AMEN! I was told not to bring my lights by the manager of the hall. He said he would turn up the lights for me whenever I needed it. Well, his definition of "turning up the lights" and mine were completely different and we fought about it all night!

DONT ever let anyone and i mean ANYONE tell you how to do your job

sometimes they say this kinda thing so you dont ruin THEIR ambience, and all teh while they have NO INTENTION of accomodating your needs...

i have to say though, 100% of venues i shoot at love me, so i usualy get my way, but i always ALWAYS bring lights

Another thing, with a light, a decent 75w spotty with diffusion works a treat when spotlighting a dancing couple or a lectern during speaches. Makes for a more formalised and "wow factor" ish kinda scene. Alot of teh time we forget how what we do affects the entire scene, and sometimes, (bout90%) a decent spot can make things jsut that much better...

Yes, I've had all these things happen but even so, filming a wedding day is a very happy experience I find. The guests are dressed up to the nines and looking their best, there's cameras everywhere so I fit in ok, people want to be photographed and it's even legal for me to film the happy kids without written parental permission. Wow!

tom.

I can appreciate Tom's post...it's Almost a Slightly Testoterone Laced Piece of Paula Abdul... Besides! Thats my Grandma you're talkin about with the Candid Camera thing!!!

Watch Yourself...

(lol / J/K)

G. Hayes

I must say that for the same wedding that I had the fight with the hall manager about lights I also had the COOLEST priest ever! He understood what I was doing and allowed me and my second camera full access everywhere except right up there on the altar. So, they're not ALL bad. (He was young, maybe that had something to do with it.)

More about lights...

I find that it is the GUESTS who object the most to added lighting. I got a chorus of boos when I turned on my big lights at the first wedding I ever did. That was a sucky feeling! I haven't used my lights at a reception since then. However that first gig has some of the best wedding footage I've shot. It's beautiful! And the bride loved the way it looked.

It breaks my heart to have to struggle with dim halls when I know how good it can look if they just let me light it cinematically. But I guess that'll never happen because it is the event which takes precedence, not the video.

Another thing, with a light, a decent 75w spotty with diffusion works a treat when spotlighting a dancing couple or a lectern during speaches. .

Hey Peter, is that on your cam, like a photogs softbox? You have pics you can email me?

...Then I did a wedding and they fed me like a king with a table and gave out all the courses.

... and some reception halls don't even offer a chair or a glass of water.

...If the reception hall doesn't feed me I bring a cooler with beer and a foot long blimpie sub.



I've only shot weddings as an invited guest for family, so I've always had a seat, drinks, and a meal. But, with ALL the weddings I've either shot, or been involved with otherwise, e.g. siblings, close friends, etc., it was always the responsibility of whoever was paying for the festivities to include the videographer(s) and photographer among the number of guests. That way, the "banquet hall" gets paid for the meal, and the banquet manager can have all that covered. I can't recall a weddng I've attended (even those for mere "associates" from where me or my spouse were working at the time) where the "hired help" didn't have their own table off to the side and out of the way.

I'm willing to shoot ceremonies, but it's horror stories such as some in this thread that make me want to avoid shooting wedding receptions altogether.

Photographers + God Complex = The most annoying thing in the whole friggin world.

why is it that Photographers "forget" you are there when THEY start taking photos.

I hate it when they get in your way, take the photo, then THEY DONT MOVE AWAY!!!! They stand there, waiting for another shot.

My favorite time in a wedding was when the Bride asked me to do a dolly shot of the whole family standing in a line and I track across all of them very carefully WITH MY TRACKS ON THE GROUND. About 3 meters away from them. (thats about 10 feet)

THEN!!! Because I said it was ok for family and the photogs to take pictures behind me (since it would add to the nice flash effect) the photog walks between me and the family and stats clicking away. When I get it done, the photog moves away, then I ask if I can do another track. The Bride says yes, then gets one of her scarves, or veils, then ties them across the seats/pews, and asks everyone with a camera to stand behind it. The Photog was the only one on the wrong side.

