Damien Demolder
Obi-Tharg-Koala
Reged: 22/08/2001
Posts: 1660
Loc: Essex born and badly-bred
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It’s flattering to be considered an expert by one’s peers. There can be downsides, though. Your friends and extended family know you are ‘into’ photography, and will assume ownership of photographic apparatus indicates a degree of proficiency in its use. So when births, birthdays, christenings and Christmases come around so will you – with your camera.
Shooting normal occasions is fine – there’s a bit of responsibility, but if things don’t turn out it’s not the end of the world. You will, though, at some point, by asked to ‘bring your camera’ to someone’s wedding. You may even be asked to ‘do the pictures’. This is where you need to measure your ability to fulfil expectations. You may well have all the kit, and backup kit, and the skill to be the official photographer, but most of us don’t, and many simply do not want to make photography into a chore.
Being the unofficial photographer is often a much better option – there is still responsibility but it is greatly reduced, and snapping the behind-the-scenes scenes is so much more fun. We’ve produced this week's issue (on sale Tuesday 7th July) with the inevitability of your being asked to take pictures at a wedding in mind – read it and you’ll know exactly what to do and what not to do, and still be able to enjoy the day.
To take part in this week's poll Do you feel confident enough to be the ‘unofficial’ wedding photographer? head to the home page.
Thanks all
Damien
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See my photographs at www.wordsonpictures.com
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Barney
Baht 'at
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 11485
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Of course I'm confident enough! That's not to say I'm good enough mind.
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"Wrong on so many different levels."
Blog - Contre Dour - Capturing the ordinary for posterity.
Flickr
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 10755
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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I actually did it once.... unofficial tog AND Best Man. Never again... 
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
Terrorist?............or potential photographer?....... 
There are no people more opressed than those who willingly opress themselves
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Steve
Enough of a twit?
Reged: 08/06/2005
Posts: 2237
Loc: York
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So long as realistic expectations are set and I get to make my own decisions about what to shoot and what not to shoot.
I love taking candid stuff...and capturing little moments in the street perhaps without being noticed. So I would take my camera to a wedding so long as people don't start thinking of me as the official tog. Otherwise there's just no fun in it.
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Steve
My Flickr
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OneTen
'Two Breakfasts'
Reged: 23/06/2003
Posts: 4118
Loc: Lancashire
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I'd quite happily take on the role of unofficial tog, it's the official job I'll never do again! I really enjoy taking candids and weddings offer up loads of opportunities.
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Richard .......... My Flickr
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Hotblack
Dead Horse Flogger
Reged: 07/03/2006
Posts: 8740
Loc: Upstairs in the spare room.
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Quote:
Of course I'm confident enough! That's not to say I'm good enough mind.
 Same here. And then again I probably wouldn't want too either.
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Cheers
David
David J White Photography
An over-equipped, over-sensitive, self-important, cliquey nerd who feels inadequate and inferior.
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LargeFormat
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 24/10/2006
Posts: 1912
Loc: Cumbria and Buckinghamshire
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Confident enough, just about, but I might have changed my mind by the time I get to the end of this week's AP.
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zx9
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1875
Loc: London
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'unofficial' photographer yes I have done it a few times but always just as a bit of fun. Usually on B&W film informal or 'street' shots as Steve says above. There are a few mantle pieces with my 10x8 prints on display whilst the 'official' photographs lay hidden in an album somewhere.
What is shocking is low quality of some of the professional wedding photographs I have seen.
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Regards,
ZX9 (Keith Hudson)
My Flickr
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Nod
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 08/04/2006
Posts: 5533
Loc: Devon, UK.
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As a photographer I feel that I'm confident and competent enough to do the job but my people skills aren't up to it! I've done a couple of family functions and did OK at them but was let down at one by a dodgy (cheap) CF card which dented confidence in digital storage for a while - since switching to SanDisk cards exclusively, no more problems.
