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Guests with cameras - I need some advise

We had all the makings for a great wedding on Sunday. The ceremony and reception for Jessica and Daniel, was held at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. If you've never been there before it's a beautiful location, plenty of locations for beautiful photographs and the food is always top notch.

The issue we had (as the professional photographers hired to photograph the event) was the overwhelming number of guests with cameras, moving around during the ceremony, during our "posed" photos with the B&G and at the reception (physically pushing us out of the way to get their photos BEFORE we could get ours). One guest even said to us "you set them up and we'll shot the photos"...are you kidding me!!!!

I've finally run out of tactful ways to deal with this every growing (and disruptive) issue. Now this isn't the first time this has happened, but I think it's gotten worse over the past year because everyone has a digital camera and wants to be the first to post their photos on facebook, myspace or any of the other photo sharing websites. I can understand their excitment over getting their own photographs...BUT...not at the expense of our photographs. It just seems to be a "free-for-all" for the guests, no rules and they are extremely rude to us...as if we get in the way of their photos.

I just don't know how to handle this anymore....before I blow up at someone, I need to find out how other photographers are dealing with this issue. I welcome any ideas on the subject so please leave a comment. Thanks so much!

Comment by The Wedding Planning Audiocast on September 8, 2009 at 10:29am: Being in the wedding industry for many years and doing a wedding radio talk show I can offer you the following advice but you must be willing to do it:

When this is happening to you stop immediately what your doing approach the bride & groom and politely and firmly tell them that they are paying you for your services and that the guests are interfering with your professional shots. Ask the bride & groom to please make an announcement at that moment and ask everyone to step back away from the photographers so they may take the shots that that are needed. You must also tell your clients that you book in the future about this new dilemma that is happening and forewarn them that they are paying you for your services and you can not let their guests interfere with your professionalism. Trust me this has happen to me many times and when I see this happening to me sometimes I refuse to continue if it doesn't stop. You must be very very firm but polite at the same time which is difficult but if you try what I advised you'll see that it works.

Hope that has helped you and don’t forget to listen to our shows at www.theweddingplanningaudiocast.com

Comment by Perfect Image Photography on September 8, 2009 at 4:06pm: Thanks so much for your advise. We have tried this approach, and when we're at the church it works great. The problem we had this past weekend was because we were outside (in a garden setting for both the ceremony and reception). I think the guests think "all bets are off" and they can run around anywhere they want. We've had more outdoor wedding this year so it's made me a little crazy.

We're going to start talking to the bride and groom ahead of time (as you suggested). The most important thing is to be polite, smile and NEVER look or act mad. Thanks again for your help :-)

Comment by The Wedding Planning Audiocast on September 9, 2009 at 3:49am: Glad we could help you..but again and we want to stress this, from here on in make sure you go over your past expierences that you had with your new clients to avoid this situation. I can't tell you how many times I had to contain myself when I was shooting... that the hired help at the reception hall would walk right in front of my camera holding a tray full of food plates. Its like they were oblivious to everything..lol Good Luck!

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