Question for the pro's...

[Nikolai]

A very good friend of mine is getting married soon, and asked me to be a groomsmen. I'm concerned that if I bring my camera, that I'd be stepping in on the photog they hired.

Would I be out of place by asking the photog permission first, explaining that I'm only interested in practicing event coverage, and have no intention to sell my photos to my friend, assuring the photog that I'm not trying to "steal" buisness away from him/her?

Of course, I would not refuse giving my friend any shots they liked, but would insist they pay the photog for everything he shot that they liked, even if by chance they still liked mine?

Just curious on what I should do, after reading all the stories in this section.

[Killeenguy]

ya know....i'm sure he wouldn't mind you doing your own thing, as a matter of fact, i would strike up a conversation with him when you bump into him, oh and for him to let you know if your in his way while your shooting. but do enjoy yourself at the wedding, there's plenty of times i wish i was holding a beer in one hand w/ my camera in the other! as for the pictures... i wouldn't go into details about giving pictures away, one way or the other.

[AndrewCCM]

Good advice here...Most photogs are cool with others that are equally as cool. I was the best man at my cousin's wedding and glad I did bring my camera (hard for me not to bring it after covering so many over the years)....Anyway, the photog they hired was about 75 years old shot medium format and traditional ONLY. VERY few shots at reception and ZERO candid photojournalistic shots. Needless to say...my cousin was pleased to have some extras...

BTW: No disrespect to 75yr olds or those that shoot MF. It was just very traditional (brides parents picked him). Nothing wrong with that at all..

[LadyShutterBug]

i always take my camera to weddings where i am a guest... because there are always moments i want pictures of. in general, i give these to the bride and groom.

when i am shooting a wedding, i absolutely don't mind if there are others with cameras around-- if they begin to get bothersome and aren't respecting that i'm the paid professional there to document the day, i try and find a polite way to tell them to get the hell out of my way ;)

there's a big difference between a guest taking some pics at a wedding (expected), and a guest who is trying to "cover" the wedding (annoying).

[ndsimm]

it's always best to communicate your intentions up front. Often, we share share the horror stories, it stems from a lack of communication. I am another that doesn't mind if you shoot a few, heck, I may even help you out! as long as you are not like the "videographer" in the wedding I did this weekend that shadowed me during the ENTIRE reception with a point and shoot and had a laptop setup in the corner to show everyone what he had just shot

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by LadyShutterBug

there's a big difference between a guest taking some pics at a wedding (expected), and a guest who is trying to "cover" the wedding (annoying).

Exactly! I once had an uncle stalking my every shot so I tried to hint that he was in my way. Finally I just said, "Here's the list of images the bride hired me to capture. Why don't you finish it up for me and I will just go sit down." He got the message.

When someone asks me if it's alright for them to take pictures I tell them sure, but you don't want to duplicate all my shots, so if I can reach out and touch you you are in the wrong place and need to find a different angle. Usually works good.

[fran reisner]

I think wedding photographers have gotten pretty used to there being a lot of people taking pictures all around them these days, and have hopefully adjusted their pricing to compensate for a decline in extra prints sales as a result. I agree... friendly conversation and stay out of the way and you should be good. Of course that will depend on the photographer. There's always a few out there giving us all a bad name by being obnoxious, arrogant and/or rude. Oh the egos!

Oh, and I was once matron of honor and THE photographer at a wedding. The bride was one of my assistants in CA, and I introduced her to her groom. She couldn't help asking me to do both. Made for a rather interesting day!

[brad]

I've always made a point of seeking out the official photographer as soon as they arrive and striking up a conversation. Its never been a problem for me to say "I'm just going to be grabbing a few here and there" and that I don't plan on selling them... as long as you don't bump the photographer out of the way, you should be cool.

[Nikolai]

Thank you for the advice everyone, I will just plan on talking to the photog first then, as suggested.

[Elsaspet]

What Fran said.
It only helps me do better knowing there are other photogs there. I gotta earn my payolla.
:-)
But be sure to check with the original photog and be careful not to replicate shots which can be a sore point with some folks.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Exactly! I once had an uncle stalking my every shot so I tried to hint that he was in my way. Finally I just said, "Here's the list of images the bride hired me to capture. Why don't you finish it up for me and I will just go sit down." He got the message.

When someone asks me if it's alright for them to take pictures I tell them sure, but you don't want to duplicate all my shots, so if I can reach out and touch you you are in the wrong place and need to find a different angle. Usually works good.

I think 'IF I can reach out and PUNCH you would work quicker" !!!

I might add that you don't need to explain your level of expertise to the photographer. He/she shouldn't care if you are a complete amateur, or full time professional wedding photographer.

[Gordon]

The few times I've been at a wedding I've taken my camera and shot quite a lot. Each time I did chat to the official photogs and make sure to mention I was going to stay out of their way. I didn't go out of my way to do it, it just sort of came up (or people would introduce us anyway) Both times they tried to pinch my camera...

I try to make a point of not taking the same pictures that the official person is taking, not shooting over their shoulder, not shooting their setups. The B&G don't need another set of copies of those shots. I try to go for something different, or something a bit more personal that 90% of the hired photographers won't shoot, because they don't know who the other people are in the room.

Either that or I've shot more when the photographer had left for the day, to capture things like the reception or speeches.

[tabasco333]

I like to just relax and not even think about it. When I am in a wedding or a guest my hands are busy holding bourbon, not a camera!

[Nikolai]

Originally Posted by tabasco333

I like to just relax and not even think about it. When I am in a wedding or a guest my hands are busy holding bourbon, not a camera!

Yeah, I think his wedding is a dry wedding, I pray that it is not the case. lol

Thanks for all the adive everyone, I will just make my intruduction with my intention to yeild to them, and let them do their job.