Vicars and Photography



Amanda



Annie

Isla

Groom`s father and piper

All right I crept further forward with a long lens for this one and a few others..

One of the superb cars supplied by Duet Wedding Cars

Had a great day on  Saturday shooting the wedding of Amanda and Stephen. They had initially booked me for 4 hours to cover their preparations at the Timble Inn  and the wedding in Whixley nearly an hour away. I had to warn that losing nearly an hour of my time driving meant things would be tight and I could not cover all that I would want to but they seemed happy. On hearing what was involved I decided to extend my coverage a little by trecking back home via the Timble Inn again, in my own time, so that I could get something near the coverage I wanted to satisfy my own high demands on myself. Such a nice couple, Amanda would not hear of it when she heard my plan and added another hour. As is my usual style I still went a little over this  managing to cover what they wanted - and more!

The brief was simple. Natural photos as the event unfurled starting with preparations of the bridal party, the church and maybe a few casual candids after the ceremony and one group shot. As the group shot was problematic at the church I still agreed to travel back via the Timble and try for one there as well as getting a few party set up shots before they really let their hair down!

Ideally I would have liked a all day booking to really get across how lovely this wedding was and capture the evening guests letting their hair down with my free photobooth set up included in the all day fee. However the biggest drawback was the news I got at the Friday night rehearsal when the vicar advised on shooting rules. He explained that after another photographer had made him fluff his lines by running around the aisles, squatting down on the floor behind him and shooting wildly throughout the service and prayers he felt he had no option but to limit photographers to preserve the sanctity of the marriage service. I was therefore told that I could only shoot from the back of the church and would be allowed up to take three shots of the signing of the register - all without flash. The no flash rule was no problem and I was shooting at iso levels up to 4000 with wide apertures. My big worry was how to capture the moment when rings and kisses were swapped and those magical shots of the brides face at key moments. Given how emotional Amanda was at the rehearsal I knew I was missing key moments but had no glimmer of hope as bride and groom agreed the rules and said they were not worried - just get what I could when they saw my face drop! A little bit of negotiation got me as far as the first pillar (2 pews from the back) and using my 70-300mm lens which usually never goes to weddings with me got me some half decent "moment " images but that was the most disappointing part of my day.

In such situations you just have to do your best. Yes I was initially cross at the vicar, who appreciated my keeping to the rules (just about) and wished all were like me, but my main anger is aimed at the photographer. He selfishly ruined it for the rest of us in that lovely church by such flagrant disregard for the sanctity of the service, church and vicar by abusing his position and place. If you are a photographer reading this that covers weddings at whatever level be sure to consult with the vicar / celebrant / registrar and act reasonably and within restraints - it`s only those after that suffer when you go wildly spraying and praying with your shots with the shutter noise echoing throughout the church and service. A good photographer knows the moments and captures those without being a pain in the butt for others doing their job! A good wedding photographer captures those special moments by quietly and stealthilymaking their way around like an invisible ninja. A bad wedding photographer gets in other peoples` ways and generally becomes a bore! Which do you want to be?