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I have seen something at recent weddings that has just left me feeling APPALLED, especially at this last one. What on earth tells people it is a good idea to take flash photography pictures during a wedding ceremony?!? People hire photographers for a reason!
I am NOT allowing flash photography during the ceremony at my wedding. However, it is entirely possible that maybe I'm being annoyed over nothing--so how do you feel about it, hive?
I took flash photography at a friend's wedding. It's not like I stood up and creeped my way up to the front. She asked me to take pictures so she'd have some right away. Do you really think you're going to notice the flashes when your back is to the people? You won't. Some churches prohibit flash photography, though. My wedding was outside, and if people want to take pictures, all the more power to them. I set up a shutterfly site and collected them afterwards! I think you're making something out of nothing. I mean, how are you explicity going to prohibit flash photography? you can put up a sign or mention it in the programs, but that's about all and people will do it anyways.
People are taking the time to bring their cameras with them to your special day because they know it is a huge celebration and want to make sure to capture the special moments... I think it's really nice of them to care so much, providing that they aren't in the middle of the aisle, snapping away while you try to make your way around them... :)
I guess that's the thing... at one wedding, they were fine. At another... Everyone pulled out a camera, and I mean everyone! The bride actually almost stumbled because of the flash! It just seemed so wrong--these people should not be like paparazzi. I guess I just have crazy feelings about it because I am clumsy and I would be the girl that falls on my wedding day from being blinded! I felt so bad for her.
Yeeeeah, that's a lot of people then, but I think it sorta comes with the territory if you have 800 people with digital cameras at your wedding.
I'd definitely say that's a unique situation
Our church doesn't allow them, they actually have this little sign. It annoys me, but I don't bring my camera to weddings anyway. I just hate to be told what to do.
How are you planning on banning cameras at your wedding?
*Note, this is from my good freind, a professional photographers, conversation with me*
He really doesnt like other flashes going off when he is trying to take pictures. Its not the annoyance factor, or people getting distracted... its the lighting! It takes some fine tuning to get the setting on a professional camera how they want for the lighting in the room and such.... when a bunch of people start taking pics the flash can distort the settings that they had. Its not like they can just whip out a camera like a regular guest and use the auto setting, people are paying a lot of hard earned money for good pictures. It will take a few shots to get the settings right before there are any useable shots... that is why they shoot and the ground and other random things to see the pic quality.
Anyways, I take my camera to weddings, but I try to be concious of the professional that was hired. I will turn the flash off or wait until they are moving and then use the flash..
I'm not taking issue with this. Unless our photog says something needs to be said, we won't mind.
When I take pictures during the ceremony, I am very careful to make sure the flash isn't on because it could be distracting to others around me. Will I ban flash photography at my own wedding? Probably not. I think most people have the common decency to not be overly distracting...at least I hope.
This drove me CRAZY at a wedding I went to recently. But now I find myself looking forward to seeing friends' pictures on Facebook after our ceremony. :)
I like the idea of people helping us gather all the pictures from our wedding at the end using shutterfly or another site. I have even seen it suggested in magazines as opposed to providing one time use cameras.
Our church will not allow any photos to be taken during the ceremony. They feel that this is a sacred ceremony and it should be respected as such. We have been asked to ensure that our guests know of this policy.
We will have a videographer capturing the ceremony. We had a demo DVD sent to us. The couple on the video had a tremendous amount of flash going off as the bride walked down the aisle. It was horrible She looked surprised, eyes shut from the blinding flashes. Completely overtook the beauty of the moment.
We plan to make a note in our program, and the Church DOC will make an annoucement before the ceremony begins about cell phone and cameras.
I'm with GaBGal in that I don't take issue with flash photography.... but then again, we're having an outdoor ceremony (on a bright sunny day, *fingers crossed*) so hopefully our guests won't need to turn on their flash. Either way, I doubt I will notice while walking down the aisle... I know I'll be too nervous and the plan is to FOCUS on the FI. :)
It isn't really the distraction to the bride and groom, but it would mess with the photog's photograph(s). Different light sources going off in all sorts of directions causes more setting changes which also means more chances of missing the shot needed.
Being the budding photographer that I am, if I had an indoor wedding, I would probably ban flash as well for the sake of the professional I hired. I know our cake-cutting pictures didn't really turn out because of another person's flash on their camera
(notice the red light. NOT from out photographer. just about all of the the cake cutting pics had this red light somewhere)
I don't think I'd want a bunch of flashes going off in my face as I try to walk down the aisle! Not to mention it messing what a paid photographer is trying to do. We're outside, so it won't be a major issues - but I've been to weddings where the officiant has mentioned it prior to starting the service (kind of like those turn off your dang mobile phone ads at the theatres! *lol*)
Honestly, at your own wedding, I doubt you will even notice, and you will be glad to have as many pcitures as possible! I think a good photographer has strategies to deal with excessive flashing going on, although it is more difficult in a church.
