So much has already been said about unplugged weddings. It's all over the interwebs. And honestly, up until recently, Lori and I have never really been concerned about other cameras at the weddings we've photographed. I was a bride once, and honestly - I thank God that social media wasn't as big of a deal as it is now. As as a Bride, I wanted all of the photos that everyone took, not just my photographer, because it was all part of my day. So yeah we understand, and know that you might want to hashtag your wedding. That's perfectly ok with us, if it's what you want. We always do our best to capture the day as great we can. But we won't stop your guests, nor tackle them to the ground if they happen to be standing in the way. Lori and I are fortunate, that there are two of us photographing your wedding. So it's possible for us to have two angles on any given moment, but it's not a guarantee.
In any case, we want to encourage you to at least consider going "unplugged" with your wedding. Even if it's just for the ceremony. Your wedding ceremony is the most important part of the day, whether it's 5 minutes long or 45 minutes long. So, wouldn't you want your friends and family to be completely there with you in that moment?
I have a game that I play now while I'm editing a wedding processional... it's called "count the smartphones." It makes me a little bit sad, that this photograph has become something normal. Instead of happy smiling guests, you have iPhone after iPhone coming down the aisle. In our opinion, it's ok to put your camera, smartphone, or iPad down. Let us do the work, because it's why you hired us in the first place. Not only will you and your guests enjoy it more, but we'll be able to get even better photographs.
And while I'm on the topic...iPads? at a wedding? I get the phone, I get the point and shoot, camera, I even understand the occasional DSLR. But why an iPad? They're large, obtrusive and completely noticeable when you're using it at a wedding. Please... please don't.
I've been a guest at a wedding. Trust me I know how hard it is to put the camera down. I mean, c'mon, I'm a photographer, it's what I do! But as a wedding guest I also know, that there's a hired photographer - who wants to capture the day as perfectly as they possibly can, without my backside or smartphone in their view.
In the end, our job is to photograph your day - whether it's unplugged or not. We give 110% to every wedding, and every couple we work with, to give them not only great photographs, but a great experience as well. Whichever way you decide, we support you wholeheartedly. But it's an idea, a great idea - that we'd love to see more of at our future weddings.
Here's a few examples of what we mean. Disclaimer: In all of these cases, our couples also have images without guest interference... so fear not, we still got the shot! Luckily, our experiences haven't been as bad as some of the horror stories we have heard from our peers on the subject.