The Bride gave me a smile with her eyes closed and I swear I knew she'd make a great mother.

Hey Peter, is that on your cam, like a photogs softbox? You have pics you can email me?

This is on the tripoded cam... about 9 feet in the air (i can hardly reach it and im a lil over 6ft)

the seconda handheld cam doesnt need light as this spotty is sufficient to cover the dancefloor and can also cover teh speeached from abotu 10 to 15 metres away and still illuminate it enough, without buring peoples corneas...

i dunno if i have a pic.. lol

Photographers + God Complex = The most annoying thing in the whole friggin world.

why is it that Photographers "forget" you are there when THEY start taking photos.

I hate it when they get in your way, take the photo, then THEY DONT MOVE AWAY!!!! They stand there, waiting for another shot.

My favorite time in a wedding was when the Bride asked me to do a dolly shot of the whole family standing in a line and I track across all of them very carefully WITH MY TRACKS ON THE GROUND. About 3 meters away from them. (thats about 10 feet)

THEN!!! Because I said it was ok for family and the photogs to take pictures behind me (since it would add to the nice flash effect) the photog walks between me and the family and stats clicking away. When I get it done, the photog moves away, then I ask if I can do another track. The Bride says yes, then gets one of her scarves, or veils, then ties them across the seats/pews, and asks everyone with a camera to stand behind it. The Photog was the only one on the wrong side.

The Bride gave me a smile with her eyes closed and I swear I knew she'd make a great mother.Leo my friend, i tell you mate, how many times has this happened it isnt funny.. at first i used to brush it off, but now.. im a bit of a prick when i have to be but as polite as i am to them, and with the level of "outward" respct i have for them, they usually end up making themselves look like fools as all you want to do is yoru job and theyre obliviious ...

to Answer yoru question..

"why is it that Photographers "forget" you are there when THEY start taking photos."
Well the reason is simple, they really DO forget your there.. here in Aus, of the photogs i am chums with, they all tell me that of teh 60 to 70 od wedings they do a year, that only 20% woul dhave a video.. so most of the time, these guys arent accustomed to considering other people.. its a sad but true fact... thing is, this ssort of thing is quite common and the wrost thign about it, is that here in aus, for the last 6 years, ive seen no improvement

One thing though, is that its usually the higher end photogs who do this, as usually theyre blowing couple's budgets on the outset. But those high end clients that can afford a high end photo and video, is usualy when stuff like this happens..

Okay, I know this is not a wedding, but today I filmed a Greek baptism with twin girls. The problem was that both of them cried through out the whole service. They just won’t stop crying. The problem is that you can’t hardly hear a word the priest is saying. Even the priest was getting irritated. I walked out of that service with a headache.

The other problem was the photographer. He kept moving around and every time he came past my tripod he would bump it with his foot by mistake. Then he would apologize. The problem was that my microphone picked up his apology several times, because he bumped my tripod a couple of times.

Oh yes, almost forgot! Today I was seated at the kiddie’s table, which is fine with me. Except I was asked 101 questions by these kids about my camcorder, which got to be irritating after awhile.


Regards…

" Greek baptism with twin girls. The problem was that both of them cried through out the whole service. They just won’t stop crying. The problem is that you can’t hardly hear a word the priest is saying. Even the priest was getting irritated. I walked out of that service with a headache."

This is the beautiful thing about weddings.. lol after a year or two, u get a callback to shoot the christenings. i do TONNES of these a year and theyre pretty basic, BUT the cry factor is one of the biggest "problems"
With Greek/Orthodox ministers, they were heavy ( i MEAN heavy) robes with no "easy access" pockets
so laving the minister is a no go, BUT if they cry they cry, it cant be helped... and the parents will understand

I found that the biggest issue causing the crying is the minister as the child isnt used to someone all dressed up in this way, and to have them stand in front of them for half an hour chanting.

