It finally happened that someone......
 

brought a self-stick to this wedding and was dancing around with it. All I could think of was a periscope.

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The wedding I just finished editing the father of the groom had a selfie stick with a gopro attached to it in the church and he used it to film the brides entrance.

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@Noa, you should ask him for the footage then send him a 25.00 check for his work. lol. I guess I could mount a go pro like that to my reception tripod. That might be interesting.

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I rather see these gopro's then people holding these obnoxious ipads in the aisle blocking my view from the bride, who in his right mind brings a ipad to a wedding?

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Geez, and I thought that iPad phenomenon only happened at my weddings. I've tried to deal with it with counseling my brides and grooms, but it's not easy to stop.

I recently had the minister ask everyone to not take pictures during a ceremony, and then the coordinator did the same thing. Did it stop Uncle Fred from popping off his Canon 5d, nope. And then he posted his work on facebook preempting my gallery. Sigh.

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Past caring!! Ipads. Phones, idiot guests with selfie sticks, priests, toastmasters, DJs, crap Internet speeches, ridiculous projector screens with sad blurred photos. You guess? Can't wait to retire from all that crap. Sorry guys

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What really gets me it that they have this iPad not on it's own but in a bright red leatherette case complete with a keyboard and use the entire thing to "film" the ceremony and it's big enough to totally block the bride's face too. If they held up just the iPad that might be OK but no, they have to use the entire case so we end up with a bright red case 12" across and 24" down totally blocking not only the camera view but a lot of guests too.

I just leave the footage in nowdays .. I'm tired of complaining!

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I am so over weddings. I don't miss them or the BS that goes along with them at all. Best thing I ever did was retire. Seriously, even the corporate stuff...not missing it one bit. I am so much more relaxed, sleeping better, feeling better, blood pressure is down....and traveling more. YAHOO!!!
Weddings? We don't need no stinkin' weddings! (that line courtesy of Blazing Saddles)

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I'm with you Don - really getting tired of the treadmill but I've got to make a quid somehow

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I also see more gopros on a selfie stick during the dancing at evening used by guests, might be a way to get home early and ask for the dancefootage later on :)

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i wish i had one

:-) i could beat someone with it!!!!



It might be a good idea for a dedicated thread that we could provide a link to for couples to realise how annoying these things can be.

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Not a selfie stick, but I had a wedding this Wednesday where people were pushing in front all day with phones, pads and cameras. Claire and I were doing photos and video and even had one Mother continually standing infront of us during the formal posed groups while we were taking stills. Even the guests were getting annoyed at her!.

I uploaded a still from the backup video camera as the Bride and her Father were coming down the aisle at the start. Both Mums with pads and two bridesmaids with children in one arm and a phone in the other decided to take pictures of the walk down the aisle without any consideration of what we or the Vicar wanted.

Roger

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Yes well if you're like me, in your early 40's, a bit of work is kind of expected. And there are worse things than Wedding Videography, in fact lots of worse ways to earn a living. I'm only 2 years out of the daily office grind of being a University stooge, so still have moments when I'm standing in the grounds of some stately home watching the sunset as I film a delightful couple and pinch myself that this is now my job. So what I have to contend with annoying vicars, the occasional obtrusive Photographer and guests with long sticks and ipads waving about, I'm doing what I enjoy, which is a lot more than what many working people can say these days.

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I feel bad for those that hate shooting weddings that much, I at least have enjoyed it a lot until my bad back took a part of that joy out, it's like Steve says that there are much worse jobs and even with some of the frustration I have to deal with every wedding, the appreciation I get from my clients for the time I put into it makes it all worth it. I don't feel I have wasted any years doing weddings and if I eventually will stop doing them I certainly will miss it.

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Well since I'm well past my 40s and did both photography (12 years) and video (30+) years for over 40 years which means I did in excess of 2200 weddings, plus the hundred and hundreds of corporate type things I did over those years, in both great health and not so good health, missing my kids growing up among other things, to make a buck, I EARNED the right to dislike greatly what I was doing. Did I always feel that way? Nope, absolutely not but the last 5 years of doing it especially and mostly weddings yeah, I did. I've seen it all and done it all and frankly, it left a very bad taste in my mouth.
If you or Noa or anyone else still likes shooting weddings...great and more power to you but for me....I enjoy my time off, with no deadlines, no more listening to people bitch and moan about this that or the other and the best part...I get to travel way more than ever and spend time with my kids and grandkids and that to me is priceless. I made my mark and my money in the game, now it's time to enjoy the fruits of that labor. You may never feel the way I do and if not fantastic but for me....Well let's just say that the best decision I've made was to retire. Works for me. Now you'll have to excuse me but I need to pack since I'm off on another cruise and I'm flying out tomorrow. Let's see, that's number 11 for the year and one more to go after this one. I love it! BTW, retirement doesn't take age...it takes money! Don't knock it 'til you try it!

