group shots, don’t be a dick about it.
If the bride and groom, on their day, don't want any group shots, who am I to tell them otherwise.
I recently observed a conversation in a Wedding Photography Facebook Group. It wasn’t pretty.
The question was asked - ‘I have a wedding next weekend and the couple don’t want any group shots, what do I do?’
Not fucking group shots, that’s what!
The comments ranged from ridiculous to even more ridiculous, with wedding photographers insisting that they tell the couple that they must have them as it’s an essential part of a wedding.
‘They’ll regret it if they don’t, you’ll get the blame!’
And the pièce de résistance, ‘The group photos are the fist ones that people share on Facebook when someone dies’! Ha hahahahhahahahahahah.
When did wedding photographers become so arrogant that they think they know what’s best?
When did wedding photographers become so disillusioned that they think only their photographs, on that day, matter?
It’s like no one will have taken a photograph of Granny Smith in her life, and today is the only chance. And what does it matter, when all is said and done, if there isn’t a photograph of Granny Smith stood beside Uncle Harry. Fuck all, that’s what it matters.
Tradition seems to override logic, and the ego of the photographer takes control of the situation. Guys, it’s not the 1920’s anymore, people own cameras, it’s thing now.
Don’t get me wrong, if my clients request some group shots I’ll quite happily oblige, but if they want every combination of family member and guest, I’m not the photographer for them. If they don’t want any at all I’m certainly not going to force an outdated viewpoint down their throat and demand that they do. Just to keep my ego happy.
I’m not even going to get started with photographs of rings on a bible or a dress hanging up in a tree….