Theres also the issue of the actual act of baptism, being the cutting of the hair and the dunking itself.. unlike catholic wher spray of water on the head is enough, the Ortho's dunk the whole child from head to toe into the water. and its not the warmest by the time they get there either..

Doing weddings in the southeast is great. You don't have to worry about if they're gonna feed you or whatever, because southern tradition says "southern hospitality and lots of food". Usually we don't even have to say anything at the reception, they're just like, "Feel free to grab anything".

With Greek/Orthodox ministers, they wear heavy ( i MEAN heavy) robes with no "easy access" pockets
so laving the minister is a no go, BUT if they cry they cry, it cant be helped...

That's true, I don't even bother asking the priest to use a wireless mic, they refuse to wear one. Besides they have a wireless mic connected to their PA system already, which I can't touch either. I just use a shotgun mic.

The parents will understand, it's bad enough to hear one baby crying, but two at the same time is really irritating.

It's also true that, when you have filmed the couple's wedding and did a good job, you get a phone call 3 years down the line to film their baby's Christening. That's a compliment. But if I start filming their children's 21st Birthday, then I know I am getting old...

Regards...

I was on a wedding planner's list, where a bunch of them were instructing other planners not to feed vendors, because they are not guests, for the exception of the DJ. I had to inform them that the DJ is there only half-day, while the video/photo people have been there an entire day, covering the event without a meal and it would look very cheap on the bride's part to have everyone eating while the rest of us twiddle our thumbs. Some of them got how rude it is not to feed us or provide a chair, but the majority of the wedding planners said if there should be food bring out a bologna sandwich and an apple in a brown bag and let them eat it. Talk about tacky?

I recommend that you put it in your contract. My contract states that if coverage starts prior to 5pm, a meal must be provided or a $100 per videographer fee will be assessed. They must sign the contract and initial this part. Since I added this to my contract I have only had one B&G pay the no-dinner clause. Secondly, most weddings have empty seats since people do not show for whatever reason, we just find a seat.

my biggest pet peeve is when they feed us vendors different, cheaper food than the guests. in hawaii.. that's very poor manners. when i get married... i'm gonna make sure my vendors are treated better than guests!

Reading all these posts, I've come to the conclusion that the 3 main problems for a Videographer filming a wedding/Event are:

1. Low light situations

2. Photographers

3. Not being offered a meal

Am I correct in saying this?

Regards.

Marco Dias

Reading all these posts, I've come to the conclusion that the 3 main problems for a Videographer filming a wedding/Event are:

1. Low light situations

2. Photographers

3. Not being offered a meal

Am I correct in saying this?

Regards.

Marco Dias


Ok, not to sound like a dork or anything, but I would not use the word 'problem' but maybe 'pointed considerations.' I have worked with excellent photographers who throughout the day we looked out for each other, and the flipside photographer who was worthless.

The meal is more of an expectation or not.

The low light is probably the consideration that you can address ahead of time, not to say it won't change.

My point is I wouldn't label any of these as being the top of anything. They are just items in a long list that needs to be discussed.

You could have all of these things taken care of and other things would go haywire.

The things listed above are probably some of the most consistent issues.

To add to the last post...

#1 -YOU, the videographer are responsible to cover the "low light" issue - either have an adequate camera, or some form of supplemental light, don't "presume" anything, be prepared. Really shouldn't be a big "problem" if you've done your homework. Put the "use of lights" in your contract.

#2 -Generally the "golden rule" applies - treat the photog with respect, expect the same. Professional courtesy goes a long way, and you might find a good contact for more work if the gig goes well. A pro will respect that you both are there to do a job for the couple, and ego shouldn't get in the way of that. You both will be after some of the same angles/shots - anticipate, and decide who gets to shoot over whose shoulder in advance if needed - just be prepared and think ahead.

If another vendor is a jerk, the bride probably already knows it, don't make yourself the arse, do the best you can to work around him/her and point out the diffuiculties created by the vendor only if needed (preferably not on HER day).

