Another moment ruined

[Peter Rush]

I will stop posting these now (I seem to post a few) but this was from yesterdays wedding - Tog followed bride all the way down the isle and completely ruined my shot - pretty narked about this one because the bridesmaid carrying the baby would have been gold!

[Chris Harding]

Hey Pete

What happens happens!!! It's all part of the day and if nothing else the bride will blame the photog not you!

I tend to shoot the other way so I get faces and then as the bride passes me I follow the bride and dad right up to the end. Of course even if the photog pushes in front my A-Cam catches then and my trusty GoPro next to the A-Cam or on the balcony is my safety shot.

Next time don't follow them down the aisle ...shoot from the front (about 3 pews back) AND make sure you are in the photo ..just for revenge!!

At my wedding yesterday some little 2 year old was running around the aisle totally un restrained and un supervised and apart from getting in the shot ..he walked up to my light stand with the GoPro on top and gave it a good shake (sorta like dislodging a cat from a high tree) ...the camera swayed wildly until he was stopped but I cannot use that footage although I'm tempted to!!!

Live and let live ...OR start doing dual packages like Roger, Pete Riding and I do... when you are also the photog you won't ever be cursed by the videographer

Chris

[Peter Rush]

It was from a locked off camera Chris - here are 2 more views I got - I have started to position myself in an end pew so I can get a nice closeup as she walks past and then when she's at the front scoot down a side isle and take up position for the rest of the ceremony - At yesterday's wedding however there was no side way for me to get into position - I'd have needed to go down the isle myself - not appropriate!

[Peter Rush]

Originally Posted by Chris Harding

Live and let live ...OR start doing dual packages like Roger, Pete Riding and I do... when you are also the photog you won't ever be cursed by the videographer

Chris

Chris I have no idea how you could do that - yesterday's wedding was in 3 locations - church/photoshoot in a reindeer park/hotel. The church and hotel are 3 camera setups with audio recorders and I work alone so that's a massive amount of running around, loading the car, driving, unloading the car, carting all the gear around etc etc. I work fairly quickly but that still takes a chunk of time and then I have to film the good stuff in between - I run around like a blue arse fly at a wedding and am knackered at the end of the day - to try and take photos in amongst all that boggles my imagination - you guys must be heroes :)

[Chris Harding]

Hi Pete

It is a bit taxing but the thought of having no photog messing me around is awesome PLUS I don't have to sit around during the photoshoot. I have an EA-50 on a tripod up front for the B&G and then a GoPro on a lighting stand usually above it for outdoor or on the balcony upstairs for Churches. The second EA-50 is on my shoulder for cutaways during the ceremony and then I have a dual DSLR harness with the two Nikons either side of me like a wild west cowboy ... You need to be on the ball during the ceremony but it's mostly pretty easy as I'm only shooting cutaways on the 2nd EA-50 so I can pop off plenty of stills during the ceremony. That's the only really tricky bit ... the rest of the wedding is easy for stills and video combined! I do a mock cake cut for stills (early on) and then do the video later when they cut the cake.

With the photoshoot I will do stills only of all the groups (never do video of that anyway) and then swop to a stedicam video shoot and then back to stills with the bride and groom only. The only thing I cannot do is the congratulations which is only on video so they miss any stills there but otherwise the rest is fairly easy.

I do a round the tables at the reception on video and then go back and do posed table shots on stills. Doing stills at reception makes the evening go faster too. Prep video and photo is really simple as you have lots of time.

Maybe Pete Riding or Roger will chip in and tell you their preferred method? I think Roger has his wife to help him ..mine is not interested sadly as now and again it would be nice to have someone to assist with stills especially at the ceremony!

Chris

[Robert Benda]

IF I were to try and do both photo and video, I'd use a two mount pole to put two different cameras on my one tripod - one for video, one for photos. It would still be tricky, but I think that would make it a lot easier.

My concern would be that some of the best footage and pictures come from the most fleeting moments: the kiss, the processional, recessional, and their like.

OR, how would still frames taken out of footage look if I followed the usual shutter speed rules for photography? (as in, a 135mm lens so I will use a shutter speed higher than 135). I may have to do some test shots of that.

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by Peter Rush

It was from a locked off camera Chris - here are 2 more views I got - I have started to position myself in an end pew so I can get a nice closeup as she walks past and then when she's at the front scoot down a side isle and take up position for the rest of the ceremony - At yesterday's wedding however there was no side way for me to get into position - I'd have needed to go down the isle myself - not appropriate!

