Been at a church wedding and been amazed by how clueless the wedding photographer is – such as being in very close proximity to the bride and groom and shooting/photographing willl-nilly as if the finger is stuck to the button and he’s wanting to get in as many pictures as possible?

Regrettably, this situation has been seen so frequently that many Ministers now have strict regulations and limitations for wedding photography.  Why has this happened?  Because recreational photographers have increased in the wedding photography industry and their lack of experience and awareness has ruined things for the professional wedding photography field.

Limits can be: (1) no flash at all – which can be debilitating in a dark church even if you have a great low-light camera; (2) photography only at specific points during the ceremony; (3) photography only from the back of the church or, worse, the balcony (arguably the worst case scenario, especially if it’s combined with no flash photography).

At the end of the day, everyone has a job to do.  Good Ministers appreciate this and work hand-in-hand with the wedding photographer (and videographer) so that everyone can fulfil their obligations.  Lamentably, it’s too late for those who have had an irritating time with inexperienced photographers.

Always make sure to chat with the Officiant before the ceremony so you understand the rules.  Despite your own personal feelings, this is his/her domain and that should always be respected.  There’s no choice really.  Imagine being reprimanded by a Priest mid-ceremony – an uncomfortable event..

Try to be unseen.  So that afterwards, the couple will say you were practically invisible until the registry signing.  That means you’ve done your job.  Basically, most Officiants just want the wedding photographer to have some common sense – do what you need to do, attract as little attention as possible.  As in life, common sense often comes with shooting a bunch of weddings – and it’s not actually that ‘common’.

Advice for the Bride and Groom:  Be aware of the wedding photography when selecting your ceremony space.  Ask about any limitations.  If the pictures of the ceremony are paramount, check things out because you may be surprised on the wedding day to find out there are significant restrictions that may hamstring your photographer’s ability to effectively do his job.

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