anyone had someone over their shoulder on a job?

[awinphoto]

obviously you haven't had to work with a pesky art director, sales manager, marketing manager, or the anal retentive micro managing general manager on commercial shoots... You can easily be bothered or intimidated by how they can be... Some shoots, not often, my sets have to be approved by top management before I fire the shutter, just so I dont bother wasting my time if they dont like the set or want something changed... It happens.

 

[emag]

The recent weddings I've attended were for a friend who married one of my co-workers and for my nephew. At the friend's wedding I stayed out of the way and mostly took candids. For the formals, I saw the photographer talking to the wedding party and gesturing toward friends and family with cameras who were standing around. He asked all of us to hold off until he was finished, then told us the wedding party would like us all to get our shots while they were still posed. He became an integral part of the reception and seemed to enjoy things as much as anyone.

At my nephew's wedding, I got one dirty glance from the photographer when he first spotted me using a long lens from a distance, I think he was concerned I would be Uncle Bob (Ed, actually) and get in the way at some point. Understandable. I never did and never tried to horn in on his money shot poses, just wanted photos of my favorite nephew's wedding, I live 1600 miles away. I didn't get any more dirty looks from him and he never offered to let friends and family take photos of his formal poses - went to a separate room and closed the door. He did not interact with reception guests (i.e., came up a little short on candids IMO) and had an air of "I'm a professional, do not interfere with or disturb me in any way."


Both professionals were well paid and did excellent work. If needed, I would hire one of them.

 

[agierke]

obviously you haven't had to work with a pesky art director, sales manager, marketing manager, or the anal retentive micro managing general manager on commercial shoots... You can easily be bothered or intimidated by how they can be... Some shoots, not often, my sets have to be approved by top management before I fire the shutter, just so I dont bother wasting my time if they dont like the set or want something changed... It happens

i have. the difference there being that there is usually as much time as you need to get the shot right. on weddings there is typically so very little time that even the slightest interruptions can start cutting into the opportunities for photos. not to even mention that if there is a distraction or someone getting in your way during a moment...its gone. no redoing it.

i love working with art director's because of the collaboration and the ability to craft a shot for a clients needs. weddings don't afford that luxury. there needs to be one person running the show...otherwise you are inviting potential troubles.

 

[NotABunny]

Making use of the other people who photograph the newlyweds: http://www.southernlight.com.au/images/blog/scottmichelle/scottmichelle-7.jpg

The guy on the right, in the black suit, makes this look like an ad, to me.

 

[sagittariansrock]

I have had this experience at my own wedding, when my friends and family members brought out their point-and-shoots and mobile phones during the formal poses. As a result, many of my immediate family members were looking in a different direction. I was pretty busy and ill on that day, so I didn't notice it right away, nor did the hired gun say anything. But I was very annoyed afterwards- if he had informed me what was going on, I'd have asked my family members to pose for the photographer irrespective of who else was shooting.
At the end of the day- it is the hired photographer's responsibility to get the job done. That includes dealing with insensitive guests, impatient brides and grooms, finding workarounds, and everything that entails. Befriend, request, coerce, force, blackmail, threaten- do whatever you need to, but get the pictures.

 

[risc32]

I think some of you aren't understanding what i'm talking about, and also my reasoning for posting this. I'm not worried about people getting in my frame while i'm shooting across the crowded room. I expect that. and i'm okay with people getting in their shots after i got mine. I'm usually using an off camera light with a modifier, so it's not like there shots are even going to be close to mine no matter what they do anyway, so i don't really care. but even while i'm shooting and the shoulder shooter is saying "don't look at me, look at his camera" 1/2 of them still look at her. During this last shoot the lady pestering me came over after the ceremony and even asked me if i had 4 aa's she could borrow for her flash. I didn't as i was eating batteries like crazy because the place was a blackhole, but really... you want to borrow bats?

 

[ChilledXpress]

I think some of you aren't understanding what i'm talking about, and also my reasoning for posting this. I'm not worried about people getting in my frame while i'm shooting across the crowded room. I expect that. and i'm okay with people getting in their shots after i got mine. I'm usually using an off camera light with a modifier, so it's not like there shots are even going to be close to mine no matter what they do anyway, so i don't really care. but even while i'm shooting and the shoulder shooter is saying "don't look at me, look at his camera" 1/2 of them still look at her. During this last shoot the lady pestering me came over after the ceremony and even asked me if i had 4 aa's she could borrow for her flash. I didn't as i was eating batteries like crazy because the place was a blackhole, but really... you want to borrow bats?

Maybe you could have just loaned her your camera to finsh up what she started :

 

[CharlieB]

At nearly every wedding i've done lately i've had a friend, or aunt or whomever of the bride/groom basically acting as the lead photographer. Anyone else exp this behavior?

You should bring this up to the wedding couple before the wedding, when you sign the contract and take your retainer.

Once you have your stipulation in writing, a quiet word from the bride (or groom) will abate such activities. You are being paid, and are under contract to produce results. Hindrance by others cannot be tolerated if it makes your commitment to the wedding couple unworkable.

