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protocol and the church shots
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So one thing I hadnt really considered until now was protocol , what’s accepted when taking wedding shots at the church versus whats not.
My plan is to be outside and catch the bride arrive but also step back into the church to catch her coming up the aisle. Its a small church and for me to get reasonable shots of the ring exchange etc I would have to be at the back of the alter!.
What’s accepted and normal in relation to shots during the service. I am conscious its a religious cermony and a special moment for the bride and grrom and families etc but when is it ok to shoot given that I would also need to use a flash.
Ras, I don’t do weddings myself but from the last few I’ve been too I’ve noticed the photographer spending a lot of time with the priest before the bride arrives, building a relationship. Also I haven’t seen any flash photography at a wedding for while, I think high ISO and a fast lens is the way to go.
Hope it helps.
Dave.
Talk to the priest. Try to meet the priest with the couple, before the event.
Each priest is different. Some are very helpful and friendly, some are not. Some insist on no flash while some will tell the guests to wait until the pro gets his/her shots.
Ask the specific priest for the day and you will know what is and isn’t protocol.
I agree with the advice given above. Meet the priest (with the couple) and discuss what is acceptable. Build up a relationship with them beforehand & if they have any “requirements”, they can let you know what they are. This also allows you to suggest some “creative” shots that you might have in mind & they may be able to add their input. I’d also attend “the mock” wedding beforehand to look for potential problems to avoid on their big day. If there are any other weddings being held at the same venue beforehand, try to watch the other photographer working ( without shooting yourself of course ) & he / she might also be able to give some advice. On the day of the wedding, you will need to be “in control”.
http://www.bellapictures.com/planning/wedding-photography-etiquette” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;You don’t have to meet with the priest, chances are you won’t have time! He’ll tell you straight up if he doesn’t like pictures being taken!! Don’t use flash (cameras dont need them these days anyway), stay around the sides of the alter, don’t go near the middle of the alter (with the b&g) when they’re doing the vows & you’ll be fine…if you have to shoot from the back of the alter, chances are you’ll be behind the priest so he wont notice you! I do shoot that from the middle of the aisle sometimes, but crouched down. You don’t need to attend the rehearsal, but it’s a good idea to know the ‘running’ order of a wedding (Catholic I presume). Oh & don’t be noisy…stay quiet & shoot from the sides & you’ll be grand!
markcapilitan wrote:
You don’t have to meet with the priest, chances are you won’t have time! He’ll tell you straight up if he doesn’t like pictures being taken!! Don’t use flash (cameras dont need them these days anyway), stay around the sides of the alter, don’t go near the middle of the alter (with the b&g) when they’re doing the vows & you’ll be fine…if you have to shoot from the back of the alter, chances are you’ll be behind the priest so he wont notice you! I do shoot that from the middle of the aisle sometimes, but crouched down. You don’t need to attend the rehearsal, but it’s a good idea to know the ‘running’ order of a wedding (Catholic I presume). Oh & don’t be noisy…stay quiet & shoot from the sides & you’ll be grand!
Of course you have to meet the priest…in the first instance its only common courtesy to introduce yourself and secondly you will then find out what’s allowed or not…only recently I was under the mistaken idea that the altar was ok for the photos from the priest two days earlier but on the day…obviously having got out the wrong side of bed…he just asked me to step away when the candles were being lit… I had a long lens with me so it didn’t matter but that’s the way priests are…they are all different and you have to talk to him.
Noel.
I’m not going to argue with you noel, we all work differently, but meeting the priest is the last thing on my mind. If on the off chance I’m early to the church, great, I’ll see him, but I’ll never ask what I can/can’t do. Second, I shoot everything during the ceremony on a 70-200 so I’m almost never on the alter. The couple are getting married not me, I do not need to be up there in sight of all the guests & the priest. But that’s the way I work, and I do work different from most people, and never have had a priest say anything about it…except in a church of england last year but she was an extremist & my mate who got married, just laughed at me!!
Another angle here, for the first time since 35mm days back in the early 1990’s, I have been asked to do two weddings in the space of two weeks this coming August and to say I’m a big furry bag of nerves is an understatement! One wedding is a Registry job while the other is traditional RC wedding in a church. Both happen to be in same town and both using same hotel afterwards. Both only want a digital package with no physical album and I am not worried in the slightest about post-processing. I am however dreading doing it for fear of failure! In my normal everyday life I am a very quiet individual and for this reason I’m worried that people just will not take any notice of me on the day when I’ll be ordering them about for poses and such.
As for the priest issue, I have every intention of meeting him beforehand, he might say a prayer or two for me!
I’m not aware of any togs that would have a meeting with the priest for each wedding, just isn’t practical. Common sense to prevail in most instances. I make sure I introduce myself to priests before weddings, some are great and give you free reign, a lot are difficult and don’t give you the time of day……I’ve had one or two that have power trips and tell you that you can’t take any photos when their on the alter!!!! Just work on a discreet manner and try not to draw too much attention to yourself, always works!
Good luck
maybe not entirely about the protocol that the question was about but worth watching.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAL03CXxhpk” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
enjoy…
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