by Cameron Ingalls

You would think it was Jennifer Anniston’s 2nd marriage the way wedding guests turn into Paparazzi the moment the bride appears to walk down the aisle. Not much irritates me more when I am shooting a wedding than having to compete with amateur photographers while I am trying to do my job. I’m talking about ‘that guy’ who feels it is important to stand shoulder to shoulder with bridesmaid #7 so he can get the ultimate close up. Or even ‘that lady’ who asks me to move so she can get a shot of the family portrait on her disposable camera while I am trying to make order out of the chaos. Then there is the guy who thinks he is a pro because he recently bought the Canon 5D and thus proceeds to run around and document the wedding as if he worked for me.

I guess I’m what you would typically call a ‘nice guy’. I like to be polite to everybody and I tend to steer clear from confrontation. I am especially on my best behavior while I am working a wedding. However, when there is a difficult paparazzi getting in the way of my shots, I find myself wishing I could be more of a jerk. Sometimes I want to grab the guy by the arm just as he is about to cruise down the center aisle and say “Hey buddy! What do you think the couple is paying me thousands of dollars for?! You are in my way and that means that you going to be in my shots. Do you really want to ruin the photography for the couple by being in every picture?” But I just can’t bring myself to saying anything of the sort! I always wonder if the person I am about to yell at is a close relative or a really important best friend or even a potential client that could be getting married in Hawaii next winter.

The best I can get out is, “Hey, Nice camera. Um… do you think that maybe when the ceremony starts you could find your seat because I really need everyone sitting down so that you aren’t in my pictures.” It is my nice guy method of confrontation. It works 20% of the time. I realize that there are people out there that just wont listen to Mr. Photography no matter how you slice it, but I am just looking for the magic words or secret method to dealing with wedding-guest-turned-paparazzi in a direct, polite and effective manner. So, I need your help. What do you do? Please comment!

Cameron Ingalls, Inc. Orange County Real Life Wedding Photographer