#3 -As for food, the observation that there are usually empty chairs/absent guests is a good one - at least you're not a wedding crasher <wink>. Again, put it in the contract... to be safe. Some brides spend obscene amounts per guest for vittles, so perhaps this is why they are reluctant... if it's that upscale an event, you're under contract anyway, so just lay it all out.


I think that the one thing this discussion serves is to help a "prospective" or "learning" WV anticipate the POTENTIAL problems, and eliminate them BEFORE they BECOME problems.

Experiences of others are always good, because life throws curve balls, ya know? At the least, some of these "stories" are a good laugh, or can make us feel better about the time it happened to us and we felt so dumb... or maybe can give us insights so we don't repeat someone elses' mistakes. ALL GOOD STUFF!!

It's great that there are forums like this where we can come together and learn and improve!

DB>)

#1 -YOU, the videographer are responsible to cover the "low light" issue - either have an adequate camera, or some form of supplemental light, don't "presume" anything, be prepared. Really shouldn't be a big "problem" if you've done your homework. Put the "use of lights" in your contract.

Homework and equipment can only go so far before the needed light would ruin what the Bride wanted. I tell them I won't use a light (first off I never owned one) and then I give suggestsions for turning up lights for important moments or changing locations ,etc. But I make them fully aware of what they will get should they go for that candle lit dance. So far all of the problem locations have had brides that are OK with the results since they were warned ahead of time.

jason

what is worse than dxxk heads who walk in front of your cam are those who actualy turn round to cam and say sorry. And then there is the person who walks upto you while you have your eye glued to the eyecup and say excuse me your not filming are you only I'd just.............? I'm sure we have all had that experience at one time or another.

lol
shot a morning wedding yesterday.. was at the brides just before 9, ready to go by 940...
photographer arrives about 925... h ehad apaprently told her to not dress until he got there.. 'bride rushes now..
ceremony starts at 10...
945.. me supposed to be out, bride not dressed yet..
photog stressing (mind u he WAS late.. )
im stresing coz im supposed to be on the road and brides not ready..
photog hogs all shooting opps..
10am.. needed to gt afew shots of bride while she was already in certain positions.. asked her to hang back 15-20secs so i can get my shots.. photog being rude and saying cmon cmon
poor bride is a lil stressd here.. but knows i need to get my shots..
photog hogs the girls and literally shoves me as i take my shots..
photog gets all he needs and takes off..
I still need at least 2 shots before i leave.. just some detail of teh bride finaly dressed.. by this time, its 10 past 10.. ceremony as supposed to start at 10..

ok, so i head of and tell the bride to not do anythign once shegets to the ceremony and sees me.. once she sees me she knows shes safe..
well.. being a clifftop wedding, i also had to set up lights coz of the intense backlighting..
so i get to the ceremony locations.. turns out that headstart i asked for ddnt happen and they took a shortcut.. so i told the phtoog, 6 minutes for me to set up..
Now, im late becuase he hogged her in the morning, now despite my efforts, i still ahve some signiature shots which she had specifically asked for.. so all i can do is blame him for the time factor here cosz he was late as it was..

anyways.. ceremony starts.. all good.. things all happening to plan..

get to the phtooshoot..
wanted to get afew intimate shots of teh couple, now, this is where it gets funny.. all the while hes shooting my compositions over my shoulder.. ok fair enough..
BUT as we head back to the cars, i turn to him and say "sorry for stepping in there, but this is the only time i have to reallyshow the intimacy of teh couple, so i stepped in as u were handling the bridal party.
He's like.. yeah, thats ok if u step in.. but the thing is.. your slow..
Now this blew me away..
so funny but i just turned to him and said.. well of the 60jobs i do each year and oever the last 6 yers, ive never been called slow.. then again, my shots go for 15odd seconds so if thats considered slow...

anywyas.. to cut a long story short.
back at teh reception, i pretend as if he didnt say anythign and talk to him as normal. his partner, whos older and obviously more expereinced, turns and says thanks for being a fast composer and letting them take my shots
LOL

oh and the best hit..
lunchtime hits, were all at the reception..
Im givien a booth along th ewall and teh phtoographers are given seating with the guests..
To top it off, they decided to bump the speeches forward, BUT the photog desicdes to do family shots after theyve had their break.. cool i say.. 15 20 minutes..

no...
it went for an hour and half... by 3pm they were still at it...
reception was to finish at 5...
ok i step out and ask bride whats going on..
i also tell her im nto going to film people standing around taking photos..
she also knew i had teh shits tht the fotog not only delayed her, but he also got in my way numerous times and make snide comments in front of her..

