I'm SO angry at this photographer!

[IdoVideos]

Okay, I generally don't mind photographers (After all my sister is one) and I have had many pleasant experiences. HOWEVER I just got an email from a bride very upset because her photographer won't let anyone video tape or take pictures during the "photo shoot" WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?!? i would have no footage of the bride and groom all day then!!! She's trying to figure out what to do!

What a jerk, honestly! a huge creep. I've ONLY heard bad things about this photographer, every bride seems to hate him and now he has the nerve to dictate the entire day? I've even worked with one of his associate photographer's before and everything was fine (he was a moron... but other than that)

Any help!?

[Bonsai]

I don't even know you, and I'm angry for you. I have heard of this happening on occasion, but never happened to anyone I know. If the bride and groom agree to stoop to this photographer's level of pompous, what can you do? They have made the decision to agree to screw up their wedding video.

There isn't much to suggest, other than advising the bride to cut this a$$ loose, even if it costs her money (tell her to hire your sister, whom you already have an excellent working relationship with!)

If the bride and groom choose to keep this photographer, just start filming anyway. What's he going to do? Have you arrested? Stop taking photos of the bride and groom?

Ok, now I'll stop acting like a baby, and make one real suggestion. You have seen your sister in action, so could you simulate a photo shoot, at a seperate time from the real jerk face photographer, and get your video then? Maybe even bring an assistant with you to play the part of "photographer" to help you out (no real photos, of course) That's all I can think of. Good luck, and let us know what happens!!

[brownell]

Okay, I generally don't mind photographers (After all my sister is one) and I have had many pleasant experiences. HOWEVER I just got an email from a bride very upset because her photographer won't let anyone video tape or take pictures during the "photo shoot" WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?!? i would have no footage of the bride and groom all day then!!! She's trying to figure out what to do!

What a jerk, honestly! a huge creep. I've ONLY heard bad things about this photographer, every bride seems to hate him and now he has the nerve to dictate the entire day? I've even worked with one of his associate photographer's before and everything was fine (he was a moron... but other than that)

Any help!?

It sounds like the bride needs to find a new photographer or not have video.

[Vince]

I once worked with a photographer who actually refused to take any formals at the church until I left. The Bride and Groom were very angry at this but the Photographer wouldn't budge.... He insisted!! I just waited outside the church until he was finished and then I took the Bridal Party to another location to do my own shoot without the Photographer!! I've only had to deal with this issue about 4 times since I've been doing weddings. I just keep a list of anal Photographers and would never work with them again.....

[kee]

This is very common here in Malaysia. Videography is not allowed during pre-wedding photography. I usually ask my client to tell the bridal house about video during photography session when they sign up or else don't sign up with them.

Its the couples wedding. Customer is King. How can a bridal house set such rules.

[AndrewMSV]

Okay, I generally don't mind photographers (After all my sister is one) and I have had many pleasant experiences. HOWEVER I just got an email from a bride very upset because her photographer won't let anyone video tape or take pictures during the "photo shoot" WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?!? i would have no footage of the bride and groom all day then!!! She's trying to figure out what to do!

What a jerk, honestly! a huge creep. I've ONLY heard bad things about this photographer, every bride seems to hate him and now he has the nerve to dictate the entire day? I've even worked with one of his associate photographer's before and everything was fine (he was a moron... but other than that)

Any help!?

The reasons for this guy's attitude can be multiple things (bad childhood, bullied as a kid, no father figure, etc.) but this has happened to me last summer and the reason that photographer gave me was that he didn't want me capturing stills of the posed, formal pictures, and selling them to the B&G at a reduced price. What a clown. He obviously has no idea what a .3 megapixel image would look like printed at a standard 300dpi. The resulting print would be the size of a business card.

In my situation, I just went to talk to the coordinator. In the end I skipped the formals (which is fine by me) and I skipped the photoshoot down at Lake Merit (which was also fine by me).

The couple still loved the video and I suspect their photos didn't come out very good (based on how that guy worked). The couple even just ordered another copy from me about two months ago.

I say just collect your check and do whatever you're 'allowed' to do.

[Pat Handley]

... her photographer won't let anyone video tape or take pictures during the "photo shoot" WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?!? i would have no footage of the bride and groom all day then!!!

Are you sure the photographer doesn't just mean during the formals? Rightly or wrongly, some photographers worry about people stealing their "signature poses", or videographers shooting and selling stills from the video that the photographer posed. If that's the case, maybe give him a call and assure him you just want shots of him working, and the wedding parties reactions between poses, etc. etc. and you don't use or even want stills. That worked for us last year when we worked with a photographer who was known for being rude to videographers and wanted to ban us from the formals. Things went fine, and he's even recomended us for a couple of jobs since.

If your photographer won't bend, you can still make a great video without the formals.

