How to be a good wedding guest and still get good pictures!

One time I was the main photographer at a wedding and as the bride and groom were cutting the cake, I took a step back to get the framing right on the photo.  A young woman stepped right in front of me and started snapping photos.  Completely understandable... so I just touched her shoulder lightly to let her know she was in my shot.  After the cake-cutting, she turned to me and said, "Don't ever touch me again." I am not making this up.

Don't be that guest.

Even if you are really, really proud of your camera and you want that shot sooo badly, let the hired hands do their thing and get the shots for the bride and groom.

However, and other photographers disagree with me on this, you can stay in your seat during the ceremony, and take photos with your flash OFF, as long as it doesn't disturb the people around you.  If you only take on automatic, and don't know how to turn off your flash, just wait to see the pictures on Facebook, because you might be ruining it for other people and even for the bride and groom!

At the reception, be sure you are not getting in front of the photographer with your camera to get a shot, and if he or she is trying to get a shot without flash, wait until they are done before you use yours because your flash can ruin their shot!  Besides you can be getting pictures that they won't have like the people and details at your table. :-)

These are photos I took as a guest, from my seat.  They are not meant to be a professional offering or there would be a gazillion more, from closer up, pictures before and after, etc. etc. etc.

But, after he saw them, the father of the bride requested copies so hopefully I did not get in anyone's way, annoy anyone, or ruin any pictures for the paid photographer, but was still able to offer a gift to the family.  Mission accomplished! :-)

For more pictures, head over to Lisa-Marie-Photography.com to see my website and Facebook page...

For more pictures, head over to Lisa-Marie-Photography.com to see my website and Facebook page...