I don't think it's worth taking issue with - recently at a wedding I attended, the priest said "no flash photography" and people still did it. They want pictures of you!
Most people don't know that using flash in a big place like a church is actually rather worthlessw anyways. Your flash on a point-and-shoot isn't going to do enough to make the picture that much better. What about putting something in the program?
And if you are someone who uses flash at a wedding, try turning your flash off and letting your camera adjust some other settings to get a pretty good picture. The bride payed a lot of money for a professional photographer to capture the beautiful pictures, if you're just taking pictures to hold the bride over and get them back why not do her two favors? Take the picture and put it on Facebook for her, but leave the flash off so you don't distract from the beauty that is her ceremony. If your camera isn't good enough to handle the setting without flash, is the picture really going to be worth ruining the environment?
Im posting this first from an wedding guest point of view. Many churches will not allow flash....they may not enforce this ofc, but i tell you, some kick guests out who flash...no joke. If its requested by the officiant at the beginning of the ceremony that the couple has requested no flash photography, then please respect the request....i think if couple requests it and you as a guest are flashing away, you are being rude to them on their big day.
I have been to weddings where its like a media scrum! people in the middle aisle, people on the stage, people behind the priest, crazy!! have some respect! you havent been hired, so just sit down and shoot inconspicuously....i have been to weddings where guests have been in the way of other guests seeing the ceremony cause they are standing, walking around, in the aisle, etc....omg, just sit down
as a photographer, we have to deal with situations where guests will also be photographing....just learn to deal with it, it will happen...lotsa places are strict on guests photographing and flashing, but lots arent....if you cant deal with it and still get your shots, you need more practice...just ignore the guests...if someone is shooting from middle aisle, and you need that spot for a ring shot or something, just stand in front of them....you're being paid, they are not, you have job to do, they dont....
more often though, i have seen photographers struggle with videographer...working with them instead of around them....was at this one wedding where videographer had this giant camera on a massive stand and basically sat in middle aisle the whole time and nobody after row 3 could see the ceremony lol...went to another wedding where videographer was wearing this flourescent type shimmering purple shirt and showed up in every picture haha....
anyway, thats my two (or three) cents. if you're a guest, have some common sense and respect. shoot from your seat. respect the couples wishes and rules.
if your aphotographer, learn to deal with the inevitable media scrum of some weddings.
@<span style="font-size: x-small; color: #81a026;">cinemaparadiso thank you for bringing this topic up. I couldn't agree with you more.
This is one of my HUGE concerns. I'm getting married at an Aquarium where it will be super dark and the only lighting will be some candles the fish tanks. I'll have an L shaped aisle to navigate which will be quite narrow. I am a bit worried about tripping over my own 2 feet in general, being blinded by flashes has me a bit concerned.
I know flash photography is allowed since I've been to the aquarium and seen people taking pics of the fish. And, obviously my professional photographers will be able to use flas so I'm sure if they can do it, guests will think or know they can.
I'm going to bring this up with the Aquarium coordinator and see if she has any suggestions. Other than that, I'm at a loss.
just get your officiant to announce that the couple has requested no flash photography/photography by guests, and that all pictures will be made available to the guests as usual. If you're guests continue to flash, you could either be mean, or you could count these people as not really you're friends as they cant even respect a simple request like that...i mean come on, a point and shoot in a dark aquarium from the 10th row...you aint gonna get any pictures anyway....
As a bride, I didn't mind people using flash at our wedding. It was nice to see some pictures soon afterwards while waiting for our photographer's pro pics.
As a wedding photographer, I don't particularly like it, but I've learned to work with it instead of fretting about it. Most guests know better than to stand in the middle of the aisle with their point n shoot so it's not usually a problem. Lately though, i've shot several weddings where friends of the couple follow us around on the photoshoot with their dslrs and that did get slightly annoying because it drags everything out and distracts the bride/groom (looking at so many different cameras).
yup...and most guests do know not to do that, but all it takes is 1 or 2 to be a pain...and yea, too many cameras, and couple tends to look at people they know....and with group shots, everyone is looking somewhere different....haha
Our church does not allow flash photography-period. It's in my contract and our officient reminded us of this.
I'm glad I'm not the only one worried about it... JoesWifey's picture with the red light is EXACTLY what I'd be worried about. I mean, I'm young. My friends are young (and haven't been to too many weddings). I know they really lack the sense to not do it unless someone explicitly mentions it. I don't know, I am just bugged that I may be paying thousands for beautiful pictures that end up ruined.
Oh, and at whomever asked how i'm going to do it: It's in my wedding website, will be in my programs and my officiant may make an announcement. I might make a sign too, I don't know. Sigh!
Well, a wedding isn't exactly a ride at Disneyland; what would you do, make a "no flash photography" announcement? Personally I'd love if my friends and family were so excited that they wanted pictures of their own to document my wedding. And I'd love to see the pictures they take!
