Wedding Photographer Etiquette
Etiquette advice exists for brides on how to group divorced family members for a portrait and the proper time to take post-ceremony photos, but what about guidelines for the people hired to document that special day? Decorum for wedding photographers is a combination of common sense, tact and knowing how to handle your trade like a good businessperson.
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Professionalism
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The best etiquette (and the way you will earn business referrals) is to fulfill the promises made to the bride and groom with your photography contract. Arrive prepared, on time, with an assistant and document the wedding with care. Be polite to the guests as you work and be flexible when problems occur (see Resources).
Avoid Interference
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Photographers remain in the background as much as possible and shouldn't interfere with the guests' enjoyment. This especially holds true at the ceremony. Check beforehand with the officiant what the rules of photography are at the site and see if he'll grant unusual requests, like standing behind him during the ring exchange or as the couple leaves the church (see Resources).
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Dress
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Everyone else has put an effort into their appearance for this day, and that should include you and your assistants. Even if the weddings is casual to the point of flip flips and bathing suits, that doesn't mean you should arrive in them. Consult with the couple ahead of time about what type of dress they prefer you wear; female photographers can make it known at that time that wearing a skirt isn't always the most comfortable outfit when having to kneel to get one-of-a-kind shots.
Anticipation
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Experienced photographers witness hundreds of unions and all the special moments, potential problems and unfortunate disasters that come with them. Give the pair the benefit of your wisdom by nudging them into flattering poses, presenting solutions when a downpour puts a halt to outdoor photographs and steering them from a certain tragedy when they tell you that they want pictures of themselves strolling hand in hand through the beautiful pasture that is covered with manure (see Resources).
Guidance Vs. Opinion
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However, there is a boundary between guiding and giving orders. Your expertise will show when you make polite suggestions about how to get the necessary or requested shots and coordinating them in a timely manner. Yes, it might be ridiculous to take pictures of a mock fight right after the vows have been exchanged to playfully document their first married argument, but a little humor goes a long way.
Nudity
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Bare skin is seen quite a lot of at weddings: strapless gowns, short skirts, dancing guests who don't realize clothing has gone awry. The bride getting into her gown is a key moment photographers are meant to capture, but check with her about which pictures she is comfortable posting in the online photo album for guests to see. The bridesmaid having a wardrobe malfunction while walking in the procession shouldn't have her embarrassment made worse by a flashbulb going off in her face. As photographer Michael Barber says, "I'm there as storyteller, not a voyeur" (see Resources).
Tense Moments
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Weddings are fraught with high emotions and high jinx. Attendees fight, have tantrums, cry, drink too much and pass out from nerves or too much sun. Handle these incidents with tact and good judgment. Don't snap away at an elderly guest needing emergency medical assistance. Likewise, a groomsmen irritated by the garter sliding too far up his date's thigh is best photographed at a distance (see Resources).
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