Disgruntled Photographers at Weddings: Ensuring Captured Moments are Unforgettable
Wedding Photography: Avert Calamity and Perfect Your Snaps
NYC (our site) - Elana Goldin, just like any other bride, yearned for stunning wedding photos and videos.**
"I adored their images," Goldin said, praising the company that her dad and future mother-in-law chose. "They were award-winning. They graced numerous magazines. I really appreciated the owner's vibe."
But the joy didn't last.
The photographer who turned up 45 minutes late, accompanied by a team of two individuals, wasn't the owner, as promised. Goldin, a resident of Chicago, who got married in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, last May, had never even interacted with this imposter. Goldin found the fill-in's demeanor less than commendable from the get-go.
The photographer wasn't shy in criticizing Goldin's bridal shoes, jewelry, and perfume as insufficient for traditional close-ups. She also had a thrill for rearranging the bouquets without permission, snapping pictures before the ceremony.
"She and the florist squabbled from the get-go," Goldin recalled.
Reflecting upon her big day, Goldin thinks she would have made some different choices.
Wedding experts shared their advice on how brides-to-be could sidestep photographic catastrophes.
Speak Up When Necessary
Goldin wishes she had been more confident. She had given a shot list beforehand, but the photographer assigned to the bride's party started demanding poses that didn't align with Goldin's desires.
"I was in my dress, and she said let's take a picture in the shower, because it was a very extravagant shower. My sister immediately shut that down. No way, Jose," Goldin reminisced.
During the venue, the photographer insisted on snapping photos outside. The weather was dismal, and the climate was humid.
"It was dreadful outside. My gown got soiled at the bottom. My hair started to frizz. The bridesmaids stepped out, and our hair blew everywhere. The pictures were abysmal," Goldin shared.
Steer Clear of Amateurs, Save Family Drama for Later
Danielle Rothweiler of Rothweiler Event Design, a New Jersey-based wedding planner, recommends against hiring loved ones unless they're experts in their field.
"I always advise my couples: quit hiring friends and family because if something goes awry, think of the conversation you would have. No one wants that," she said.
One client accepted an uncle's offer to shoot her wedding as his gift. He missed half the shots and struggled to grasp the importance of timing. He also spent a good chunk of time simply enjoying the festivities instead of capturing moments.
"She never voiced her concerns. The pictures weren't amazing," Rothweiler said. "I have a wedding coming up this year, and half the vendor list is friends and family, and I'm nervous. I'm petrified."
Educate Yourself on Photography Pointers
Michelle Jackson, owner of Bambino International, a photo vendor in Cincinnati, Ohio, argues that asking some primary questions about gear is valuable.
Make sure your photographers have backup camera bodies and other indispensable equipment of equal quality to their primary equipment. Cameras equipped with dual slots for SD cards or XQD cards are preferable.
"Everything is being copied onto two cards. The worst disaster for a photographer is having no photos due to equipment failure. Couples don't consider that," Jackson said.
Similar to this, San Francisco photographer Oscar Urizar, founder of Red Eye Collection, advises ensuring you have the right to personal use of your photos. This allows you to reprint, share, and exhibit them without commercial purposes.
"I embarked on the film industry. If you didn't receive your negatives, you couldn't produce your photos. It's essentially the same logic," Urizar said.
Organize Group Shots Methodically Ahead of Time
Organizing group shots at weddings is generally chaotic, especially for larger ceremonies.
Tirusha Dave, founder of the luxe market Bravura Brides, caters to South Asian couples worldwide with guest lists exceeding 300.
She compiles a shareable document and encourages couples to list every person expected in each group shot. But she doesn't stop there. She also tasks them with designating one person to serve as a wrangler. The wrangler must know every person in the group by sight to round them up if needed.
"I tell my couples, I'm pretty good at what I do, but I don't know your second cousins, your distant aunts, and uncles," Dave said.
Each group is assigned a number, which is announced when it's time to gather.
Adhere to a Schedule for Quality Shots
April Pinto, founder and co-owner of April Pinto Photography in the Dallas area, manages a team of photographers. They juggle up to four weddings weekly.
They thrive or sink based on how well the schedule is observed. Not an easy task when you have a coordinator monitoring the proceedings and the mother of the groom creating her own agenda.
But that's not all. The other challenge?
The rowdy bridesmaid, Pinto said. She's someone who's had too much Champagne and believes she should lead the charge.
"We try to keep her occupied by giving her tasks. I find that keeping people involved can make a difference. You can convert all that tension into a fun time," Pinto said.
"Despite the successful wedding photography being a significant aspect of every bride's dream, it seems business ethics and artistic approach can vary greatly from one photographer to another. In the realm of lifestyle and home-and-garden magazines, one might find examples of both stellar and disastrous wedding photography experiences, serving as a reminder for brides-to-be to research and prepare accordingly."
"Adding to the importance of choosing the right photographer for your big day, it's essential to remember the significance of timing and weather conditions in capturing the perfect moments. For instance, an unforeseen downpour or late arrival could potentially derail even the best wedding photography plans, highlighting the necessity of adaptability and planning on the part of both the bride and the photographer."
