Do you take your DSLR if you are a guest at a wedding?

[Kerbouchard]

About to step out the door to shoot a wedding this afternoon, but this thread had too much 'win' to pass up.

Last weekend, I had something happen to me that I have never had happen before. I was at altar level to get the groom's reactions. Cindy was at altar level to the other side to get the bride's reactions. Mike was far back, center aisle to get the overall.I had three guests, during the ceremony, just before the ring exchange get in front of me to take a shot. Yes, get in front of me, when I am already at altar level.

You know what I did? Nothing. They gestured to me asking if it was okay. I already had the shot, knew the ring exchange wasn't going to be for a minute or two, and there was no harm in it. While this was a bit more extreme than normal,(I've never seen a guest get up and approach the altar for a shot), it's just part of the day.

Every wedding photographer has to deal with drunk guests, boring guests, guests that hijack you and want you to take family pictures of everybody and their dog, photobooths, DJ's with cameras, florists with cameras, and yes, guests with cameras.

It's really not that big of a deal. Heck, I've let guests borrow gear so they could get good shots before. And 6 months later, I photographed their wedding. Why? Because we don't look at the guests, as, well, 'guests'. We look at them like friends and family of the Bride and Groom. There is a reason those people are there. It's because they are very close to your clients. Also, a good chance that they are wedding age or know others who are.
This business is 90% referrals and word of mouth.

Personally, I would prefer to be in the set that treats the B&G's friends and family with courtesy and respect.

So, enough of the soapbox.

To the OP, I say bring your camera. Personally, I would only bring one lens and a flash, not because I am worried about what people think, but because you don't need the distraction of having to keep up with a lot of gear. Take the shots that you want and have fun.

There is nobody who has ever posted here asking if they should bring a camera that is the kind of 'guest' that would be a problem for the pro. Just that you asked and knew there were some concerns shows that you will respect the pro and stay out of there way.

Most importantly, have fun. It's a celebration, not a gig.

 

[digital flower]

Always bring the DSLR. I try and be discrete with it. Last time I brought my D700 and old 80-200mm/2.8. That lens stuck out like a sore thumb.

 

[PicMaker]

Joined today, this thread is my first read, so this is my first post...

I have always taken photo's at weddings. At no time ever have I got in the way of the hired professional, and wouldn't even dream of doing such a thing. Yes, I have taken shots of the couple, and later on shots of best man etc when they do the speeches. Most however have been candid stuff of people enjoying themselves.
The pro takes formal shots for the formal album. Its what he/she is paid to do. Mine are not formal and in many ways more relaxed. To me it has never been any different than taking a camera to a party. If you take pics then why not take them at a wedding when you know 90% of the people anyway. It interferes with nothing and I have never not enjoyed myself at any wedding.

I have however seen many ignorant people at weddings who stand alongside the paid photographer and once saw someone push him out the way!

 

[Stradawhovious]

I'd take it.... but I wouldn't get within 10 yards of the working photographer. It's all kinds of fun to phoograph people when they/I am drunk of their/my ass.

 

[bratkinson]

I went to my ex step-daughters wedding 3 months ago as a guest with my 60D, 24-70, and 580EX II.

On the advice previously found here, I quickly found the pros and let them know who I was and would stay out of their way, which I did. They were friendly and happy to see that I, too, was shooting with Canon gear. I kept my promise to stay out of their way, but on one reception shot they set up with the B&G and grooms' family (I had no clue who was who), I waited until just a moment after they took their picture and got one for myself from a different angle. We chatted a couple of times during the reception as well.

Of course, I was there as 'family', and took far fewer shots than the pros. I could really care less who the 200+ friends of the B&G that I never saw before and so took only a couple of candid 'group' pictures of them.

Good thing thing the pros (a husband/wife team) KNEW what they were doing and had excellent results. Mine were a looooong way from being anything "publish-able". I learned the hard way there were several facets of digital photography I hadn't learned yet, and I got bit good! So, the lousy results "got my attention" on the white balance issues I never previously understood and have since addressed.

 

[zcar21]

Interesting thread! Some people might think you are the main photographer and want their picture taken.

