Have you ever been to a church wedding and been amazed by how clueless the wedding photographer is – such as being in very close proximity to the bride and groom and taking pictures indiscriminately as if the end of the world is coming and he’s trying to get in as many pictures as he can?

Regrettably, this kind of scenario has been seen so many times that many Ministers now have tough policies and constraints for wedding photography.  Why has this materialized?  Because part-time photographers have multiplied in the wedding photography business and their lack of know-how has made things difficult for the professional wedding photography field.

Limits could be: (1) no flash photography at all – which can be debilitating in a dark church even if you have quality gear; (2) photography only during the entrance, ring exchange and exit; (3) photography from only one or two spots.

This is quite a serious matter because obviously the church shots are noteable – and can be quite moving.  There are many wonderful Officiants out there who realize that we all have jobs to do and when we work mutually as partners it’s a win-win situation:  The marriage ritual is respected and the photographer captures the photos.  But then other Priests have been scarred by their encounters with amateur photographers so, understandably, many of them will not take any risks when it comes to the wedding photography.

Always speak with the Officiant before the ceremony so you know what not to do and where not to go.  Despite your own personal feelings, this is his/her domain and that should always be respected.  There’s no choice really.  Imagine being castigated by a Priest mid-ceremony – not a pleasant experience for anyone..

Be like a ninja.  So that afterwards, the couple will say you were practically invisible until the registry signing.  That is the ideal.  At the end of the day, most Officiants just want the wedding photographer to have some common sense – do what you must, without stepping on their toes.  As in life, common sense usually comes with shooting a bunch of weddings – and it’s not actually that ‘common’.

Advice for the Bride and Groom:  Take into consideration the wedding photography when finding your ceremony location.  Ask your Priest or Minister about any limitations.  If the pictures of the ceremony are paramount, don’t assume anything because you may be disappointed on the wedding day to realize there are significant restrictions that may hamper your photographer’s ability to effectively capture your ceremony.