I walk away..
320 and they decide to walk back in..
speeches now.. wonderful...
cake...
wow..
430pm now and time for the waltz.. lol
hmm.. great party... how much did she pay per head? How much dancing happened?
Nada.. once the bnridal waltz happened, dessert was served and people hammered the wine until they were shattered..

Oh what a wonderful country we live in... when photographers can dictate and ruin a wedding simply becuase they need to feed their egos. the worse thing about it is when brides are docile enough to let them...

get me to wondering:

So many folks here have so much experience, does anyone try to prevent - or at least address - such problems in their contract? Seems to me that both the vid and photog are going to want the same, or nearly the same, angle for shots. Is it really that difficult to work out things like that with the photogs?

As for either the vid or photog being late, is it inapprorpiate to discuss that with b&g/parents prior to signing of the contract? Seems to me that a photog being late hints at their level commitment to the job.

I know the prep and ceremonies are stressful, and "things change" as the day progresses, but holding things up for a late photog strikes me as something the photog s/b "penalized" for, i.e. if he/she are late, their fee s/b reduced, if only as a means of compensation for extra stress and "pain and hardship" suffered by the b&g, the wedding party, and the parents, (not to mention at the church and banquest hall, particularly if another event is scheduled to follow).

I probably sound naieve, and I've only ever shot weddings for close friends and family, but it's stories like these that lead me to want to avoid them altogether.

So many folks here have so much experience, does anyone try to prevent - or at least address - such problems in their contract?
((thats why it exists.. to cover my ass in case of out of control situations like this one.. ))

Seems to me that both the vid and photog are going to want the same, or nearly the same, angle for shots. Is it really that difficult to work out things like that with the photogs?
((No, far from it.. most photogs i work with love my style of being discrete then stepping in only as i need to... BUT with teh space i give them, i at least expect half of that in return.. as an example, if i want 5 mons with the B/G at the photoshoot, the photog should have the decency to let me take them for a while.. if he wants to tag along hes more than welcome, but this si my time i have with them, so i do try to get some intimacy happening with the couple and if he continually steps in, then i'll speak up.
Gotta remember that most photogs havent worked with videographers, so to many of them, we are a hindrance to thier flow... ))

As for either the vid or photog being late, is it inapprorpiate to discuss that with b&g/parents prior to signing of the contract?

((No, its not, but i hold off on blaming other people for delays. the BG already know whos to blame, they dont need me to point it out to them. Wht I do mention though, is that the client must provide sufficient time and or location for me to have teh ability to shoot. If they dotn provide a tripod safe area, or dont want to have shots composed by me, they ned to mention it in the contract. ))

Seems to me that a photog being late hints at their level commitment to the job.

((well this dude himself didnt have the tendency to want to experiment ro to try new things.. he was set in his ways as are most people.. pity he lost quite afew opportunities simply due to his ego overinflating itself so much he lost site of the job at hand.. ))

I know the prep and ceremonies are stressful, and "things change" as the day progresses, but holding things up for a late photog strikes me as something the photog s/b "penalized" for, i.e. if he/she are late, their fee s/b reduced,
((well we dont knwo why they were late.. it could have ben traffic or maybe he slept in.. irrespctive of why, we deal with the now.. so long as the results for teh time of the shoot are up to scratch, time doesnt mean much.. especially for a wedding.. ))

if only as a means of compensation for extra stress and "pain and hardship" suffered by the b&g, the wedding party, and the parents, (not to mention at the church and banquest hall, particularly if another event is scheduled to follow).