I recently went to a wedding where the Bride's aunt took pics on her iPhone during the whole ceremony... she even stepped in front of the photographer!
Marigold I would love to see pictures they take during the reception, but during the major parts, I have seen a lot of blinding flashes and really just inappropriate, inexcusable behavior (photographer had to push a lady aside at one) from people I would think "know better."
I think it must just be personal preference though, because this seems very controversial!
I completely understand the flash photography if its prohibited by your ceremony location or if you get in the way of the photographer. As a bride, I was happy to see pictures so soon after the wedding and I didnt notice the flashes at all. Granted I was outside for the ceremony so their probably werent many but even indoors I didnt notice flashes. As long as it doesnt ruin your pictures or people get in the way of the photographer I dont really see what the big deal is. I dont use the flash much on my camera anyways, I turn it to the sensitive setting so I can take better pictures without the flash.
I'm with you cinemaparadiso!! I think flash photography during an indoor wedding ceremony is tacky. Even if it isn't completely distracting or blinding to the bride and groom how about the officiant who is trying to conduct the ceremony or the other guests who would like to cherish this important moment instead of seeing spots and listening to flashes being recharged (and man is that a terrible sound).
I'm so glad that my church prohibits flash photography. I too will be posting the information on my wedding website, a sign at the actual event, a note in the program, and possibly an announcement from the officiant.
I can understand people taking pictures but I don't understand the flash photography. Not only is that super distracting, that also messes up the really expensive professional photos the couple is paying for.
Coming from a photographer and a soon-to-be bride, It's extremely frusterating to be taking someones wedding photos and have other people's flashes going off in my photos. Also, it's extremely frusterating to be trying to get photos of the bridal party walking up the asile and have uncle bob in your picture becuase he thought he was cool enough to stand in the back and get his own photos - major pet peeve. As a bride, we will have a note in the program that askes no one to use flash photography. Our photographers ahve specifically requested this, but even if they hadn't I would have done it anyway.
Flash duration is in the thousands of a second. It's extremely rare that a guest flash will ruin pro's pictures because of lighting. The bigger issue is that the bride and groom see all these cameras and don't know where to look......this can cause the photographer to miss shots if they are paying attention to other cameras.
I dislike that too, that's why we're having an "unplugged" wedding ceremony. We're respectively asking that all guests turn off their cameras and cell phones for it's duration (we're putting it in our programs and having the ushers remind guests about it as they seat them). We're putting the professional images from the ceremony available to download on our website after the wedding, so no one will even miss out on getting pictures.
My FI is feels even more strongly about this than I do! He ranted for days how at his sister's wedding just a few weeks ago everyone was "witnessing" it through a viewfinder and taking flash images while the photographers were trying to do their jobs.
I wrote a post about this recently. I think the comments below the post are more interesting than what I wrote. Some thought the unplugged wedding was a great idea. I don't think I'll have to mention it to my crowd. At least, I hope I don't.
http://www.weddingbee.com/2011/12/06/miss-mink-ponders-the-unplugged-wedding
From a pro's POV, it annoys me so much to have lame little flashes going off during the ceremony. It completely messes up the lighting and makes my job (for which I'm getting paid big bucks) way more difficult. The photos your friends will get will never be as good as the ones your pro does (unless it's a fauxtographer). Annoying!
honestly, my sister took my cousins FAVORITE picture of her ceremony. She has a really nice professional series camera and she caught the most amazing picture that the photographer was not able to get. She has it hanging on her wall with the professional pictures... I wouldnt mind.. the more the marrier!
We shot our first unplugged wedding ceremony this year and it was fantastic! Flash duration may be in the thousands of a second as USER876 remarked, but sometimes that's all it takes to ruin a moment. I can honestly say I've had some good shots totally ruined by a guest's flash, and it can be frustrating! The other thing to consider is how distracted guests can be by their cellphones and point and shoot cameras. Most of the weddings we shoot the guests are never paying complete attention to the ceremony, but fiddling with their devices. The unplugged wedding we shot the guests were very involved in what was going on during the ceremony. You may want the instant gratification of guest photos, but you will thank yourself later when you see your professional photos and the guests are reacting to your ceremony instead of focusing on their devices!
I want to second this part from @deathbydesign: "I dislike that too, that's why we're having an "unplugged" wedding ceremony. We're respectively asking that all guests turn off their cameras and cell phones for it's duration (we're putting it in our programs and having the ushers remind guests about it as they seat them)"
I know that just asking guests to turn off their devices won't make 100% of our guests put them away, but I feel very strongly that if they come to celebrate our ceremony and they're taking photos or texting during, they're more concerned with their photos/phone than they are with our ceremony. The reception -- go for it! But during the ceremony, I'd really like the people to be focused on the ceremony itself rather than their devices!
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