An experience....

[Paladin]

Was on assignment last week to cover for wedding. It was a church wedding (Catholic Church wedding). Months back when I met up with couple and knew abt this, I have already asked them if there will be problems with flash and such...based on past experience.

On the day itself, asked the grrom again on the flash and he says no problem. Was shooting away when:

1. Incident 1: Priest use his hand gesture to brush me away and told congcregation photographers are aways getting into the way...stayed back a bit but still continue to cover

2. Incident 2: Shooting away and priest look at me and told me to take a seat...hmm...felt more reserved now...and miss out a number of shots....

3. Incident 3: Exchange of rings...was moving ard and suddently priest came right to me and told me I was "interrupting the wedding"..sigh...nodded and this time really stayed back and no shots for exchange of rings...kiss the brides and after that, the communion and signatory was also not covered.

Even the Videographer was taken aback and shot from a far distance after that....

Well...this was a shocker to me...mood totally lost and end up losing my omni bounce too! Must have left it somewhere in the church...

Although I still managed to cover rest of event till midnight and produced more than the promised amount of shots, was quite surprised when couple asked me ...is that all the photos? Hmm....well...what an experience....

[Stereobox]

dear me, that sounds awfully similar to an incident i had a couple months back!

the Father actually stopped the ceremony half-way and spoke through the PA system, right in front of the hundred or so crowd, to request the photographer and videographer to stop taking pictures and have a seat. boy, were we embarassed or what?

well, he actually did advised us *not* to take pictures while there is no "action" going on. but having accepted the jobs, we feel we had a duty to cover the event to the best we can. hence, i turned off the flash and switched to b/w, and the videographer turned off his light and tried discreetly to shoot via his fold-out LCD screen. i believe we were acting very discreetly and respectfully. but sometimes, you REALLY have to follow instructions.

of course, beforehand, the couple was already informed that we won't be able to cover the event 100%, due to the Father's special requests. it was fortunate that the couple was understanding and did not take it out personally on us for 'interrupting' the ceremony.

[Paladin]

Well..I am paid to do a job and I would like to do a good job...I was pretty embarassed too and was totally out of mood to shoot...well will be very clear with any couple in future on this "disclaimer".....

[melnjes]

Originally Posted by Paladin 3. Incident 3: Exchange of rings...was moving ard and suddently priest came right to me and told me I was "interrupting the wedding"..sigh...nodded and this time really stayed back and no shots for exchange of rings...kiss the brides and after that, the communion and signatory was also not covered.

That's very sad, must take note of this.

How did the couple feel about the hindrance by the priest? After all, you were prevented from capturing the moments.

[BBTM]

During my cousin wedding, the priest seem ok with the photographer. The photographer uses a flash that is mounted by the side and still, he is happily shooting at the ring, expression etc...

Maybe next time you are allow, don't get down with just one incident. Hope that you could be more lucky next time.

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by melnjes That's very sad, must take note of this. How did the couple feel about the hindrance by the priest? After all, you were prevented from capturing the moments.

The groom just apologise abt the incident ...just unhappy I cannot cover the entire process....

[yqt]

Originally Posted by melnjes That's very sad, must take note of this. How did the couple feel about the hindrance by the priest? After all, you were prevented from capturing the moments.

I don't think we should say it is a "hindrance" by the priest/father. Remember, the prist/father is also doing a job and it is a very important part of the wedding in fact, the most important part. Anyway, other than God, he's the next guy in charge there and have the final say.
Whenever I shoot a church wedding I always check with the prist/father himself or someone from the church as well as the wedding couple. If I'm told to not to shoot with flash than I don't. If the priest /father don't like to be interrupted, I'll request to be allowed to shoot from a distance. So far no problume.
As a paid professional, we're paid to do a job, if they ( the wedding couple ) have a problume, we have to help them slove it and not add to their problume even if we can't slove it for them

[Paul_Yeo]

maybe next time ask the wedding cordinator...bcos when i take wedding photographs in church, i usu. ask the wedding cordinator who usu. has meeting with the pastor/priest and know when can take and other issues...

