Wedding Photographer 2008 blunders - your story

What has been your photographer blunders throughout the 2008 year coverage? I've had 3 rather embarresing

mishaps this year:<p>

 

1) I backed into a rack of votive candles, about 30 of these came crashing to tile floor during a catholic ceremony just

before the bridesmaides were to be escorted down the isle.

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2) At a reception, and just before the cake cutting, i was doing close up shots of different parts of the cake. Not

realizing the protrusion of my 550EX speedlight (I had it rotated 25 degrees to the right), i stabbed the cake with my

flash (yes, i had cake mix all over my speedlight). Not good....however, no one noticed it was me and needless to

say, i kept my mouth shut.

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3) This past weekend, i was getting into position for the toast. For this paticular shot, i wanted to do a wide angle

and i just happen to have my tri-pod next to me. I mounted my full gear (1DMIIN, Speedlight, and Sigma 10-20) on

the tripod and thought it had "locked". I took my hands off my gear and in an instant, the entire unit came crasing to

the concrete floor from about 5 1/2 feet high. Now i know what happens when my equipment takes a straight hit on

the lens......it sounded like a bomb went off and shattered into about 100 pieces. All eys on me again. After a

temperory pause of tring to figure out what happened, they preceeded to do their toast. Amazingly, although the lens

was completely destroyed, neither the camera or flash unit had a single scratch on it. Although the 550's battery

door did open and the battery's shot out like missles.

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I hope that's it for the year; i've had enough! Your stories?<p><b>Moderator: This is the Wedding Forum. Please do not post your "general" photo blunders here.</b>

If you do enough weddings stuff happens. The last wedding I ever did was on a beautiful day, nice friendly bride, and big

crowd. I changed lenses on my MF to go wide inside a beautiful chapel near the sea and blew a whole role of film because I

forgot to change the fstop on the new lens. I stepped on the bride's ten foot train on the way out. It didn't tear thankfully. I told

her I screwed up and we got everybody together and reshot the role outside in the church garden. On the way to meet her on a

cliff over the ocean, while carrying three cameras, I dropped my 70-200 2.8 on a cement sidewalk. After striking the slab on the lens

hood it bounced about two feet recoiling from the hit. I truly got some really nice pictures of that long train and statuesque bride

on the cliff. The 70-200 survived and is still in use. Being she was so nice, and paid me so well, and it was my last wedding

after seven years of doing them, I gave her the negatives and the rights to the photographs. I never let negs out before that.

Call me clumsy because I was. I have always carried liability and replacement value insurance. I need it. I never shot a

wedding with an assistant. I sure needed one that day. Michael I certainly identify with you.

Another thought. I worked hard to develop rapport between myself and my customers. I define customers as everyone at the

wedding but most especially the B&G and close family. When I screwed up over those seven years I was almost always forgiven

and I got paid. In a larger sense, because that bride and I had a rapport she got good pictures because she responded well and

warmly to me. At least part of that was because she was very comfortable with me and I with her. Monte Zucker was a master at

that kind of rapport and I began to learn that in one of his wedding classes many years ago. I certainly never reached his mastery of his clients,

however.

Roll of film. Role is a part in a play. I told you I needed insurance.

I certainly empathize with you Michael, but those are some pretty serious blunders for one year. I'm sure with each one, you've learned your lesson to be more careful and pay closer attention, so I won't chastize you too much. Those lessons were painful enough. I've had my own to learn from as well.

 

I had just bought a very lightly used camera body (to match the one I already have), and got a great deal on it recently. I was pulling it out of the camera bag last month on an evening shoot, and almost dropped it. I caught it in my hands, but as I gripped it, my thumb knuckle squeezed the LCD too hard and killed the display. Thank goodness I had the other camera handy. A $500 repair bill later, I now have LCD protectors on the screens, the kind that are micro thin glass, so they're very stiff. My purchase went from a "great deal" to a "great deal" of money.

 

Last Saturday, I had a strobe with battery pack on a stand, extended about 5 feet high on an engagement shoot downtown. I didn't extend the stand legs very wide, because I was moving around with the couple a lot, and didn't want to be tripping over them. Of course, I set it down and it toppled over, battery door popping off and batteries spilling out everywhere. I got the door back on and there was no damage, but it could have cost me a flash! I now extend the legs all the way.

 

Here's another: Anglican wedding, shooting formals on the sunny front lawn of the church. I remove my Lightsphere with amber dome and lay it on the grass. Later, as the ceremony is progressing (no photography allowed) I realize it's missing. I sneak outside darting around looking for it, not to be found. Go back in and wait for the ceremony to end, knowing I'm gonna be stuck with ceiling bounce without it. Ceremony over, guests all over the front lawn, and I bump into the priest who sees me frantically asking around and looking for something. He had kindly hid the thing behind a post at the office next door, not knowing what it was. Sigh of relief, on to the reception!

