Annoyed by wedding photographer this weekend...

[Sonya Natasha]

I attended a friends' wedding this weekend -Beautiful day, beautiful bride and a gorgeous church. I was sat fairly close to the front of the church - took a few snaps of the bridal party walking in and out (the Minister stated that there were to be no pictures except for the 'pro'). During the service, I noticed that the 'pro' (only him, no second shooter) seemed to be missing some great shots (the fairly standard stuff) and was taking them from odd angles. Then he stood almost next to me and took some - I could see the LCD monitor on the back of his camera. I was horrified, the WB looked off, they were squished and some didn't seem in focus. Then I thought I was just being too harsh....

After the ceremony, my husband turned to me and said "That photographer sucked!" (Hubby is not into photography at all...).

Cut to the reception - the Kitchen staff was slow to clear the tables so the dance was a little delayed. I guess the photog was running behind and wanted to leave, I was horrified to see that he had the bride pretending to dance with her father and the groom in a pitch black room (no decorations), using one (very bright) flash! I never saw him take any pictures of any of the candles, decor anything like that. Once he left, I made it a point to take pictures of some of the decor etc. and made sure I had some nice pics of the first few dances.

I am hoping that the pictures turn out fine and I am worried for nothing - you only get one shot at a wedding!! I wouldn't dare say to my friend that I doubted the photog, I'm just going to give her a CD of the pics that I took...

Any similar stories? I just needed to vent

[TheDarkReaver]

I was at a wedding a bit like that. The photographer was awful. My then girlfriend was going to do them, for cheap as a gift, but the bride's mother decided to hire this "pro" instead. He looked like he was winging it most of the time and clearly had not scouted the locations properly. A few of us were of a similar view and discussing various other things he failed to do (can't remember what now) over the dinner. Little did we know the photographer was sitting a few chairs down!

Well the photos came back and the bride sent a few to my then girlfriend to have a look. Both were of the opinion that they were all awful, except for one taken while the bride was getting ready.

[Sonya Natasha]

Weddings are an unforgiving market....
I'm not a pro, and I think even if I were, I don't think I would consider wedding photography. Too stressful.

One of my friends' first weddings (in the 80's) was done by a photographer who lost every single picture.
My friend figured it was an omen because they divorced a few years later, LOL!

I took my photo booth (- Red Curtain Photo Booth) to a wedding this weekend. When I arrived, I saw the photographer walking around in jeans and flipflops...not what I normally expect to see. But...

Apparently the hired photographer never showed up...didn't call, nothing. So the DJ made a quick call and got another photographer there in a few minutes. She didn't even have time to change or grab all of her gear...just grabbed a 24-70 and off-camera flash and ran out the door.

[Sonya Natasha]

Didn't show at all? Wow! That will get him/her bad reviews in the wedding photography circuit!!

(I would love to have had your photo booth at my wedding )

[BigVinnie]

Soooo been there, done that.

I've always made it a habit of keeping at least minimal gear in the car when I go to weddings. I don't get it out unless needed.

Only needed it once. Photograher was a no-show. Found out later the reason was he got popped for DUI. Real pro there.

I would have done the same as you did.

[gturner]

I had one the same about 2 months back where friends hired a young inexperienced phototag to shoot their wedding. It was an out of town wedding so made a short vacation of it.
The girl had no concept of light or exposure. She was using a 18-55 kit in a dim church with no flash, most of the time shooting into the bright windows behind the couple.
I was a little reluctant to interfere at first but after 10min I could not watch any more so I left the church and got my full kit from the car and just shot over her shoulder for the rest of the service.

Her family group shots where back lit by a bright sun, again.... NO FLASH kit or any kind.

When she shot the bridal couple she did not wait for the light to soften, she stuck them in harsh direct sun and blasted away.
After she left I pulled the bridal party out of the reception and shot as much as I could in the lovely evening light. I processed the next day and printed them a set before leaving for home.
Turns out it was a life saver, the photag took 4 weeks to deliver the biggest pile of poo imaginable!

[Jim Bryant]

Isn't the digital age wonderful? All sorts are becoming pros after owning the camera for a few short months or so. It's amazing that the bridge will hire someone so inexperienced, just to save a few more $$$$ to put towards food, drink, flowers and entertainment and just to impress their guests. Hell, I normally tell the prospective bridge that the photos are the most important item as they have lasting power. The flowers wilt and die in about three hours and all that food and drink their friends consumed...in about six hours in won't mean anything anymore.

[gturner]

Hey Jim - how often do you use that 16-35mm to shoot big broad bridges in white dresses?

(sorry could not resist)

[candleman]

from the two photogs we had at our wedding.. only 3 or 4 images are good enough to actually have printed.
sadly i knew nothing about photography back then, so i thought the dudes with the big cameras must be good.