[porn-star]

Yo dude, sorry to hear of your unfortunate incident. But I'll let you know what I know. Once Mass starts, it is not right to take photos. I did it last week and got flaked big time too. The rationale is that once the service starts, anyone there who are there should be there only for the service. But I was allowed to take pics before the Midnight Mass procession was about the start. The Fathers even made way for me to take pics. Thereafter one look at me, smiled and nodded, signalling me that its time to start. Then I just stop shooting. One think I noted is that if you don't use flash, don't move around to hinder the clergy, you'd probably be get frowns but no one will shoo you. Alot of catholics take their rituals and rites seriously. And since we're in their house, its only right to pay them due respects. Anyhow, i'll be posting some pics in this section so have a look!

[melnjes]

Thanks, yqt, that sounds like the right attitude to take.

I was just surprised that there is such a preference in some churches - after all, there is no such rule against photography in the bible. Since the couple chose to be married in that church, we should respect the wishes of the church.

[yqt]

I remember that I once did a church wedding and the father said that once the bride have been given away, I'll have to stop shooting. No shooting even if I use a long lens from about 40m away ( he said the sound of the shutter is distrecting for the guest at the back ). At the end of it all before the couple take their walk out of the church, he go through the motion of the exchange of vows, exchange of rings and the kiss just for photo shoot. End up everyone there with a camera went forward to get a "good" shot. I was competing with around 10 other "photographer"!!

[yqt]

Originally Posted by melnjes Thanks, yqt, that sounds like the right attitude to take. I was just surprised that there is such a preference in some churches - after all, there is no such rule against photography in the bible. Since the couple chose to be married in that church, we should respect the wishes of the church.

Just for laugh:
There is no rule against photography in the bible because photography was not invented yet.


Anyway melnjes, glad that we agreed with each other.

[porn-star]

Its such a shame not to be able to take. Oh well.

[SniperD]

Both the authority who conducts the ceremony and the photographer/ videographer has a job and duty to carry out. Although I haven't encounter such unpleasantaries yet (though I did cover a few Catholic weddings b4), I would make clear to my clients that it's not my negligence or incompetence that I can't cover fully the event if something like this happens. They had better to 1) inform beforehand to either party or 2) request for special permission and make some compromise with the authority in the church for photottaking purposes.

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by SniperD Both the authority who conducts the ceremony and the photographer/ videographer has a job and duty to carry out. Although I haven't encounter such unpleasantaries yet (though I did cover a few Catholic weddings b4), I would make clear to my clients that it's not my negligence or incompetence that I can't cover fully the event if something like this happens. They had better to 1) inform beforehand to either party or 2) request for special permission and make some compromise with the authority in the church for photottaking purposes.

Which is what I did the moment I know it is gonna be a church wedding. I re-confirm again on actual day...yet still kenna....well...these are those times i guess...

[yqt]

Originally Posted by SniperD Both the authority who conducts the ceremony and the photographer/ videographer has a job and duty to carry out. Although I haven't encounter such unpleasantaries yet (though I did cover a few Catholic weddings b4), I would make clear to my clients that it's not my negligence or incompetence that I can't cover fully the event if something like this happens. They had better to 1) inform beforehand to either party or 2) request for special permission and make some compromise with the authority in the church for photottaking purposes.

Agreed, but in my humble opinion, the priest/father out stride us both in authority and duty.
Authority because he have the final say in the church and you're in his house so have to follow his rules.
Duty because his duty is to God and have to answer to him and no one else.

But yes, always let the wedding couple know that the father said so, so no choice but to follow, just shoot more shots of the couple around the church to make up for their "loss".

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by SniperD Although I haven't encounter such unpleasantaries yet (though I did cover a few Catholic weddings b4

Did I mentioned Priest was imported? Maybe that's why....

[porn-star]

Originally Posted by Paladin Did I mentioned Priest was imported? Maybe that's why....

.....

[eric69]

Encountered a few times, the priests did requested that I do not take photos of the couples exchanging vows, rings, kiss etc. Usually before the wedding, the couples and I would discuss about it thus, I didn't encountered any problems with church wedding just as got reprimanded by priests or couples.

Sometimes JOPs in ROM ceremony can also be quite strict, asking photographers only to restrict within the small square behind their chair.

I guess the most important thing is the couple must understand that we as pro photographer did our best, thus they can't question us on why we didn't capture certain shots.

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by porn-star .....

Seriously...he was invited to SGP to officiate this ceremony....I guess back in his home country...they are more solemn and restrictive, that's why he was irritated...