((Well like i said, things like this hardly happen and when tehy do, it IS a big deal.. but the fact remains is that the guy is doing his job and is getting the shots he needs. If however he hinders me in achieving my shots, THATS when i step up to the client. If they want me to step in at that point, i will.. if they prefer the photog to call the shots, i let them..
Hey theyre paying me to do their bidding. If their stupid enough to neglect the product i am producing, and do not want to cooperate in a sense for me to achieve teh best i can with their day, thats their loss..
In the end, im there to archive the day, not change it, and if theyre happy for the day to be dictated by an idiot, thats their loss...
Hey, put it this way, she was not only late at her cereemony by about half an hour, but we ended up getting to the reception about half an hour late, in addition to the 90minutes it took for teh photogs to get the family shots..
Like i said.. her loss.. she jsut missed out on her wedding reception to appease the ego of a tardy photographer... )0

I probably sound naieve, and I've only ever shot weddings for close friends and family, but it's stories like these that lead me to want to avoid them altogether.
((meh.. u know what.. i went to the guys site and it turns out he's a bargain basement photog.. full of hot air and has m ade his way to where he is with the gift of the gab (ie, knows how to sell)
Thing is the area he works he's got nailed.. so hes always busy.. so hes smart in that regard.. as for his work.. put it this way, my 8yr old niece can do the same..

As for avoiding it, well think of the odds.. of the many photogs i work with regularly.. maybe one or 2 will have isue.. most of the time, the issues are stemming from them.. NOT my prescence..
Its also the newies who have issues co they dont know how to handle the idea of bouncing ideas to and fro..
This si where "photo video teams" really nail boutique studios like mine... they have the advantage as the photog and videographer have worked together, whereas in my stuation, i might work with the same 4 to 6 regulars most of the time, but 80% of my work is shot with a Photog ive never seen or heard of before
Thing is with these odds, 1 or 2 bad eggs doesnt stop me from doin what i do..
Aother thing to point out, is some photogs work closely wth other videographers.. so our presence there pisses them off and "for a laugh" they like the idea of stuffing up my shots.. hey, their buddy jsut mised out on a 3grand contract.. of course theyre going to be pissed..

They usually learn the hard way that this behaviour is unacceptable though..

Im a nice guy.. really i am.. but im thre as a professional. I leave my ego at the door and put my business hat on whenever i hold a camera..
Thing is, is to make sure they know you mean business..
if they think your a lill green, then you prolly are.. if your unsure, they will pick up on it.. if however you compose yourself with the knowledge and skill of a seasoned veteran (even if ur not) then they wont even try

Weddings are no place for egos..
its a shame some photogs forget that the wedding is about the bride and groom, not them..

Well this is a new one on me.


The ceremony is all quiet, nice intimate, and all the sudden in my head phones I hear the unmistakable sound of someone winding up a disposable camera. wow.

This is a very interesting thread and I do agree that some of these things are a little annoying. Fortunately, here in New England I don't see as much of these problems as the rest of you, except for the food issue. The lack of a meal becomes less of a problem when I have flashbacks of my 8 years working in a dingy factory on an assembly line cranking out ball joints and bringing my own sandwich every day!
I just throw some beef jerky and bottled water in the bag and call it good.
The only real problem is that I do tend to get real tired 2 hours into the reception if there is no where to sit.
Mark G

Well this is a new one on me.


The ceremony is all quiet, nice intimate, and all the sudden in my head phones I hear the unmistakable sound of someone winding up a disposable camera. wow.

Yep - I'm thinking of making up a sign "no Cameras or videotaping" - last wedding I did for friends was just chock full of amateur "photographers" blocking shots and generally screwing up the shoot (and YES, one was using a disposable camera...) - fortunately it was for friends, but yeesh - at least one guy had the decency to ask before shooting pix (he didn't block a single shot BTW), which I don't necessarily mind but don't stand through the processional to do it...

