asking the officiant to "move it"

[eliza_beth]

<p>Does anyone else politely ask the officiant to move out of the way before the "first kiss". I do sometimes, but I always feel weird about it; no one wants to be told how to do their job! And they've all been doing it a lot longer than I have. But I hate it when they get in the shot. Sure we can "fake it" later, but... that's not my ideal way. It's called the "first" kiss for a reason! (BTW, they kissed long enough that he eventually moved out of the shot)</p><div></div>

[maximphotostudio]

<p>Eliza, my preference is to not say anything, at the time of the event. If I knew that the officiant was going to be standing in front, as was the case at yesterday's wedding, then I would have said something. I have recreated the first kiss, the ring exchange and the lighting of unity candles when the B/G were not in the right positions after the ceremony.<br>

<img src="http://www.maximphotostudio.net/photo.net/officiant.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[betty_lowrey2]

<p>To me, it's just part of the ceremony. I usually shoot the first kiss from about 1/2 way down the aisle to get a large, wide view of it. The officiant doesn't even factor in my view. It's about the couple. I've never had an officiant stand in front of the couple.</p>

[eliza_beth]

<p>Max, wow! I would have been freaking to find out he would be between you and the couple the whole time!</p>

[laura_kamler]

<p>This is a common option that I've seen more than once. I'm not sure why anyone would want to do it. They think it's because they will face the congregation, but in reality you get to see much less like this than if they stand in the best configuration which is the standard, pastor in back, couple faces each other. <br /><br />Now to open a whole new can of worms. I almost always ask the couple how they will be standing well ahead of time. If they say they wanted to do the above (pastors back to the congregation) I talk them out of it. I remind them that no one will get to see the ring exchange, or them holding hands and that depending on where someone is sitting, that their faces will be blocked from the view of their friends and family, the video camera and the still camera. If they stand, facing each other most of the time they are up, folks will get to see a lot more of what they came to share with the couple. Every single time I tell a couple this, they change things immediately. I think there are times when we as professionals can politely assist the couple in making decisions about the way things are to go that they will thank us for over and over AND it makes our job sooooo much easier.<br /><br />And to the original poster, who cares, they are always gonna be there, go wider and don't worry about it. You will get plenty of them kissing. This guy was just really close and there is nothing in the background to tie him to the ceremony so it looks a little weird. Don't worry about it. It was the way things were, or as Walter Cronkite would have said "...and that's the way it is...".</p>

[maximphotostudio]

<p>Betty, maybe it's me, but here is another example where the officiant factored into my view. I was using my 300mm 2.8 L IS to get a closer view, but to no avail. I was surprised because this is arguably the most beautiful <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter_in_Chains_Cathedral">church in Cincinnati</a> . Eliza, you may not want to scroll down, because these images are very graphic and may freak you out. ;)<br /> <img src="http://www.maximphotostudio.net/photo.net/officiant2.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <img src="http://www.maximphotostudio.net/photo.net/officiant3.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <img src="http://www.maximphotostudio.net/photo.net/officiant4.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p>If you're close enough to tell the officiant to "move it" then you're too close to the ceremony and have now become part of the ceremony. Move back and shoot what happens....recreate later if you'd like. Many officiants are already upset with photographers, let's not give them any more ammunition for legitimate gripes.</p>

[nuzumphoto]

<p>Completely agree with David S. on this one. Don't be part of the ceremony, shoot it as it happens, and recreate it later if need be. If the officiant is behind, lower angles can help eliminate the officiant from the first shot posted.</p>

[betty_lowrey2]

<p>Ditto David.<br>

Let's not be the "bad egg" that ruins wedding photography in churches for a lot of people.<br>

Yesterday's wedding the officiant stood to the side, leaving full view of the bride and groom. I wanted to hug her!</p>

[daverhaas]

<p>I've never been close enought to tell the officant to "Move It!" nor would I if I were. Most have been doing this long enough to know that they need to move out of the way.</p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

[picturesque]