 

[tirediron]

...They were friendly and happy to see that I, too, was shooting with Canon gear...

But... but... you said they were pros... surely you mean Nikon gear?

:greenpbl:


Sorry... couldn't resist.

 

[jake337]

I'd rather drink and take sun fun pictures than dance any day of the week!

 

[jake337]

Interesting thread! Some people might think you are the main photographer and want their picture taken.

I just leave the cam in the trunk till they leave.

 

[jake337]

About to step out the door to shoot a wedding this afternoon, but this thread had too much 'win' to pass up.

Last weekend, I had something happen to me that I have never had happen before. I was at altar level to get the groom's reactions. Cindy was at altar level to the other side to get the bride's reactions. Mike was far back, center aisle to get the overall.I had three guests, during the ceremony, just before the ring exchange get in front of me to take a shot. Yes, get in front of me, when I am already at altar level.

You know what I did? Nothing. They gestured to me asking if it was okay. I already had the shot, knew the ring exchange wasn't going to be for a minute or two, and there was no harm in it. While this was a bit more extreme than normal,(I've never seen a guest get up and approach the altar for a shot), it's just part of the day.

Every wedding photographer has to deal with drunk guests, boring guests, guests that hijack you and want you to take family pictures of everybody and their dog, photobooths, DJ's with cameras, florists with cameras, and yes, guests with cameras.

It's really not that big of a deal. Heck, I've let guests borrow gear so they could get good shots before. And 6 months later, I photographed their wedding. Why? Because we don't look at the guests, as, well, 'guests'. We look at them like friends and family of the Bride and Groom. There is a reason those people are there. It's because they are very close to your clients. Also, a good chance that they are wedding age or know others who are.
This business is 90% referrals and word of mouth.

Personally, I would prefer to be in the set that treats the B&G's friends and family with courtesy and respect.

So, enough of the soapbox.

To the OP, I say bring your camera. Personally, I would only bring one lens and a flash, not because I am worried about what people think, but because you don't need the distraction of having to keep up with a lot of gear. Take the shots that you want and have fun.

There is nobody who has ever posted here asking if they should bring a camera that is the kind of 'guest' that would be a problem for the pro. Just that you asked and knew there were some concerns shows that you will respect the pro and stay out of there way.

Most importantly, have fun. It's a celebration, not a gig.

One lens and a flash works great. I went with two lens(35mm f1.8 & 85mm f1.4) and a sb600 pointed at them ceilings!

 

[mrpink]

Do you bring food to the reception? No, they paid for a photographer just as they paid for dinner.... just go and have fun.






p!nK

 

[Josh66]

Do you bring food to the reception? No, they paid for a photographer just as they paid for dinner.... just go and have fun.

This is my thought as well. I would bring some type of camera, but not an SLR, and certainly nothing that would require a camera bag.

 

[ZapoTeX]

Always brought my SLR to weddings since I own one. Loads of fun, especially because I can take the pictures I like, no responsibility to capture key moments from the conventional angle, etc... If I was the official photographer (even assuming I was prepared for that, which I don't think I am) I would stress out a lot more and take worse pictures.

 

[Kerbouchard]

Do you bring food to the reception? No, they paid for a photographer just as they paid for dinner.... just go and have fun.


p!nK

I am not sure they are comparable...the food lasts less than 24 hours(depending on your constitution)...the pictures can last a lifetime.

And FWIW, anybody with kids does bring food to the reception...at least some sort of snack. Turns out, the wedding feeding schedule isn't often in key with the kids.

Having a guest take snapshots at a wedding simply isn't that big of a deal...no reason to make it out like it is one.

 

[Robin Usagani]

If I did bring one, it would be full of pictures that matters. Maybe my girls are the flower girls or something. Why would I want to take pics of friends or cousin getting married? I won't be in it, I won't hang the photos on my wall. I still have hundreds of my kids photos that i have bot processed. Why woild i want other people's photos to process. Really, like I said from the beginning... I don't care when someone bring a DSLR to a wedding. When their intention is to build their portfolio, that's when I have a problem. Unless there was an agreement with the main photographer already.