Over the top Vicar

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Blundred77

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Andrew Blundred
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I have a wedding shoot on Saturday for some friends of mine, this will not be the first wedding I have covered and understand that there are stipulations and rules that Vicars etc set but this guy is a little OTT.

I was prepared for the 'stay out of the way', 'keep out of sight' and 'DO NOT USE FLASH!!!' that always comes about when inside the church during the ceremony and I completely understand that and always set out my action plan to be inconspicuous, however I was told all of the above AND...

'I have very oversensitive hearing and therefore I do not wish to hear the distracting sound of the click made by the camera, it is with this that I tell you that you may only stand at the back of the church and take as few photo's as possible'.

I had planned on taking a few from the side but this was completely out of the question.

He added that 'I understand that the b&g would like photographs, however I also understand that they are having the ceremony videod so the lack of photographs should not be a problem'.

He also stated that I could not take photographs of the bride walking down the isle, which is something I have always done.

He did offer that the b&g could come back into the church later and have some 'set up' photographs that look like they were taken during the service but when I asked them they do not seem keen on this as they would know that they were not taken 'real time'.

Has anyone esle experienced this? what didi you do? I do have a good zoom lens that will cope with being at the back but the photographs are going to be very limited in style!
 
I've no experience at all with this type of thing, but to be honest - it's actually the bride and grooms day, and they are no doubt paying the vicar, and should therefore have the right to chose.

This vicar sounds like a selfish old man. No matter that he's in charge of the proceedings, he should have enough generosity of spirit to allow the b&g to have some wonderful memories of their day - which IMHO will be photos of EVERY step of the way. It's not fair that he should spoil things by petty dictatorship :annoyed:

Maybe ask the brides mother (usually a formidable character on the day, and normally the 2nd most important person after the bride :lol:) to have a quiet word with him?

sorry to sound like I'm having a rant, but wedding pics are such an important part of the day and the memories they generate are priceless.
 
Unfortunately the eccentricity that has always been associated with men of the cloth seems to be getting worse. I can see both sides of the agument, but I do think some sort of "standard" needs to be set.
I would make sure the couple understand the reasons your not shooting, and that the blame lies firmly with the vicar/priest and not you.
It is a shame these people seem to forget the couple are paying for the use of the church, and are not are bit more open to the couples wishes.
 
I am just curious, don't the B&G make prior arrangements with the Vicar when they book the venue?
 
Many clergy are now complaining about the clacking of shutters during the ceremony. The skilful shooters just get the essential shots with a few clicks.
Others who aren't sure they have nailed the shots, are clicking away dozens of times and ruining not only the atmosphere, but the clergy's concentration. A shame.
 
Yes, a church, the house of God, not a photographic studio. I expect this is the first time they have used the church, the couple should have checked this out with the vicar before booking :|

Nothing worse than attending a wedding with some tog click, click, clickedy click all through the vows.

The couple turn to face each other during their vows so a good shot can be obtained at the back of the church.

Getting married in church is the most respected religious act in the C of E and its about time people started to show a bit more respect to, not only the church but to everything else around them.

Sorry if this sounds like a rant but I hate it when people just use the church for their own selfish needs :)

I have met my fair share of cantankerous old men (and women) of the cloth, but at the end of the day you have to respect the wishes of the cleric council and get on with the job in hand.

In the good old film days the wedding photographer would only take about four or five shots inside the church, now they seem to shoot all the way through the service.
 
retired said:
Yes, a church, the house of God, not a photographic studio. I expect this is the first time they have used the church, the couple should have checked this out with the vicar before booking :|

Nothing worse than attending a wedding with some tog click, click, clickedy click all through the vows.

The couple turn to face each other during their vows so a good shot can be obtained at the back of the church.

Getting married in church is the most respected religious act in the C of E and its about time people started to show a bit more respect to, not only the church but to everything else around them.

Sorry if this sounds like a rant but I hate it when people just use the church for their own selfish needs :)

I have met my fair share of cantankerous old men (and women) of the cloth, but at the end of the day you have to respect the wishes of the cleric council and get on with the job in hand.

In the good old film days the wedding photographer would only take about four or five shots inside the church, now they seem to shoot all the way through the service.
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Totally with you on this one it is a religious service and no doubt the couple were made aware of the rules,Vicars are in charge of their own churches and can impose thyeir wn rules.I had an incidence where I knew the vicar as was Parish Warden of another local church but he still refudsed to let me take any shots other than from the back during the hymns so that I did not disturb the sanctity of the service
 
GeForce Junky said:
Everyone will be doing weddings with silent G10's soon!
Click to expand...

Cannons have never been quiet - not since the Chinese invented gunpowder! :shrug:

I did a wedding once where I enquired of the Vicar what rules did he have for photographers. The answer was none. I explained that he should have a few at least and he said that common sense should abound. Not seen much of that lately though.
 