It's a tough call on how to deal with the proliferation of disposable cameras and digital cams with nifty sound effects so everyone knows you just took a picture...

I turn all the sounds OFF the minute I get a camera, just wish everyone else was smart enough to do it.

In the end you just have to shake your head sometimes and carry on...

I know that many photogs have a clause in their contract, and I've added one in myself after seeing how many bozos it takes to make a circus... anyone have any suggestions on how to enforce this at an "open" event?? I don't want to be rude, but on the other hand...

This was a new one for me this weekend. I had just finished setting up a camera and getting it positioned just right. This guest shows up and decides to take off his jacket . . . and the idiot walks over and hangs it on my tripod, bumping it out of position. I'm standing there, watching this, thinking . . "does my tripod/camera look like a freaking coat rack?!?".

I promptly walked over, took the jacket off of it, walked over to the guest and told him "Sorry, but you can't hang your jacket on my tripod. Thanks."

I swear I don't know how some people figure out how to get out of bed in the morning.

[QUOTE=Travis Cossel;716802]This was a new one for me this weekend. I had just finished setting up a camera and getting it positioned just right. This guest shows up and decides to take off his jacket . . . and the idiot walks over and hangs it on my tripod, bumping it out of position. I'm standing there, watching this, thinking . . "does my tripod/camera look like a freaking coat rack?!?".

I promptly walked over, took the jacket off of it, walked over to the guest and told him "Sorry, but you can't hang your jacket on my tripod. Thanks."

I would have taken the jacket off the tripod and left it on the ground, while walking all over it

Years ago I went to a wedding where the bride had put a separate piece of paper in the program that was in neon saying, well I forget what it said, but I've thought of addressing this more closely at the contract signing. I would be glad to run to Office Depot and get the paper.

I would have taken the jacket off the tripod and left it on the ground, while walking all over it

I sure felt like it.

I would've put the jacket on and acted like it was mine. ;o)

I had a guy once go upto my light on a lightstand at the reception and unplug my light from the plug point and connect his camcorder battery charger to charge his camcorder battery.

He was too lazy to look for another plug point at the venue. I grabbed my 5 point plug adapter and connected my light and his battery charger to the same plug point.

The nerve of this guy...

I was on a wedding planner's list, where a bunch of them were instructing other planners not to feed vendors, because they are not guests, for the exception of the DJ. I had to inform them that the DJ is there only half-day, while the video/photo people have been there an entire day, covering the event without a meal and it would look very cheap on the bride's part to have everyone eating while the rest of us twiddle our thumbs. Some of them got how rude it is not to feed us or provide a chair, but the majority of the wedding planners said if there should be food bring out a bologna sandwich and an apple in a brown bag and let them eat it. Talk about tacky?

I know it's common practice to expect a courtesy meal for the vendors but,

I have to disagree here (I know, big surprise). Why should we expect the couple to pay $25 and up (or whatever) so that we can eat a fancy meal at a wedding of someone we don't even know? We go to weddings every weekend.

My contract states that we do not expect to be fed at the reception. I wouldn't spend that much money on my own dinner, why should they? There's no reason I cant bring a sack lunch and excuse myself from the reception to eat it. I often do. However, most clients will offer me the food anyway (there's usually plenty) and that's great, I will take it if they offer. I just don't want them to spend that much feeding myself and an assistant.

Just to clarify, I don't have a problem with other vendors having that in their contract, I just don't think it should be "required".

I had a guy once go upto my light on a lightstand at the reception and unplug my light from the plug point and connect his camcorder battery charger to charge his camcorder battery.

He was too lazy to look for another plug point at the venue. I grabbed my 5 point plug adapter and connected my light and his battery charger to the same plug point.

The nerve of this guy...

Unfortunately there's a lot people out there that are oblivious to the world around them. I feel sorry for these people because its not their intention (sometimes it is) to step on people's toes and in the end they fail at many things in life. As a videographer you have to always be aware of whats going on around you and the consquences of your actions. People that don't have this sense to them can struggle in almost any job.

