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As a wedding guest one of the first natural instincts is to wonder if to take a camera. You imagine having a personal record of the big day, captured by yours truly. While it is an individual choice for you to bring a camera and there is no written rule (unless stipulated) to say that you should or shouldn’t, there are certain issues which should be addressed to ensure that you take your pictures in the right way, for the benefit of all. |
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Unfortunately, experience has proved that guest photography can be disruptive; so much so that some couples now even state that there is to be no guest photography by mentioning it politely on the invitation. Others may go half way and allow it after the ceremony at the reception. In the case of “no guest photography” facilities are put in place for you to purchase selections from the official wedding photographer. |
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So providing that there are no “photography nil” restrictions, how can you be a good photo taking guest:
- DON'T entangle yourself with the official professional, in the hopes of capturing the same shots. You can get in the way and sometimes even spoil a photo by casting shadows which leads to expensive touch up work or sometimes even a useless, discarded shot.
- DO be mindful of flash photography which can be very disruptive if not used with discretion and can also ruin the work of the professional, who would have accounted for the lighting situation as is, your flash may throw off the shot. In addition bear in mind that some venues do not allow flash photography but the professional would have found this out during preparation.
- DO note that there are some restrictions with churches who do not allow guest photography at all, only the official photographer.
- DON’T get in the way of the bride and groom or take your pictures in a way which is distracting to them.
- DON’T throw the bride and groom off their time schedule by asking them to personally pose for you; you can purchase shots from the official photographer.
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- DON’T make yourself stand out with your photography by moving away from the main congregation and standing in places which are not the norm, some of which may not be allowed, you are not the official and it would draw attention to you and away from the bride and groom.
- DO allow the professional to shoot the major, critical points of the wedding without distraction.
- DO enjoy shots which are exclusive and available to you, you can still enjoy the bride and groom in other situations like when they leave the venue and also candid shots of the guests, at the table, cheering the bride and groom etc. However, please be mindful of candid shots; do not take anything which would be embarrassing to the person in question.
- DO be mindful of making other guests uncomfortable with your picture taking, particularly when disposable cameras are provided on the table. Be sure to ask permission first before taking someone’s photo and also be careful of awkward moments, not everyone wants to be photographed while they are eating.
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There is no reason why you can’t successfully capture your personal record of the day and be
a model guest at the same time. The key is discretion and to basically leave
the main ceremony to the professional. |
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