F#*€ing guests

Mark G

Mark G

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Mark
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Today I was shooting a birthday party for a client and did a few group shots of the family as requested. I was shooting with my X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f2 and also my X-T1 w/ 35mm f1.4. There were a few cameras and people looking in all directions so I asked "everyone look at me for this one please". Followed by some jumped up guest (5D iii w/ 24-70 & flashgun) to immediately shout over me "No, look at me, I have a bigger camera!"

Not cool man!
Rant over.
 
And a smaller cock!!!!
 
I'd have suggestively said, "something to compensate for?" and photographed the ensuing laughter.
 
I had many things I wanted to say but thought it best to bite my tongue and get on with it.

Fortunately the guests have him a snigger and then looked at me anyway.

I don't judge people by the equipment they use and certainly would never poke fun at someone about it. Perhaps though he was just massaging his ego, who knows?

All I know is he was a knob!
 
Sounds like everyone else knew that as well, Mark ;)
 
Mark G said:
Today I was shooting a birthday party for a client and did a few group shots of the family as requested. I was shooting with my X-Pro 1 w/ 18mm f2 and also my X-T1 w/ 35mm f1.4. There were a few cameras and people looking in all directions so I asked "everyone look at me for this one please". Followed by some jumped up guest (5D iii w/ 24-70 & flashgun) to immediately shout over me "No, look at me, I have a bigger camera!"

Not cool man!
Rant over.
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go get your rb67 or 8x10 camera ;)
 
It's not the size of your equipment that's important but what you do with it!
 
This sort of thing happened 40 years ago when I was shooting weddings, so it's hardly new. I just stood aside and let the other person get on with it. If the families didn't want my work disturbed, they'd tell off their guest, otherwise, it wasn't for me to do anything that might disrupt the event. As to worrying about it, why bother?
 
Back when I shot Motorsport with big Nikon gear it would often be an ice breaker for a lot of people ("with that camera you must know what you're doing, can you just tell me...") and I found other photographers were much more forthcoming for a chat etc.

With the Fuji gear...nothing. Yet my knowledge, standard or ability haven't changed, in fact if anything it's increased.

Things are improving slightly now as mirrorless becomes more prominent.
 
It's always going to happen in my opinion. The general perception is that a big camera with a big lens belongs to the pro/paid photographer. That's the image they have, and I don't think it will change any time soon.

It was just today I came across this with my very own wife who said the X-T1 was too small and didn't look like a wedding photographers bit of kit.

Works both ways, seen many people with mirrorless jumping in front of people with larger bodies/lenses etc. Its something photographers have to deal with no matter what their kit!
 
Mark G said:
Agreed, perhaps I'll have to fit my battery grip in future for increased professionalism.
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I think its more of people not understanding!

And don't worry, its not just mirrorless users that get it.... last wedding I did I had the D750 with 35mm attached and some canon guy with one of those friggen huge white lenses thought he was 'the man'.

His flash was also quite annoying as I wasn't using flash... actually in general... I hate all these people adding extra flash to my perfectly set scene!
 
It is strange but people know if you are a professional, what ever camera you are using. It is as much about how you handle them as it is about how you use your kit.
I have been retired for years, but people still ask who I am taking them for.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
It is strange but people know if you are a professional, what ever camera you are using. It is as much about how you handle them as it is about how you use your kit.
I have been retired for years, but people still ask who I am taking them for.
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True, I'm the one with no friends looking more scared than the groom :LOL:
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
It is as much about how you handle them as it is about how you use your kit.
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I'm far out of touch with modern wedding photography but when I was in the business, it was all about making the set-piece photos. That being the case, we quickly learned to put on a performance, somewhere between ring master and stand up comic, so that we could jolly the guests through the process. Mind you, that was a transferable skill that came in useful much later, when I was putting on I.T. training courses. ;)
 
Sejanus Aelianus said:
I'm far out of touch with modern wedding photography but when I was in the business, it was all about making the set-piece photos. That being the case, we quickly learned to put on a performance, somewhere between ring master and stand up comic, so that we could jolly the guests through the process. Mind you, that was a transferable skill that came in useful much later, when I was putting on I.T. training courses. ;)
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Thankfully that's not too often the case anymore. Photographers more often leave people alone to get on with enjoying the day. :) Much more fun for all, photographers included. Of course there are still some photographers who think they are more important than the couple and their guests ;) (not saying you thought that - just pointing out the changing times).
 
Jayst84 said:
Thankfully that's not too often the case anymore. Photographers more often leave people alone to get on with enjoying the day. :) Much more fun for all, photographers included. Of course there are still some photographers who think they are more important than the couple and their guests ;) (not saying you thought that - just pointing out the changing times).
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The op was shooting groups for a party. You can not just wait for things to happen in those circumstances. Even today the secret is perhaps knowing when to take charge and when to stand back. An opportunity often needs to be taken further. That does not mean you are the ring master all the time.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
That does not mean you are the ring master all the time.
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Quite right.

The idea was to get your 12, 24, 36 or even (gulp) 48 shots that the customer wanted in their album, then get away ASAP. My cue to leave the business was when people started to expect all evening reception coverage. Before that, the deal was that you got to the reception venue ahead of the couple, set up the cake cutting shot (no actual cutting allowed) before the guests arrived, and cleared off to let them enjoy their knees up.
 
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Ian W said:
I'd have suggestively said, "something to compensate for?" and photographed the ensuing laughter.
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ahh yes the @Daryl school of taking the p*** out of the guests ... it works for some of the people some of the time, but one day its going to blow up in someones face.

I remember doing a traveller wedding with my mate ben when during the group shots he came out with "now we'll have everyone who deals scrap metal" closely followed by "anyone other than the bride with a conviction for assault"... fortunately they thought he was hilarious, but one day...
 
Ah well, @Mark G - you can probably console yourself by knowing the guest, when reviewing his photos and seeing yours in comparison decided to sell all his kit and switch to Nikon or Sony because obviously his Canon wasn't up to his required standards. Something he'll no doubt repeat a few times in that elusive search for the "camera which takes perfect photos" ;)
 
big soft moose said:
ahh yes the @Daryl school of taking the p*** out of the guests ... it works for some of the people some of the time, but one day its going to blow up in someones face.

I remember doing a traveller wedding with my mate ben when during the group shots he came out with "now we'll have everyone who deals scrap metal" closely followed by "anyone other than the bride with a conviction for assault"... fortunately they thought he was hilarious, but one day...
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It's a good job I'm not a wedding photographer right enough. The traveller wedding does sound particularly dodgy in terms of the remarks made mind you!
 
big soft moose said:
ahh yes the @Daryl school of taking the p*** out of the guests ... it works for some of the people some of the time, but one day its going to blow up in someones face.

I remember doing a traveller wedding with my mate ben when during the group shots he came out with "now we'll have everyone who deals scrap metal" closely followed by "anyone other than the bride with a conviction for assault"... fortunately they thought he was hilarious, but one day...
Click to expand...
Love it
 
I think things like this go with job. You just have to take control but also let others take there shots
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
The op was shooting groups for a party. You can not just wait for things to happen in those circumstances. Even today the secret is perhaps knowing when to take charge and when to stand back. An opportunity often needs to be taken further. That does not mean you are the ring master all the time.
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Yes, but I was responding directly to SA's post.
 
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