ETA.. Ah! UNofficial! Yup, done a couple for friends, mainly candids before and after the ceremony and at the reception.
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MATWSIJ.....
To avoid being offended, please insert apropriate smiley.
Books (It’s like somebody downloaded a web site and printed it out for you!)
Edited by Nod (06/07/2009 15:53)
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Zou
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/2007
Posts: 3042
Loc: Edinburgh
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Quote:
I'd quite happily take on the role of unofficial tog, it's the official job I'll never do again! I really enjoy taking candids and weddings offer up loads of opportunities.
I'd go along with that, although I wouldn't mind doing official pictures (as a wingman ideally, before trying it solo).
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Zou's Flickr Page
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Rhys
Sasquatch
Reged: 15/01/2004
Posts: 4049
Loc: York (home of the speedbump)
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I've been the 'official photographer' at three weddings so being an unofficial one would be a piece of cake. Plus you'd get to enjoy the booze afterwards as well
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BSRIPN (Officially full of it..)
RGMP.co.uk (My Website.. getting there at last.)
Benchinistas.org.uk The home of Benchism
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Damien Demolder
Obi-Tharg-Koala
Reged: 22/08/2001
Posts: 1660
Loc: Essex born and badly-bred
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Quote:
Plus you'd get to enjoy the booze afterwards as well
That's what AF is for.
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See my photographs at www.wordsonpictures.com
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Roger_Provins
Made-it Man
Reged: 22/10/2005
Posts: 4366
Loc: Gloucester, UK
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I don't like weddings at the best of times and always try to find an excuse not to attend but some you just can't wriggle out of.
So I've ended up doing several weddings as the main photographer and although all were successful it was far too stressful.
But never again - not even as the unofficial photographer - and I hope never to have to even go to a wedding again.
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Rog
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Benchista
Which Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 42234
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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As unofficial photographer? Hell, no; I've shot a fair few weddings in my time, but I've either been paid for it, or done it as the wedding present. Doing it for nothing? No thanks. I would rather not do it at all, but there has to be a good reason.
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parisian
Over the hill and far away...
Reged: 10/02/2002
Posts: 9299
Loc: Môn mam cymru
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Quote:
That's what AF is for.
Agreed, after a shedload of booze; 'auto-fornicate' mode is probably the only viable option 
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Hells pensioner - born to be mild
JustMono
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daft_biker
Action Man!
Reged: 11/10/2006
Posts: 10579
Loc: Oot n aboot
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I've heard pro wedding togs can vary their quality control depending on the customer's photographic knowledge....so when the wedding tog comes round to discuss requirements have a Canon DSLR and the latest copy of AP and WDC on your coffee table so it looks like you know your stuff. That should ensure you get the tog's A game 
Could I shoot a wedding? Suspect I could turn my hand to it if I needed to but have only had my camera at a couple of weddings so far....got plenty shots the couples liked but nothing I'm particularly proud of taking. Must try harder 
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Benchista
Which Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 42234
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Quote:
I've heard pro wedding togs can vary their quality control depending on the customer's photographic knowledge....so when the wedding tog comes round to discuss requirements have a Canon DSLR and the latest copy of AP and WDC on your coffee table so it looks like you know your stuff. That should ensure you get the tog's A game
Whereas if you have a Nikon, he'll know you know nothing, and he can get away with dross?
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GeoffR
Reged: 31/05/2003
Posts: 5068
Loc: Bucks
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I have been Official photographer once or twice, for friends and yes they are still friends, so I do have the confidence. I wouldn't do it unless I knew the couple pretty well though. You need a relationship with the couple for them to be properly relaxed.
Edited by GeoffR (06/07/2009 17:54)
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daft_biker
Action Man!
Reged: 11/10/2006
Posts: 10579
Loc: Oot n aboot
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Aye...and if you put a Leica on the table you get charged double for the dross 
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Benchista
Which Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 42234
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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And if it's an Olympus, you'll get 82% less for your money?
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