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I think it's important to enjoy the fruits of life every single day and not wait until you retire, my uncle retired years ago, sick and tired of his 9 to 5 job and finally able to enjoy life and a year later he dies of cancer.
I"m happy for you that you enjoy your retirement but I find it more important to enjoy whatever I"m doing, if you don't enjoy what you are doing in life you are wasting a lot of precious time.

I am retired and longer then you have been :)

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Ah Don, you and I are quite different. I hate cruises, I hate standing still for any length of time or being cooped up, even on a large ship. When I go on Holidays I prefer long walks; my last was a few weeks back, around Hastings. Couple of 20 mile walks amongst some rather lovely open countryside is how I relax; can't do that on some fancy ship - well you can walk the deck like a hundred times I suppose, but nah, not the same.

Even if I won the lottery, I'd still do Weddings; perhaps I'd be more picky and do a helluva lot less, but I'd still take bookings. Sure there are frustrations and the deadlines can be a real pain at times, but I enjoy it in a twisted sort of way. I wouldn't have quit my University job if I didn't.

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I have yet to see a selfie stick at a wedding here.

Semi-related, one of my primary second shooters just built a carbon fiber jib for a GoPro.... it's a 30' jib. Yes 30' jib from pivot point! For those places where we can't fly a drone. lol

Super light jib and sets up in 10 minutes.

He used it last weekend at the top of Lookout mountain in Chattanooga TN to film a proposal or something, hanging it down the side of the mountain to that area where the outside waterfall kind of is.

It could double as the ultimate selfie stick. lol

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I think these selfie sticks will only gain more popularity, everyone is into taking snapshots and post them on facebook while they are at a wedding, I see more of these signs on the venue tables with a hashtag word for facebook so people can upload all their pictures making it easy to find back. Such a selfie stick makes it easier to create more distance and have more people in view. I also have seen them with a smarthphone attached. Every guest is a videographer and photographer at a wedding, we just need to make sure that our footage looks better then theirs :)

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To be honest, I'm less bothered by them than I am about the blasted Ipads and Tablets. Having those pop out in a cramped aisle to block my view of the couple as they begin their walk can really piss you off at times. Selfie sticks - well if they must. Hardly a threat to my filming apart from the odd shot they appear in, but rarely for me anything crucial like the aisle shot.

Most people take photos and frankly any video that is shot by guests tend to look like shit. I speak from experience using my own smartphone to do video. I know there are dedicated Video guys out there producing professional videos with smartphones, but I imagine they have professional rigs to achieve it.

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I am praying for the day I am able to give up my current job to shoot weddings, it's hard work and hassle for sure, but providing an end product that brings tears to my clients eyes is so satisfying.

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I had a similar situation. In July, I was shooting a wedding when I noticed this clown running around with a camera on a monopod. He wasn't with the photog's crew and he DEFINITELY wasn't with me, but was following me trying to get the 'money shots' and frequently in the way. But what REALLY ticked me off is that he bumped one of my static cameras and when he did, the camera turned enough to miss the bride's father handing her off to the groom. The couple was disappointed in this but I explained THAT'S why we tell "non-pros" to stay out of the way, and that it's the couple's responsibility--along with the wedding planner--to make sure these kinds of things don't happen. There were also selfie sticks and other assorted smart devices, tablets, etc., but I could work around them. That said, there's always one idiot there that takes liberties he/she shouldn't, and when the contracted footage gets compromised by these buffoons, guess who gets blamed.

Like Don, I'm also a bit "north" of 40, but I've become more choosy about weddings, and in the first 30 seconds of an interview, I can tell whether I want to take the job...or not.

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So who was he, just a friend of the couple trying to break into wedding videography?? That would tick me off.

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When anyone/anything gets my frame, I just leave it in there, nope, no editing it out anymore. I will not be frustrated as I was in the past arguing with the maitre'd's enormous posterior when he cuts the cake for the couple (as if they can't cut their own piece themselves), or when a kid pops up and down waving his hands inches away from the lens, or when them iPads litter the aisle, or when the DJ's lights cast polka dots/blue lasers/smoke effects. Nope, I am too old for this kind of s%$t. I don't give a r&%s ass about making a perfect video or making the bride go to tears. I have complete control over the editing and THERE WILL BE NO RE-EDITS, period. I love the lazy approach. Now many there are going to fully disagree with me but I have been nice over the years, I wasted lots of time and effort trying to make everyone happy but in the long run( for me) it ain't worth it. I have another 6 weddings to go before the new year rings in after which I will only do the ones I am committed to for 2016. After that I don't want to see a white dress or limo or maitre'd or any DJ for that matter.