 

One more: Catholic church wedding with reception at local garden club. Bouquet toss to bridesmaids from upper deck down to the waiting girls below. I'm trying to get in position quickly to frame up the bride, the flying bouquet, and the girls with a wide angle lens. Some lady is standing right where I need to be at that moment. Without turning to see who she was, I politely ask her if I can trade places with her. She gets mad and stomps off as I move into position and crack off the shots. About 2 minutes later, she comes back and blows me out in front of the whole party...it was the bride's mother! Apparently, she had been drinking a bit and going through some life-threatening health issues few knew about, and it hit her the wrong way. I apologized profusely, told her I didn't even see who she was, I was just trying to do my job. She yelled that all she wanted to do was see who caught her daughter's bouquet, etc. and chided me like I was mere papparazzi. I felt awful, of course, and her husband and family came over and apologized to me profusely, trying to get her to back down. She sarcastically told them "I don't need you to apologize for me". The bride also apologized to me, and told me not to worry about it, that her issues were nothing for me to be concerned about, and that I was just doing my job. I still found this traumatic for all, but went back to doing my job, and otherwise it all turned out great. I'm still great friends with the bride and groom.

 

Apart from that, I've been pretty lucky this year. I haven't knocked over any burning candles, although I did come close to setting my strap on fire with one!

At this point in the year, i have to blame fatigue :( I've shot 31 weddings thus far since February, with at least 310 hours on site. In that respect, i imagine things could have been worse. I could most definately pay more attention, but after this last deal, i'm thankful i'm not paying for a lot more! Now it's time to use that insurance company i've been paying into :)

I would have loved to of seen that step on the brides train Dick. I can only visualize the whiplash that could have happened. That's too funny. How did you not know who the mother of the bride was Steve? Those ladies are either your best briends or your worst nightmare. I try to quickly find out who they are and either warm up to them or stay as far away as possible from them :) I had one that absolutly would not leave me alone earlier in the year. She kept following me around telling me what to shoot. After about the 10th time, i took her into a room and explained the way i work and politely asked her to stop. I told her i understood her position and she appologized and said that she understood mine. Never know what your going to get in that area.

The only one I can think of is when I mistook the mother of the groom for a florist. This was because she was walking around in casual clothes asking for a step ladder so the arch could be trimmed.

 

Otherwise, I feel for you Michael. That's why I am ultra careful around the cake and when I have the couple's drinking glasses or rings. I've only dropped a lens once, years ago, and after that I forced myself to slow down, particularly when handling equipment and especially when I am in a hurry. I also look behind me when I even think about backing up.

Michael, I feel your pain. I have over 30 weddings under my belt this year and I have had my shared of mishaps.

The one that is still very clear in my mind is when I was shooting an outside garden wedding, with a reception

to follow at a different location.

 

I had pulled up next to the groom and wanted to get some shots of him and his groomsmen interacting with each

other. I seen an opportunity to get some great candids so I grabbed my camera w/lens, speedlite w/lightsphere,

and one 4 GB card. I slammed my van door closed and realized that I locked my keys in the van. I did not panick

until I realized that the wedding was about to start in 15 minutes. I knew the wedding was going to be short and

the reception was 20 minutes away. I called my wife to see if she had the spare keys and she did not. She had

to rush home to get the spare keys (20 minutes away) and rush back (15 minutes back). Lucky for me, I had taken

out everything I need to shoot the wedding. Also, the Bride and Groom wanted to leave in the Limo and double

back for the formals after the guest left for the reception. This bought me a few more minutes. As the Limo was

coming back, my wife arrived with the spare keys, and I was able to finish the formals and make it to the

reception without anyone knowing the difference. God was on my side that day.

That is also why I have a spare car key in wallet--the one that is always on me at all times...except when I forget it :^)

Michael, before i stumbled into the wedding business I flew airplanes, investigated aircraft accidents and managed

aviation programs. What I found out very early, after having the living hell scared out of me and investigating quite a

few accidents,that some damn fine people make some terrible mistakes. Me included at least the part about the

mistakes. I lived through mine. Others I know didn't. I was an avid reader of aircraft accident reports hoping to learn

something that would keep me alive. Sharing mistakes is a way to help others keep from making the same ones.

