Do you have problems with this???

[habed]

Hola a todos!!

I don't know if this happens in your countries but in Mexico there are one or more photographers and videographers in every single curch and events place.

They are at the churchs waitting for weddings and other events to happen and when they do, this guys just walk in and take photos and video of the whole ceremony and at the end they aproach to the copule, or family and try to sell them the photos and/or video (They ask for the adress and then deliver the photos a couple of days later).

The problem is, althoug I don't have any problem with people making a living, many times they get in the way of our cameras and since they are all the time in those places already know how the priest do things so they always get the best angle and way before things happen.

I always tell my customers, one or 2 days before the event that they can buy from this people if they wish but should always let them know that we were hired and ask them not to get in our way.

Most of the times we don't get into any kind of trouble with these persons. Actually, most of the times they walk away when they find out we were hired to do the job, but last saturday there was a lady with a camcorder and a photog and just got in front of our cameras all the time.

It was a baptism so at the moment of the actual baptism (When they drop the holy water into the baby's forehead) the photg got the best angle before the priest called the family to aproach the holy water pile and while I was trying to get a descent shot I got in the way of the lady with the camcorder and she just pushed me away.

Since it's a ceremony I can't get in to words with these people but it was very frustrating.

At the end the father of the little boy purchased her video for about $30.00 USD (They use a Mini DVD camcorder so the people can walk away with the video right after the ceremony, no editing, no titles, nothing) I was given this video to include it in the DVD I deliver and the quality is very bad. But the thing it is very frustrating.

At the reception places there are always photogs taking pictures of the couples and guests and then they sell prints. These guys are almost never a problem but sometimes, as the guys at the churches, they want to take control of the group shots.

I've been thinking about buying a portable printer so I can do the same as the guys in the events places and faster (They take the photos and then leave for and hour or so to print and then return to sell them at about $5 USD each) Last saturday the guy sold about 150.

So I guess there are 3 questions, does this happen in your countries? And if so, how do you deal with them? And second, which printer do you recomend that is portable enough and has good printing quality so I could print my photos right there and beat this guys?

Gracias!

[Photoboothguy]

lol...that's pretty messed up.

Most photographers I know (United States) have it stated in their contract that they are the ONLY professional photographer present at a wedding. All professionals know this, and if we are guests at a wedding (not hired), we know better than to pull out the DSLR (with f1.4 glass and external flash) without getting permission from the hired photographer first. This is not only a courtesy to other photographers, but to the bride & groom as well. They hired the photographer they wanted, and want that person to be able to do his/her job without others getting in the way.

If an un-hired professional tried to do what you described in the U.S., they would be asked to leave. If they didn't leave, they'd be arrested for trespassing. U.S. laws are very clear...if you are on private property and asked to leave, you must leave or you will be arrested.

[habed]

Originally Posted by rt80639

lol...that's pretty messed up.

Most photographers I know (United States) have it stated in their contract that they are the ONLY professional photographer present at a wedding. All professionals know this, and if we are guests at a wedding (not hired), we know better than to pull out the DSLR (with f1.4 glass and external flash) without getting permission from the hired photographer first. This is not only a courtesy to other photographers, but to the bride & groom as well. They hired the photographer they wanted, and want that person to be able to do his/her job without others getting in the way.

If an un-hired professional tried to do what you described in the U.S., they would be asked to leave. If they didn't leave, they'd be arrested for trespassing. U.S. laws are very clear...if you are on private property and asked to leave, you must leave or you will be arrested.

Well, it's very different here. The only thing I can do is ask my customers to let them know in advance that they will not purchase anything from them so they can leave. But this persons never contact the couple or parents until the end of the ceremony (We have a saying in Mexico "It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission")

I guess I'll have to reinforce that my customers aproach this people before the ceremony and ask them to leave.

Anybody has a recomendation for the portable printer?

[AnneWynne]

You may need to educate your clients about the positives of purchasing your prints...better quality and longevity because of the print service you use, photos are corrected for optimal image quality, on-line proofing makes it easy for friends/relatives to order quality prints, etc.

To encourage your clients to turn away the hang-abouts, educate them on how these other photographers can interfere with the outcome of your photos (which they are paying you to shoot) by getting in the way, interference from other flashes, etc. Possibly comparing them to paparazzi might help get the point across that they are not really interested in providing a quality image, but just getting the money for it. You, on the other hand, are there to capture the images and preserve them in a manner that preserves the specialness of the occassion.

Beat them by providing a much better service rather than allowing yourself to be dragged down to their level (ie, providing rushed prints on a non-professional printer).

Good Luck,
Anne