Bridal Party Members Want Certain Poses Done

<p>How do you handle when bridal party members (not the bride or groom) want certain group<br>

poses done that are NOT what your client hired you to do AND are not something you ever do ?<br>

Do you politely ignore them, make an excuse for not doing it, lie and say you'll it later or ? <br>

Or just cave and do them even though it takes time away from what you NEED to do ?<br>

I know we are their slave for the day, and it's all about making everyone happy, so do we just<br>

suck it up and go with the flow ? </p>

<p>John-who is your contract with?</p>

<p>I did all 3 of those options at a "sweet 16" event recently. If the 'additional work' seemed to be intended for the enjoyment/amusement of the birthday girl or her family I would do it when it could be done and not interfere with the primary work. When it was self-centered (take a picture of me, or my family, alone) then I politely ignored and when further pursued I lied and said I'd get to them later. When they lied and said the family was OK with it, I just said NO. I say go with the flow, but that doesn't mean sucking it up all of the time.</p>

<p>I think this is something that is handled on a per basis. I am always open to new poses or creative ideas. If I think it is stupid or tacky I right away say no. If it is something cool why not? extra sales. You are hired to take photographs. You never know who you may be talking to or if it could be your next customer. tread lightly on this.</p>

<p>Absolutely, Michael. Have to always be thinking this may be a potential new client that could lead to many others. Give them a taste, no pixels will die, get their email address, send them an edited low res and market them. If they are at an event, they are likely in the same socioeconomic status of the client and may want to keep up with the Jonses, especially after they see your work. I agree on the tacky/stupid ideas too, often, its not what you say, but how you say it. Like "that's good but how about this?" One of my favorite photos was requested by a client and was so box store, afterwards I phoned a friend and implored that if I ever took another, just shoot me. With some compositing, it has now become one of my trademark images. It just took some creativity beyond the box store to make it an OOOH image.</p>

As long as "Time," isn't taken away from the B&G go for it. You wiill most likely make some extra money. Never say NO

<p>"As long as "Time," isn't taken away from the B&G..."<br />Exactly and that is the point I wanted to make if my post had been replied to. If the B&G are your clients, you need to make them happy. If, for example, the father of the bride is paying for the pictures, I guess you have to make him happy as well. In either case, whoever it is that you have the contract with (you do have a contract I hope) has to be happy and has to be consulted about this situation; you need their decision. cb</p>

<p>" we want to take a photo of us with our pants down like we're all taking a pee in the bushes".........."sure why not, that's total class".......I did the photo as well as some others that the guys wanted which prevented me from doing what I normally do with the bride and groom......it was getting dark, I had not taken any of the just the couple due to "their" timeline of how the photos were supposed to go.......wedding started half hour late........you know the drill..............<br>

On a scale of 1-10 of photos that I normally get of the bride and groom in great lighting and backgrounds which there were oodles of for this job, i rate it as a 5........awesome old college campus with historic buildings, gardens.........barely used any of it.........drunken maid of honor (sister of the bride) acting like a fool during all of the photos........no one saying anything to her......her delaying things as she loped around in a drunken stupor not listening, whining, wandering off.............oh yeah, great times..........and the guys with all of their major cheese photos.............if they could have been future clients, I would prefer not to work in that environment..........i would pass......... </p>

<p>" we want to take a photo of us with our pants down like we're all taking a pee in the bushes".........."sure why not, that's total class".......I did the photo as well as some others that the guys wanted which prevented me from doing what I normally do with the bride and groom......it was getting dark, I had not taken any of the just the couple due to "their" timeline of how the photos were supposed to go.......wedding started half hour late........you know the drill..............<br>

On a scale of 1-10 of photos that I normally get of the bride and groom in great lighting and backgrounds which there were oodles of for this job, i rate it as a 5........awesome old college campus with historic buildings, gardens.........barely used any of it.........drunken maid of honor (sister of the bride) acting like a fool during all of the photos........no one saying anything to her......her delaying things as she loped around in a drunken stupor not listening, whining, wandering off.............oh yeah, great times..........and the guys with all of their major cheese photos.............if they could have been future clients, I would prefer not to work in that environment..........i would pass......... <br>

As the party bus rolled up to the venue and all of the guys rolled out with beers in hand, well, that was <br>

the start of bigger things to come......"Yeah drunken party time from the git go".........and it was such a classy location designed so elegantly...............sigh.............</p>

<p>Charles, the B/G never objected......I kept on telling them we were "losing the light"......but they just whispered to each other never objecting to what their party members wanted.......it just wasn't what I normally shoot or even have in my samples...........<br>

Oh and Charles, yes I had a contract...been shooting weddings for 25 years plus.....averaging about 40-50 weddings a year with associate shooters........thank you...:) </p>

<p>John This is a totally different senario than your post had suggested. It is always best to give all the details of your question first so we are not left guessing. First let me say there is no one to blame but yourself. No one should prevent you from doing what you are suppose to do and you don't have to ask that question on a post. I am more amused by your story of what happened to you and I feel for you but you look kind of silly asking the question what do I do? You got to bring home the bacon. Don't look for any sympathy here. If you are a pro you got to know how to take control and get the job done and to let drunken people know you have to do your job..</p>

<p>Do what they ask. How hard can it be to take a photo that they want. The bride and groom are the ones that hired you, but the bridal party are your future customers.</p>

<p>Michael, i asked what would YOU guys do.......that's all........im not asking for any sympathy......so Michael, what you do ? And Im so sorry Michale for not making sure I put every little bit of information into my initial question....next time I'll confer with my literary publicist to make sure it's all there for you since I assume I'm posting to some very astute members here......<br>

And why can't I ask that on a post ? Is there a rule that says I can't ? Oh i missed that....it's Michael's rule no 13........."Michael says don't post quesions that Michael says not to post"....... </p>

<p>And Abe, what would you do ? Let's hear all of your infinite wisdom now....I did what I did and I took the photos.........and I doubt that those drunken groomsmen would be my future customers.....so let's not evade the question.....what would YOU do........ </p>

<p>John your a funny guy!! I have been doing weddings for so long that your questions is just common sense to me so I am sorry that I would assume that you had any. </p>

<p>LOL.......typical forum answers........let's bash the poster instead of providing answers to the questions.............lol.......</p>

<p>Nobody bashed you. Michael pointed out that you gave an incomplete scenario, and that giving more information changed the response. The real problem with "typical forum" stuff sometimes is that people don't post with enough details to give a good response. That happened here.</p>

<p>Ok Ok, I am sorry John.. I thought I did answer the question though..Dealing with drunks will always be unpredictable. </p>

<p>Michael, I don't pretend to know all of the answers like you seem to do......I'm so humbled to just be able to post on the same forum as you.</p>

<p>Ok Jeff......you are so right.....</p>

<p>And let's not get into ego measuring about "I've been shooting weddings for so many years"......you youngsters won't even come close...... </p>

<p>You haven't met everyone yet soon you will be bowing in reverence.</p>

<p>John think about your post "Bridal party member wants a certain pose" Three people gave you good answers but then you decided to add more to your story about drunken people wanting to do stupid pictures. Do you really need advice on what you should or should not do or how to handle this? Duh... I am sorry but you ask for it...</p>

<p>That's enough. Thread is locked. Give it a rest.</p>

 

<p><blockquote>MODERATOR NOTE: This thread will remain locked.</p>

<p>If any contributor wishes to begin a new thread to discuss how Wedding Professionals might managed the requests of intoxicated Guests and /or Clients: then a new thread should be begun.</blockquote></p>