Although not near as critical as avoiding an aircraft accident I hope I have prevented others from stepping on bridal

trains. She did stop in her tracks and I just felt awful for about thirty seconds until she smiled and we moved on. I don't

know how many times I changed fixed focus lenses on my Bronicas. Probably in the thousands. I knew better but

the older I get the more my brain cramps. I really appreciate your sharing this. It is a counter to some of these egos I

see here in PN. Swallowing some pride and shelving your ego and sharing has made an interesting thread that caused me to think and

showed a little of your human side. IMO brides really need to see that. Dick

Arnold

I haven't had any incidents while shooting a wedding this year, however the engagement shoot I had today left me with a sore ankle for at least half an hour. We were shooting downtown around some colourful trees when I backed up to get a wider shot and instantly came toppling to the ground - I had fallen in a groundhog hole :O. My instinct was to save the camera, so it never touched the ground :D. As tactfully as possible, I recovered and continued on with the shoot.

Nadine, I need to take your advice. Thanks!

I constantly drop lenses and 'catch' them mid flight with my leg - which really just softens the blow. this is why lens hoods are great.

 

I constantly drop flashes - I probably break 3 flashes a year from dropping them. gets expensive!

 

I was photographing a hindu ceremony recently (a few days before the actual wedding), and space was very tight, and I knocked over an oil lamp!

 

I have definitely stepped on train's, but not during the ceremony. yikes.

oh yeah. I don't use end caps as I shoot - I just put the lenses rear element down into my think tank belt bags. makes changing super easy.

 

well, sometimes I forget to put the end caps on the lenses for transport...and I sometimes just keep them in teh belt. this summer, I put my belt into the truck a little too hard and destroyed the rear element on my 85mm 1.2 L. OUCH. not cheap to replace!!

I have learned to really double check all my equipment before I leave for the end of the night. I have left 2 stepladders

behind this year. Not so bad. Bad was leaving my 70-200 2.8 in its black case under the cake table and calling the venue in

a panic the next morning to be told they didn't have it. Turns out the bride and groom took it for me when they realized I had

left it.

Not my blunder actually but.... everyone was outside for cocktailing when I went in to shoot the room/cake. I approached

the cake and got a shot from the front, when I noticed flames. I walked around to the side I noticed that some ribbon on the

table had been set on fire by a candle and the whole back of the cake table was quickly catching on fire. I was standing

there with just my equipment and could only yell for help. Band members who were carrying in instruments grabbed

napkins and swatted at the cake table before the fire got out of control. The room was filled with smoke but the cake

survived.

Once in a small catholic church, which I had previously duly inspected, there was the chance to climb up on a small wooden balcony to get a bird's eye view of the gathering with a 20 mm. I got up during the first hymn as the crowd entered and sat down. I was now descending the super-steep ladder closed by a wooden door when the music ended, in the wake of the sermon to begin. It was right at that moment that my 20 mm that I had just removed fell of from the bag, bounced on the step and banged against the door, causing a booming sound in the absolute silence. I guess you can figure out my embarassment. I know it's very amateurish to say, but do always close the zippers in your bag.

I arrived just on time to a well known Czech photographer's daughter's wedding, which was on the largest square in

Europe, I mean very large in at least ten minutes to cross, half a dozen tram stops and one metro station, and I had

to find the correct building as the Taxi driver did not speak much English, or did not know where the town hall was.

 

I was invited as I knew a friend of the family and I was living in his studio that summer in Prague, in fact, my rent was

paying for the honeymoon.

 

As a favor, I brought my Fuji RF and a roll of HP5, and while walking in to the building, I saw the bride and groom in

an archway near the entrance, illumated beautifully by streaming light, so I shot a few frames. Great stuff, arches in

the distance, I mean, portfolio shot, hang on the wall image.

 

That was when I realized that there were weddings just about every half hour (the law says you basically have to have

a civil union and they are set up like clockwork on any given Saturday), and this was not the right bride. Clue was

there was another bride coming out of the building.

 

Someone had to be the right one and it follows someone had to be the wrong one, and neither might be the one I

was looking for, which turned out to be the case.

 

I finally realized where the wedding was being held, ran upstairs, rushed in, cut in front of the bridal party just starting

to enter from the doorway, walked quickly down the aisle with the music playing in front of the bride and her father,

turned to grab a good full length shot of the bride and father, and sat next to my friends. Bit of laughter, got a few

more shots, and some nice portraits afterwards, guy was one of the best known photographers in the country, and

did not have a pro photograher. I souped the film in his studio, had a couple of nice A4 size prints made, and gave

them to my friend to pass them to the family.

 

I always felt badly that I did not have time to find the bride and groom I had shot in the outside arch to give them a

print.