<p>So far, no one else asks the officiant to move--I don't either. If it was as bad as the examples above, I'd just shoot as best I can (different angles?) and re-create later. I agree with everyone else who thinks the wedding photographer should not have a speaking role in the wedding. I also mostly shoot the kiss wider, to include the BM and MOH, perhaps, because they have some fun reactions sometimes--the kids too. The wider perspective would probably not seem to strange (your original example), re the officiant's face poking through.</p>

[eliza_beth]

<p><em>I've never been close enought to tell the officant to "Move It!"</em><br>

<em>If you're close enough to tell the officiant to "move it" then you're too close</em><br>

<strong>Just wanted to clarify, I do not talk <em>during</em> the ceremony! When the officiant shows up, we say "hi" and talk a bit. Sometimes I say, "I'm not sure if this is something you already do, but would it be possible for you to step aside as you announce "you may kiss the bride"? My posting title of "move it", was a joke. Sorry if my actual post didn't clarify enough. Everyone's quoting "move it" instead of what I actually asked, "Does anyone else politely ask...". But anywho, I guess shooting wide is the answer:) Thanks!</strong></p>

<p> </p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p><em>If you're close enough to tell the officiant to "move it" then you're too close.....</em><br>

<em></em><br>

I still think if you're close enough to say "anything" to the officiant, then you're still way to close to the ceremony......I also don't worry about the officiant being in the way of the shot, he or she is in their position and "it is what it is".</p>

 

[eliza_beth]

<p><em> I still think if you're close enough to say "anything" to the officiant, then you're still way to close</em><br>

I didn't say I was close enough to talk, where did this come from?</p>

[picturesque]

<p>Glad you made that clear, Eliza Beth--you didn't say 'when' you politely asked the officiant if he could move out of the way at the kiss, and with the title, I guess we all assumed it was during the ceremony. Makes sense now, and if this has worked for you in the past, I'd say keep doing it. I'd worry that the officiant would forget so you'd be back to square one. I've had officiants forget to do the candle lighting with the couple, which, in the film days, caused me much grief as I was caught on a tripod, and/or in the balcony, expecting the candle lighting when the officiant suddenly send the couple down the aisle for the recessional.</p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p><em>"I didn't say I was close enough to talk, where did this come from?"</em><br /><em></em><br />It came from your original quotes........... So, now if I understand what you're asking is: Does anyone ever ask the officiant, prior to the ceremony, (cause I never talk during the ceremony) if he'd mind moving out of the shot while they do their final kiss?" In which case the answer is still "no". If you ask this question 20-30 minutes prior to the moment, he or she is likely not to remember your request and they'll just do whatever they are accustomed to anyway. BTW, in your post you state: <em>"But I hate it when they get in the shot...."</em> Actually, technically, they are not getting in the shot, that's their position and they are the one doing the officiating.</p>

[betty_lowrey2]

<p>I gotta agree with David on this one. First of all, I do talk to the officiant before the ceremony but it's only to introduce myself and clarify with them if they have any rules or guidelines for me. Especially in a situation like church. The priest/rev/rabbi/minister is part of the day, I've just accepted that they will be in the shot sometimes.</p>

[neilambrose]

<p>There are three people in a marriage ceremony. I would aim to capture them all.</p>

<p>Don't overlook the fact that in many cases the choice of officiant and their relationship to the couple is important and very worthy of documenting. I'd work on how best to frame the scene, not how to exclude one person from it.</p>

[brad_smith8]

<p>Could you politely drop a hint to him/her by saying, "Will you be directly behind the couple for the kiss?"</p>

[JohnWebster]

<p>Sometimes it is another "professional" messing up a shot and preventing a view the guests should have. Checking with the video person and the minister ahead of time will give you a sense of how important they think it is for the still photographer and the guests to view important moments of the ceremony. That means minister, video, and still photographer should agree to not hinder the view of the guest in witnessing important moments of the wedding ceremony. The minister has the final say but most ministers are understanding when the issue is discussed calmly ahead of time.</p><div></div>