Over the weekend I attended a friends wedding in Chicago. It was a beautiful affair and the bride looked so beautiful and happy. At the church the processional went flawlessly, even the ring bearer running back up the aisle to his mom, just as he reached the front of the church was too cute. Then my friend started her walk up the aisle with her father, you could hear the ohs and ahs rustle through the gathered guests, everything was perfect and then...

I could have strangled the photographer right there and then. From out of the pews he stepped blocking the bride from continuing the processional. "Smile" he barked, clicking off one then two and three and finally four pictures before he stepped back out of their way and let my friend and her father make the rest of the way down the aisle. A moment of perfection ruined by a tacky photographer!

Ladies, I'm sure you have seen this type of photographer before at weddings. I call him the "poser" the person who isn't skilled enough to get the shot while the event happens but must stop the proceedings to get his shot. Nothing can ruin the enjoyment of the guests or your moment than this type of photographer. Usually they ask the bride's maids to stop their march to the altar a quarter way or half way down the aisle so they can get their shot. It looks tacky and it looks amateurish and most of all the final product looks posed. Classically posed shots have their place in wedding photography, but it does not belong in the perfect moments like when the bridal part and most especially the bride is walking down or up the aisle! These are the times when photojournalistic skills are most needed.

The reception took place in downtown Chicago where everyone made their way down a magnificent stairway to a fairy land of flowers and candles. And yes if you haven't already figured it out, the photographer did his poser thing on the stairway, earning the ire of the band and the Master of Ceremonies. When the bride and groom hit the bottom he started shooting away for a minute until the groom finally barked at him to get out of their way. Later in the night I asked my friend if she knew this was coming and she said he had never ever indicated anything of the like. But she also didn't ask him.

Ladies, get informed, the most important thing you can do is ask your vendors what they will do on your wedding day!

Labels: Ask Questions, Photographers