As someone who has been married, photographed weddings and isn't at all religious, oddly I find myself erring to the side of the vicar.

It seems to me that weddings have become far more important than marraiges. How many pictures do you actually need to capture the memory of standing with your partner and exchanging vows? As has been said, if all snappers took a couple of discrete shots during the ceremony I'm sure more chrches would be more open to shooters.

Also, the couple have presumably picked this chirch for a reason and know about the restrictions.
 
Get yourself a secondhand Leica Digilux 2 - they are completely silent! At 800 iso they've very noise though.
 
Thank you retired

I am a vicar and always explain these points to couples when then first book their ceremony and they've always been very understanding that they are making prfound vows to each other before God.
BUT

  • rarely has the photographer offered to attend the rehearsal so that they can appreciate the layout of the church and the lighting (we're large and bright - no stained glass by design to allow maximum light)

  • frequently the bride has arrived late for the wedding - keeping her gusts, future husband and others waiting not out of some sense of tradition but because the photographer is taking longer and longer to complete the pre-wedding shots: not some quaint delay but simply rude to the other professionals involved and frustrating to others.

I do try to accomodate the desire to record the occasion but I also remain faithful to my understanding of the sacrament of marriage rather than the mere legal agreement that can be made elsewhere. Of all people I believe that this is a 'once in a lifetime' moment and so should be celebrated and remebered.

... and I always enjoy the chance to discuss the technical side with those 'togs' who respect my role!
 
I did a wedding for friends last weekend, and the vicar was not bad. Said no flash, stand at the back, etc. He even said he had had issues with photographers and flashes in the past. No problems thats why we f2.8 lenses and high ISO :D

The funny thing is that "we" as togs are nervous about using flash at events like this, yet every guest with a camera (P&S to DSLR) have the flashes going constantly. Then we are the ones that get blamed (as such) and penalised for the next wedding we do (or whoever the next unlucky tog is at the same church).
 
addick56 said:
Thank you retired

I am a vicar and always explain these points to couples when then first book their ceremony and they've always been very understanding that they are making prfound vows to each other before God.
BUT

  • rarely has the photographer offered to attend the rehearsal so that they can appreciate the layout of the church and the lighting (we're large and bright - no stained glass by design to allow maximum light)

  • frequently the bride has arrived late for the wedding - keeping her gusts, future husband and others waiting not out of some sense of tradition but because the photographer is taking longer and longer to complete the pre-wedding shots: not some quaint delay but simply rude to the other professionals involved and frustrating to others.

I do try to accomodate the desire to record the occasion but I also remain faithful to my understanding of the sacrament of marriage rather than the mere legal agreement that can be made elsewhere. Of all people I believe that this is a 'once in a lifetime' moment and so should be celebrated and remebered.

... and I always enjoy the chance to discuss the technical side with those 'togs' who respect my role!
Click to expand...

I'm going to diagree with you here, while this might apear the case I find it's the bride who's usually late not us making her late, this year alone I have had 2 brides over 45 minutes late at the church, neither has been the result of any photo taking delay, one didn't start getting ready untill 5 minutes before the service was supposed to start, the other tore a hole in the dress and needed running repairs.
The photographs outside the church only take a minute or so at best, if you saw as much chaos in brides houses as I do you might have a different opinion as to the reasons for lateness.
 
dseered said:
If you time the shutter right there should be no problem at all, just use common sense, if its quiet don't shoot !
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:plusone: I usually fire when the vicar reaches a high point in his speech, or the same in a song.. or during a brief pause in the vows :)
 
I can understand that this situation would be a disappointment for the Bride and Groom. However (and this is not aimed at the B&G in question as I do not know them) I think it says a lot about how serious the actual ceremony of marriage is viewed by some couples. Surely the commitment they are entering into, if taken seriously will be an everlasting memory without the need for photographic evidence. Vows if taken seriously should mean something and be remembered for what they are.

That being said I see no harm in a couple of shots being taken while the ceremony takes place. If I was to shoot a wedding I would be the one snapping 200 shots during the ceremony to try and get two good ones (which is why I wouldn't try) But a pro should be able to capture the event without causing upset to the church.
 
the freedom to shoot depend to some extent on the denomination. Catholic churches seem the freest whilst many Church of England ones have the rules set by the parish church council perhaps modified by the priest.

A lot of it is down to past experiences with photographers. When they know you well and trust you, you can do much as you please. If you have made an ass of your self once all of the local clergy hear of it, and you might as well take up another profession.

It is a good Idea to become familiar with the wedding service used. There are always good moments when shutter sound will be covered by other noise. (or get a TLR for those shots)

Mostly the priest does not like to be distracted by you moving around. So work out where you need to be for each shot, and move when he is not facing your way, or when you are blanked by the congregation standing up.

Like a good servant you should be attentive but invisible.

You are a guest in God's house... you must obey the house rules.
 
sorry folks, it's a can't say it thread, time for bed :)
 
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