in the photos. Most times the photographer is only given a certain amount of time to get the photos that the family has requested.

Why do you need/want to take photos of a wedding???

[ggeen]

I'm with Janice on this one. I'm not a pro but I don't have a desire to take pictures of someone's wedding either. Now, if the friend/family member asked me to bring my camera, I would but instead arrange time separate from the paid gig.

I have the same rule for work. If my employer asks me to bring my camera to an event like a happy hour, I will. Otherwise I am there to enjoy myself with my colleagues.

[biggin]

I will go 2 different routes on your question:

1. Before my wife and I got married, we went to ~15 weddings during our planning stage and took many photos as notes, things we did or did not like. Decorations, procedures, poses we did or did not like, etc... It was very helpful, and 6 years later I still have the notes taken... they have been helpful to a number of people...

2. I travel ____ hours, spend ___ on hotel, spend ___ on a gift, etc... and I can't grab a snap shot at the wedding? Flip side, when people did it for us, we were more than happy to take the 20 seconds for the photos. Photographer was there for 3 hours we had it planned out, we had someone making sure we were on schedule(really 2 people).

I am just guessing that the avg person would take offense to the idea that they had no business taking a photo at a wedding, birthday party, corporate event, etc...

Originally Posted by J Eddington

No I do not take my camera to a wedding that I was not paid to take it to. Family members and friends can and do cause many problems for the pros. Even just stopping what the bride and groom are doing for a minute. Shooting over the pros should can interupt the schedule. Even though you think you are out of the way, they have to be always on the lookout to make sure you are not getting in the photos. Most times the photographer is only given a certain amount of time to get the photos that the family has requested.

Why do you need/want to take photos of a wedding???

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by J Eddington

No I do not take my camera to a wedding that I was not paid to take it to. Family members and friends can and do cause many problems for the pros. Even just stopping what the bride and groom are doing for a minute. Shooting over the pros should can interupt the schedule. Even though you think you are out of the way, they have to be always on the lookout to make sure you are not getting in the photos. Most times the photographer is only given a certain amount of time to get the photos that the family has requested.

Why do you need/want to take photos of a wedding???

I will say that I NEVER stopped the bride and groom. I shot PJ style and stayed out of the way completely. Never tried to steal a shot, never tried to get something posed. Most of mine were even of the reception BEFORE the photog arrived with the B&G.

Of course I have also been part of the paid team or the only paid photographer for a wedding, so I know both sides.

Why would I bring my camera?? Why wouldn't I? I bring a camera almost everywhere.

(Plus I can be antisocial and it keep me from having to talk to people. hahha)

[Tom]

Do you guys not take cameras to a wedding or something like that? I would assume you would not bring the same setup you would be photographing a wedding but do you forgo the camera all together?

I make this clear to my friends: I can attend as a friend or I can attend as a photographer. There isn't any in between for me. I don't go to parties and 'bring my camera.' I have to separate work and fun. Especially now as I put in 80-120 hours a week.

But also, and maybe more importantly, I think it is disrespectful to the professional hired to cover an event for me to show up with a camera as well.

If you saw someone with a DSLR at a wedding would you say something to them even if they were not in your way? (I get the deal if they are in the way, flashes going off, etc... but that is not what I am talking about...)

Depends if they are in my way. If someone was in my way, I definitely would. I also have a clause (that I have yet to invoke) in my wedding contracts that says if another photographer shows up, gets in my way or is taking pictures, I can put away my equipment until that photographer puts their equipment away. Uncle Bob always seems to want to say hi and talk about photography stuff, anyway. I never approach them unless they are doing things that hinder my ability to deliver my best product.

I also make clear that if they have a friend that wants to 'build their portfolio' or get into wedding photography, that their wedding is a disrespectful and selfish time to do so. If they have someone like that that may get in the way, have them contact me before the wedding, and I will be happy to give them some pointers, but I am contractually the only photographer at the wedding.