If he's just a complete jerk, tell him: "I promise I won't shoot anyone when they're posed if you promise not to shoot anyone when they're moving". Okay, that probably won't work, either.

Pat

[dMb]

There is no 'law' preventing you from shooting unless he goes into his studio, stand your ground and make your clients speak up and sort this s#!T out.

[bmitchell]

her photographer won't let anyone video tape or take pictures during the "photo shoot" WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?!?

She hired him. It's up to her to insist if she wants video during the formals. If not, just head for the reception and take a break.

At least you were told ahead of time and the client is aware. No use making a stink on the wedding day.

[RT Steele]

I was about to say what dmb said but he beat me to it. The photog has no legal jurisdiction on the property he's going to shoot on. And he can't place that responsibility on the clients who also have no legal right to control what happens on the same property.

It's a bluff and what's sad is the photog most likely doesn'e even realize it.

Still... easier said then done. You're in a bind and run the risk of muddying the waters by speaking up. If you tell him you're going to film anyway he'll just pout and do a crappy job so the couple doesn't win.

Still, I'd at least pull the dumb bastard off to the side and give him a legal lesson about his silly-assed contract and then tell him you'll abide simply out of respect for the couple.

Then I'd go slash his tires or take out a testicle (or two) with my monopod.

- RT

[IdoVideos]

Just an update, the bride is planning on speaking with the photographer himself (apparently it was his wife/asst who said I couldn't film) and telling him she intends to have a videographer anyway.

Also I have worked with the other photographer from their studio (and he was very eager to exchange business cards, I think he liked me) and she's hoping since that worked out it won't be a big deal. I have no intentions of doing anything but letting the bride sort it out.

Thanks guys!

[Psynema]

Just an update, the bride is planning on speaking with the photographer himself (apparently it was his wife/asst who said I couldn't film) and telling him she intends to have a videographer anyway.

Also I have worked with the other photographer from their studio (and he was very eager to exchange business cards, I think he liked me) and she's hoping since that worked out it won't be a big deal. I have no intentions of doing anything but letting the bride sort it out.

Thanks guys!

That's good - it is the bride's problem after all LOL. Joking partially, but still true. Formals always bore the hell out of me in video and I rarely use a great deal of footage.

Frankly it's WAY more interesting to shoot the people not being photographed anyway as they usually have interesting conversations for audio purposes - at the very least tell the bride/photog that this is your intentions, not the photogs poses.

Or you could just ask the bride to tell the photographer to have the assistant shoot the formals maybe, have the bride insists on having the first photographer strictly to shoot the guests arriving at the reception.

[Kathy Ritondo]

I remember going through this, we've had photographers put their face in the camera lens and scream "Leave", they've embarrassed the couples and the bridal party by pulling hissy fits as if they are prima donna's. It used to make me crazy, but I guess I'm getting old, because I'm with Andrew on this one. If you can't, you can't, move on and try to get some other footage to make the video great. When you're challanged, you come up with some great fixes to make the video even better. Ask the couple to go for a walk with you after the salad course and get some footage on the grounds, we've been doing posing/styling for years in self defense around these guys. It fell out of fashion for most videographers, but not with us. We use the footage and it is almost always the clients favorite footage of the tape. Remember what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, or in this case a better shooter as you'll have to keep this guy out of your shots and be much more careful when he is around, and a better editor because you'll have to be more creative in the edit to make it all come together.
I have plenty more to say on the subject but I'll be nice and edit myself.
Kathy

[Hitman Jr]

She is the customer and what she wants she gets within reason. Such contract clasues are illegal and uninforcable, tell her to inform the photog he works for her and she is paying the bill, not the other way around!

[Chuck_e7]

Just an update, the bride is planning on speaking with the photographer himself (apparently it was his wife/asst who said I couldn't film) and telling him she intends to have a videographer anyway.

Also I have worked with the other photographer from their studio (and he was very eager to exchange business cards, I think he liked me) and she's hoping since that worked out it won't be a big deal. I have no intentions of doing anything but letting the bride sort it out.

Thanks guys!

CAT FIGHT! Rowr....:devil-smiley-076:

[Shadow]

What a weenie!

Well, I guess it depends if you want to make a point or not. You could just consider it an easier day of filming. Or you could just go to the photography shoot and do your stuff anyway.

Do you know who this guy is? You could send a letter/e-mail or call and say that you're filming the event itself, not specifically his poses. It is what goes on between the photos that you're interested in, the laughs, smiles, goofing around.

RRR I hate people who think they are so much better than others. He is just being a jerk and trying to throw his weight around.

I had one photographer who told me I couldn't go on the balcony of the church that was where she was going to film. Guess where I went. When she gave me a death glare and looked like she would cry I smiled and said "we can share". :)

If it were me in your situation I'd show up anyway and be pleasant as pie, probably would tick him off even more.