 

[RMC33]

Every now and again I get someone while working in the park or pipe who demands I take pictures of them. When I say no they usually ski off and I don't see them again. Some times I get parents who do the same thing.. and HOUND me till I have to tell them I can't as they do not have any affiliation with the mountain nor do they have a release signed. This will either send them on their way or set them off with a whole "I have a condo here and spend a week every year and I DEMAND YOU TAKE MY (&(*#&$(* PHOTO".

Not "over the shoulder" but I do get a few younger guys/gals now and again who ask a lot of questions... I honestly relish having them take interest and hanging around as they love to impress and can be a huge benefit.

 

[bycostello]

"I have a condo here and spend a week every year and I DEMAND YOU TAKE MY (&(*#&$(* PHOTO".

Time to start talking about your fee i think??

 

[DCM1024]

It's pretty funny, take a look at the "The need for backup equipment for paid jobs" thread. The OP's website has quite a few photos with the bride/groom looking elsewhere... either another photographer or she was poaching and calling it her gig. Regardless... looks very bad!

I just saw this and took a look at my website. There are five photos where the bride and groom were not looking directly at me. Two are candids, I was acting as 2nd shooter in the other three and just getting another angle while not distracting the bride and groom from the primary photographer.

 

[Valvebounce]

During this last shoot the lady pestering me came over after the ceremony and even asked me if i had 4 aa's she could borrow for her flash. I didn't as i was eating batteries like crazy because the place was a blackhole, but really... you want to borrow bats?

Hi guys, first I'm a newby, and I hope you forgive me for digging up old posts, I'm really enjoying reading the older posts, and mostly only reading, but a few I have found a strong desire to pass comment.
I am strictly amateur if you take the earning thing to make a pro, but I try to take the act of freezing moments in time seriously, I do take gear to weddings, and have had the pro pass comment audibly but not to my face about that bloody flash, modified my behaviour to take account of his comment, as my friends were paying him, would have done it earlier if he had made me aware, one of those things I hadn't thought about until it was mentioned, very conscious of it now! I had the pleasure of donating a set of 4AAs to his fund as he forgot / burned through his spare set, I had 4 in the gun and 8 spares!
Another party was the inlaws xxth anniversary, I was primary photog as in, you have a nice camera don't you? Will you take some snaps for us! :-X
One of the guests was a photog teacher, someone I would expect to be of "pro" level, she pointed out that I could be using my flash differently, it was off camera held aloft on a cord with a stofen at the time, and she suggested I should bounce from the ceiling, I suggested she look up, the ceiling was criss crossed with beams and had disco lights dangling all over, she still didn't get the significance until I explained about casting shadows!
What was that we used to say at school, can't do it, teach it?
Cheers, Graham.

 

[bycostello]

work with them not against them...

 

[paul13walnut5]

Slave flashes and other folks cameras are a killer. I'm surprised at any working pro not using dedicated wireless or third party radio triggers inthis day and age though. You only need one shoot ruined by camera phones and compacts to need the incentiveto buy alien bees or the likes, I would havethought begging deaf great grannies to disable their compacts flash would get rather tedious week in week out.

 

[wickidwombat]

Slave flashes and other folks cameras are a killer. I'm surprised at any working pro not using dedicated wireless or third party radio triggers inthis day and age though. You only need one shoot ruined by camera phones and compacts to need the incentiveto buy alien bees or the likes, I would havethought begging deaf great grannies to disable their compacts flash would get rather tedious week in week out.

exactly right

I use odins for off camera and usually have 3 580 exii flashes setup when off camera
in this situation the tiny pop from a compact wont even register in the shot

or shooting with on camera flash its not a bother since i take multiple shots so the odd extra little bit of flash that might sneak in will have little effect or not really matter to me

I had a bigger issue at 1 wedding where the grooms sister decided she would direct the bridal party in all posed shots, until I informed her politely that we would rather give the instructions since we knew what we were looking for in the shots. She took it a bit hard at first but it had to be done

 

[Chewngum]

A big tip if this is happening is that whenever you are not taking a photo point your camera at the ground and then point it at the subject when you are taking a photo. Since doing this I have had no problems with wandering eyes due to other cameras.

 

[Sith Zombie]

no distracting eyelines during their stills.


the freelance photographer turned up and said "phuq me, nobody told me there would be a video guy here, if he gets in my way He'll be getting fling to phuq, who's the producer for this?"

Hand held out

"Hiya, nice to meet you, I'm Paul, i'm directing the shoot today, would you like to start again perhaps?"

Lol! Smooth as silk! nice
Just out of interest what are 'the distracting eyelines'?

 

[Inspiron41]

Of course you'll have people looking your shoulders, especially with family members. You gotta be quick and smart about when you start your formals, whether it's at the house, church, park or at the reception. but at the same time, you gotta be respectful of their guests.

 

[sanj]

This is reality of life. We all need to learn to deal with it.

Learning to deal with it is as important as photography skills...!

Or become so so so great that everyone trusts you to be the best and then they stay away.

 

[rpt]

This is reality of life. We all need to learn to deal with it.

Learning to deal with it is as important as photography skills...!

Or become so so so great that everyone trusts you to be the best and then they stay away.

Or get really tall
Stilts could help. Lenses have IS these days to offset the wobble...


Sanj and Inspiron are right though...