I am just guessing that the avg person would take offense to the idea that they had no business taking a photo at a wedding, birthday party, corporate event, etc...

The average person and a professional (or aspiring) photographer are two very different things. That distinction needs to be made.

[ScottBH]

I recently got married and asked our photographer his stance on people with DSLR's. They are so common and are an affordable option to the general public. He said there really is no way around it, but he just asked that they didn't try to "steal his shots" as he was posing us, or working with the wedding party. None of my guests with a DSLR did get in his way, fortunately.

Now as far as taking pictures when I'm not the photographer, I'm down for it. Its my friend, if I was lucky enough to be invited, and if that person truely is a great friend or family member, then I want to remember it too! Especially when I have a couple other friends invited that I haven't seen in a while.

[Tom]

Its my friend, if I was lucky enough to be invited, and if that person truely is a great friend or family member, then I want to remember it too!

Me too, which is why I would enjoy myself in celebrating their marriage and then buy a shot from the person paid to take pictures there.

[biggin]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

The average person and a professional (or aspiring) photographer are two very different things. That distinction needs to be made.

This is true, and I was more focused on people who do photography for a living...

I fully understand that someone would be a huge burden on the photographer, during a wedding or event.

Having worked as a what would essentially be a event coordinator I have had the privilege of going to a number of events that we have hired professional photographers and have seen where yahoos get in the way but I have almost always been asked by the photographer if I wanted to get a shot in and never thought much about it was always just happy to get the opportunity.

I just never really thought about if a photographer was going to an event and not wanting to take a camera. I can also compare it to a mechanic, they almost always have the most beaten down car... who wants to do the day job on the day off?

[ScottBH]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

Me too, which is why I would enjoy myself in celebrating their marriage and then buy a shot from the person paid to take pictures there.

But the professional photographer isn't taking pictures of me with all my old friends!

[Imagebuffet]

My former landlady was also a minister. She invited me along to the ceremonies she performed, so I could gain practice shooting weddings. The wedding party also had their photographer(s) they had hired.

Other than that, I was there to eat the food.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ScottBH

But the professional photographer isn't taking pictures of me with all my old friends!

Ask them to. Or better yet, ask the second shooter. I'm always THRILLED to do those group shots, because they virtually always result in print sales right away. Those are the VERY first thing I edit for that reason. If the photographer seems annoyed by that, they are an idiot.

I just never really thought about if a photographer was going to an event and not wanting to take a camera. I can also compare it to a mechanic, they almost always have the most beaten down car... who wants to do the day job on the day off?

Exactly the same thing.

I have a salaried job as a photographer. 50 hours a week/50 weeks/year.
I have 13 weddings booked for 2011 so far, and will probably end the year at 20-25 (plus the bridals/engagements that go with that.)
I shoot sports freelance. Every year: 10-12 NFL games. 12-15 college football games. 5-10 College basketball games. 15-20 NBA games. 20-25 MLB games.
5-10 corporate events a year. Throw in a couple seniors or other misc shoots a year.

Its nice to do something other than shoot. Especially when I was a young photographer, I rarely was found without my camera. Now, if I am not shooting for money or for a specific practice, it is in the safe. If I am at a friend's wedding, I want to eat, drink and be merry. The only way I take a picture is when someone that knows me wants a group shot with their point and shoot, they give it to me and think my snap shot will be magically better than anyone else's snapshot.

[janikphoto]

If the person asks you to take a camera, then OK. Otherwise, you are a guest. If you bring a camera and interfere with the hired pro, you are just like all those other people who get in your way when YOU are hired to shoot an event. I don't want to be one of THOSE people...

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

If the person asks you to take a camera, then OK. Otherwise, you are a guest. If you bring a camera and interfere with the hired pro, you are just like all those other people who get in your way when YOU are hired to shoot an event. I don't want to be one of THOSE people...

What if you bring a camera and don't interfere?

Thomas, I totally understand that point of view. If I was regularly paid to do weddings my camera would stay home when I wasn't. I completely respect that.