 

Probably the closest I am going to come to getting married myself.

 

Am pretty sure people will remember me from this wedding.

 

Not really from 2008, but not likely to occur again. J

(For Michael Church, above) Michael, I did know who the bride's mother was, but in the ruckuss and confusion of that moment, there were folks running all around me, and I didn't make eye contact with her, and it was outdoors at night on an open deck, so visibility wasn't good. I just saw a person there in my peripheral for an instant, and asked if I could switch places with her. When she stormed off, I glanced over, and realized it was her mother, but didn't realize what was going on with her, or why she got so mad, why couldn't she have just changed her position a bit, and she could have seen everything. She was just in a hypersensitive state. Just a blunder for which I really had no control.

No mishaps really - just a missed setting because I was in too much of a hurry to get some shots.

 

It was the first wedding with my D3 and I had been inside the church getting a set of readings and from a variety of

positions. It was a bright day, and sunlight was streaming in through the windows, totally messing with optimum

exposures from the altar which was dark - anyway, I had set the camera to 'M' for that setup in order to get the faces

properly exposed and proceeded to take a breather.

 

The wedding party arrived, and we decided that since it was such a nice day we'd do some casual stuff out in the church

gardens. Well, without thinking (first mistake) I began to pose and shoot the groups - all in all about 24 exposures.

 

After the wedding, while going through everything, I found that this particular set of photos was totally overexposed - blown

out skies and highlights. I had not changed the manual settings from the church exposure tests, and I rarely chimp after I

get the first exposures set the way I like them. Anyway, shooting RAW was able to help somewhat, but I was only able to

save about half of them - at least to a level that I was willing to show.

 

Lesson learned - never assume - I thought I had learned that one a long time ago......

 

--Rich

This story didn't happn to me, but rather the photographer shooting my brother's wedding. We were taking the bridal party photos before the wedding. The photographer stooped down to take some candid shots of the flower girl and ring bearer and as soon as he did, his pants split from back to front. It was rather funny, but I felt bad for the guy. It must have happened to him before because he went on without stopping. Simply tucked a towel in the back of his pants and continued to shoot. Luckily his wife was mere minutes away from the wedding and was able to drop some off to him before the cerimony. I will never forget that though. Guess it pays to pack an extra pair of pants though!

One other. Not so much a blunder but satisfaction. The bride really wanted pictures of the ceremony on an outdoor wedding by

a Maine harbor. I asked the minister before if I could shoot(without flash) the ceremony. He was really rude and righteous in the

denying me and I skulked off. It so happens there was a big bush which was up a small hill from the ceremony. Being at the

time also a newspaper photographer(anything to get the picture) I put my 70-200 2.8 lens on and crawled into the bush and laid out flat poking the

lens through the leaves. I shot

over 70 pictures of the ceremony for which the bride was extremely grateful. The minister never knew. Some people did see this guy with a big

white lens

in a suit untangling himself from the bush but the customer comes first in my mind. I also got the recessional from the bush. I

was shooting right down the aisle. Another client asked me to shoot the ceremony in a Catholic church. I asked the Priest and

he said I could shoot a couple. As I was shooting the two he allowed me he got mad and in a stage whisper told me to get out of

there while waving his hand in the direction he wanted me to go. I left but came back to photographed the B&G leaving the

church. I felt badly but the bride was absolutely delighted with the two pictures. I usually got along with officiants very well but I

don't think that Priest liked me very much. I really did try not to make people angry. She was a lovely bride and made me look

good as a photographer.

sometimes when you get too comfortable with the situation that's when you make mistakes. :-)

Not my blunder, but one from the official photographer at a wedding of a friend.

 

During the reception which was at a not so brightly lit banquet hall with low ceilings, I thought how difficult it

would be to get great shots. I noticed that the official photographer, although very professional and

comfortable interacting with the subjects, was checking his camera's lcd a LOT. He had an assistant who

was constantly repositioning a remote flash around as directed. Unfortunately, I could tell that it was a

simple light slave unit that was constantly being triggered by everyone else's camera in the room.

 

I really felt bad for the guy, but felt worse for my friend, so I brought out my camera (Canon D60 with 50mm

1.8 lens and flash), but instead of capturing the exact moments while all the flashes were going off in a

flurry, I maintained my framing of the shot and fired the shutter immediately after the flurry. It meant

missing the exact moments, but at least the exposures were correct.

 

Sure enough, a couple of weeks after the wedding, the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon, found

out the photographer's blunder and sent out a mass plea e-mail for pictures by guests taken during the

wedding and reception.

 

Lesson painfully learned: know your tools before you commit to use them.