I would've put the jacket on and acted like it was mine. ;o)

You know if it was me being the fat guy i would have done my best Chris Farley impression from Tommy Boy.....Fat man in a little coat.......RIIIIPPPPPPPP!!!!

Just to clarify, I don't have a problem with other vendors having that in their contract, I just don't think it should be "required".

I also allways bring my own food with me for during the day, but not for the evening. Sometimes the family has a very expensive 4 course dinner in the afternoon and I can understand that the couple won't order for me. Only in the evening it's often a big buffet were there's plenty to eat. Sometimes the couple tells me to pls eat something, sometimes they don't and then I just take food without asking. :D

Only when it's a very expensive wedding and they serve 4 course dinner for the guests in the evening I allways ask the waiter if the couple counted me in as well and if they could prepare a small plate if there are any "left overs", this usually works and in a rare occasion I don't get anything but I don't mind.

One time I was treated as one of the guests, even better, The wedding event was in a big castle and they prepared a nice candlelight 4course dinner for me in a seperate room, there was one waiter assigned to assure I got my food and he came looking for me everytime they started a new course and he even put my chair right when I sat down. For a short while it didn't feel like I was working. :D

My wife and I did a wedding for OUR FRIEND which was cool. Not a close friend, but none the less, a friend. Anyway, when it came time to eat, the wedding coordinator told us that there was a serperate table for the vendors. But wait.. We were friends of the bride. I assumed that they did counts for chairs so I agreed to the seperate table. It turns out that there were only enough chairs for the main tables and so the "vendor table" had NO CHAIRS! And then the catering company made us wait because they "don't feed the vedors until all the guests have eaton." - as in when they are doing the first dances and other events.

This was a catering company doing there first gig. I had to straighten them out on feeding us while the guests were eating. I do have to say though the food was really good.

I have to give kudos to the photog that day. He ignored the ignorant requests of the wedding coordinator. He found an empty seat, made friends with the guests and sat down and ate. I wish I would have done that.

One time I was treated as one of the guests, even better, The wedding event was in a big castle and they prepared a nice candlelight 4course dinner for me in a seperate room, there was one waiter assigned to assure I got my food and he came looking for me everytime they started a new course and he even put my chair right when I sat down. For a short while it didn't feel like I was working. :D


Geez, where is that place, I'll move, and do weddings for nothing at that place. It's nice to hear a good story. :}

I was treated like a king once. Every one there helping me out. Best wedding I've been to. Of course I wasn't working. My wife wouldn't let me film our own wedding ;)

1. When I arrive to film the bride getting ready and she’s still at the hairdresser/ makeup artist. When she does arrive, I have 10 minutes to perform a miracle.

2. When I get to the Church/Chapel, I greet the priest/pastor and all he does is tell me where I can go and where I can’t go without saying hello back. (Plain rude!)

3. When filming the putting on the rings and first kiss the priest/pastor decides to walk in front of the camera. (Do I look invisible to him?)

4. When the B&G are smokers and can’t go without a smoke for more then 2 minutes and they don’t want you to film them having a smoke. So you got to put down your camera every 2 minutes and wait for them to finish.

5. When I get to the reception and there’s no seating for you, even after you explain this to them, when they signed the contract. They simply tell you, that they forgot and take another 30 minutes to arrange a seating place for you and your assistant.

6. When I go around filming guests at their table, there will always be an idiot that points at the camera and says: “Look its Candid Camera”. If it was “Candid Camera” you wouldn’t see me, would you?

7. When I am filming speeches, the parents allow their little brats to run and make a noise, as if it was kinder garden. No respect whatsoever.

8. When I am busy filming, someone decides that they want to go past right in front of me, because they are too lazy to go around me. The worst is, when they do come past, they buck down half-way and all I get is the top of their head. If you are going to buck down, make some effort!

These are just some of the things I hate and get irritated with, when I film a wedding.

What gets to you?

Regards.

All the reasons and more I DON'T do weddings anymore, for any amount of money.