I'm a bit confused now.. Are you shooting with 3 cameras?! And upset the photog is in one of your shots?! That sounds a bit egregious. No different than videographers complaining about photography companies that send out 3 photogs to the wedding and getting in our way.

[Peter Rush]

Hi Dave - I have 2 discreet locked off handycams on lightstands as well as my main camera (Sony EA50) which I am with at the front of the church - the processional looks really nice from that shot straight down the isle - there were 2 togs, one with a prime and one with a zoom - surely no need to walk down the isle with the bride and bridesmaids though!

It is what it is and i aren't going to sweat it - I always want the best for my couples though and that tog takes the shine off a nice little sequence IMO

Pete

[Jeff Harper]

I used to get upset about the photog going down the aisle, but as time goes on I have stopped. It is not even an issue to me. In fact I don't even notice it or care. I've done so many in the last few years they all kind of become a blur anyway.

I do not feel my footage is so precious anymore that I need to get resentful about such things. I get the shots I can and am constantly getting ready for the next shot.

If they stand directly in front of my camera and block it, then I take action to remedy it but otherwise I try and enjoy the shoot.

In my case I actually tell the photographer to never worry about being in my shot and to do whatever he wants, that I will work around him. It's not that big a deal to me.

I do admit I wonder why more of them do not use a zoom and tripod to capture key shots. The photographers I most admire use zoom lenses and a tripod at key points.and seem to get the best images often times. Their job is difficult enough and I like giving them room to work.

[James Manford]

That's the mentality YOU SHOULD have.

Especially if you're running a business.

If you're doing it as a hobby then you will automatically get extra passionate. But as a business, have it down in your contract that you're not liable if anybody gets in the way.

[Jeff Harper]

Well, we are documenting the day, aren't we James? I do see the photographer as part of the action, not separate.

On the other hand if I focus on him/her it can be very easy to get worked up over it. Not worth it. It just takes time to realize such things. I used to be a hothead and even had a couple of unpleasant confrontations. I'm glad those days are behind me.

I will admit that once I did have a photog who deliberately completely blocked my camera. Nothing, I mean nothing, was in the shot but her back and head. When I politely pointed out my camera to her, she refused to move and said something nasty. I was no longer a nice guy and when I was done with her she avoided me the rest of the night.

[Clive McLaughlin]

I haven't read all the comments but i have to say - I don't agree at all with the OP. Actually, in fairness - as a stabiliser user, I often times like to follow bride/bridesmaids up the aisle. I'm sure I've ticked off quite a few togs in my time, just like they have ticked me off.

But it is what it is, You would happily video the lady delivering flowers or the hairdressers or DJ/band - the photographer is just another part of the day - he was there, and not by accident - the bride booked him.

It is what it is - We can't make the whole video seem like a hollywood film where we strip away any sense of reality from the occasion.

[James Manford]

Originally Posted by Clive McLaughlin

We can't make the whole video seem like a hollywood film where we strip away any sense of reality from the occasion.

That's the thing though isn't it ... all the videographers out there are displaying work without those parts.

Brides see our trailers/samples where we strip out those parts and most likely assume the whole film will end up like that, but much longer!

Little do they realise the actual film contains all the bits & bobs and mishaps. Then you get whinging clients like Tariq is facing ... saying why was half the body of some one chopped off in a dancing scene etc

[Tim Lewis]

The observer influences the event.

[Adrian Tan]

Originally Posted by Clive McLaughlin

Actually, in fairness - as a stabiliser user, I often times like to follow bride/bridesmaids up the aisle. I'm sure I've ticked off quite a few togs in my time, just like they have ticked me off.

I used to do this a couple of years ago, and Still Motion recommend it in one of their videos. It's a convenient way to capture the handing off once she gets to the top of the aisle, plus it's just a great shot. You can do a nice reveal of the church, and all the guests' faces are turned to the bride, so there's a lot of nice reactions, and she gets to see everyone who came to the ceremony.

I don't often do it anymore, though.

Reasons: (1) steadicam pretty much guaranteed to get in the way of any other camera that's shooting the bride/bridesmaids' faces, even if operator is trying to crouch-walk; (2) ticks togs off and is less discreet generally.

But other Sydney videographers I've spoken to have varying views. Some revel in the fact that it's less discreet, and go into the process with full arm and vest -- and they do seem to have people coming up to them afterwards asking for their business card.