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Arthur, woah there. No need for the over reaction. I'm sure most here wouldn't argue with much of what you say. My approach is simple, I'm not trying to capture my inner vision or any such nonsence, just film what I see to the best of my ability and equipment available to me. I've never had any objections to any lights the dj cast, not once. Why, its how it looks. Kids interfering, well its a nuisance but part of the fun with Weddings. I had 1 young girl, about 7 I think wanting to help me with my jib. She had great fun with it, though carefully supervised by me. You take it in your stride and don't stress over it. Live events are unpredictable and kids will be kids.

My only concern is if the couple object such as a crying child in a Service. If its their kid, I breath a sigh of relief, they'll accept that. Someone else's kid and I've got a request to tone the kids cries down. Extra work for me. The tablets are a nuisance, but they're there to stay and whilst I push for an unplugged Wedding, I can't force it. As long as I get enough beauty shots for the highlights video, my business reputation is intact.

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I used to be stressed a while back like 20 years ago, trying to make great videos without any unwanted characters and things in them but I realized over time that for the price the clients wanted to pay ( and they had to compromise for that price) it was not worth the aggravation/arguments/stress/ with those involved in making /adding misery to my video by correcting or attempting to correct what was not caused by me but by the incompetence/lack of consideration of others involved. I go over my contract in minute detail with the client and even talk to the DJ before he does his thing as well as the maitre'd including the limo driver, priest, pastor, officiant, wedding planner, and all who are in the position of authority. Sure, I can always charge more for a more thorough editing and explain to the client that they must pay extra for that extra level of expertise but they ( or most of them) simply won't pay for that extra. They are mostly on a tight budget and many would not even have considered video at all had they not been referred by their friends. I make, actually made a living with the budget minded clients.
They know exactly what they'll be getting for the price they pay, not more not less.

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I'm just like you Arthur ... if you are in my frame then you are in my wedding video. I must admit last Sunday I was doing speeches and a woman with an iPad was trying to film behind me so I made sure I was very much in her video. I still cannot figure why they have to use the darn device though complete with bright red leatherette case and key board which shows up a lot more prominently than just a plain black iPad.

If I happen to be shooting cutaways (like in the ceremony and speeches) I will try to cover a shot where someone walks in front of the camera but if not it just stays there and brides don't seem to complain either!!

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Arthur and Chris.....BRAVO! I wish there was a "like" button. I felt the same way especially in the last 10 years I did weddings.
It's been about 2 years for me NOT doing weddings or any kind of work and you know what....I don't miss it. I realize it was the right time for me to retire. Now I just need to sell off the rest of my gear and take some more cruises!
0|0
\--/

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It finally happened that someone.... said BRAVO to apathy. :)

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It's not apathy, it's reality tv :-)

Roger

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Reality TV... like 'The Only Way is Essex', 'Celebrity Big Brother' and 'I'm a Celebrity'.

I'd rather take the apathy. :)

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Steve I had a wedding season before last that was an outdoor ceremony in a very windy wooded area so all onboard audio from camera mics was pretty much useless. That would not have been a problem but what gave me the biggest grief was that the couple's kid was swinging on the the grooms legs crying for attention and so he picked her up and held her to his chest - the volume of shrieks directly down my lav throughout the vows and ring exchange was something else! sod all I could do about it. Not only was her body actually blocking the lav mic but literally all you can really hear is her crying - audio ruined - I had to use the sound from a H1 on the table

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I had something similar, though indoors so not as bad as your situation. To me video problems are a lot easier to work around than audio problems. I'm more concerned with something upsetting my audio capture than video. Mainly as I think couples are less forgiving when audio does go wrong as opposed to video.

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Here's a sample - it's bad!

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I hope they really like that baby/family.

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It was the Bride and Groom's kid - the Groom picked her up and held her to his chest throughout the vows!

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I agree that it's a concern if you don't get useful audio, however when it's entirely outside your control, then it ceases to be your problem.
The crying child, noisy uncontrolled kids, inconsiderate guests, poor locations etc. etc. - all part of the scene really, there'll always be something, I had one on Friday last - the children were little angels the venue was as dark as a cave!
I guess theres a limit to how long a person can deal with it all - I'll put up with it a little longer ;-)

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I had a pretty funny incident earlier this season related to this (sorta). Instead of the couple bringing a kid to the wedding, a member of the (very small, 3 people) choir did. Just sitting there, in his baby/car seat, right next to the piano. Understandably the bride was upset, and while sitting at the altar said to the groom as follows:

Bride: "Why did the choir bring a f**king baby to my wedding?"
Groom: "shhhhhhh, I'm mic'ed"
Bride: "They can hear me?!" (Referring to the guests)
Groom: "Not them, but the video guy"
{silence}

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That moment when you smile and "snip".... he he he... thank goodness for "editing"!

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Lol, I would have lost it in the editing.