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Although most of the weddings I photograph require 8-10 hours of coverage, there is the occasional smaller event that slips onto my calendar. I just love intimate weddings! On a fall day last year, Kathy and Steve gathered their families and very best friends at the Madison Club downtown to witness and celebrate their marriage. ...
Dear blog: I miss you. 2012 was a busy, crazy, nutso kind of year. My business did a LOT of growing, learning, changing, morphing, and more growing- as did I. As the dust settles and 2013 comes into better focus, I’m getting back on the blog wagon. YES! I swear! Just you watch. I’m returning...
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In the three years I’ve been in business as Red Gecko Studio, I must say- I’ve gotten used to some very Madison-esque weddings. I love them. I also love getting the occasional opportunity to leave my comfy surroundings and shoot in new locations. Such was the case with Dana & Jason’s engagement session in their...
On a sunny Saturday in July, I joined my friends & clients Matt and Gabby for their beautiful wedding day. They had a perfect day for their intimate affair: the skies were blue, the temperature was bearable, and downtown Madison was a-buzzing with excitement. It wasn’t long ago that we had been together to shoot...
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That bridal portrait is stunning…This couple was smiling in ever picture such a happy day for them!
OK, everyone, this post is not necessarily for my brides & grooms. It’s for YOU: the one with the shiny new camera. Yup, I know you’re excited. Trust me- I totally get it. When I have a new piece of equipment, I cannot WAIT for my first opportunity to make it shine! For those of...
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I agree and think that photography should be a blend on candid shots as well as staged photos. Both have a place and it should be up to the photographer to decide what method they feel expresses their art form. Even digital versus file can be a hot topic, now more than ever with the internet and all of the photography blogs available.
I think that if someone says a comment like that, it may be that photography as a whole is divided into pure art, and the need to shoot photos for money as a job in order to live. If we all had funs to keep us going, I think the commercial aspect would change and photographers all over would produce much different shots than they do now because they have to promote and please the client paying for the shoot.
Love this post…especially the photos you used to illustrate it! Made me smile and laugh throughout. Cheers:)
great post! i’ve been sharing it all over the place because it’s so relevant and so eloquently written =]
I’ve reposted this in quite a few places – friends facebook pages, the works. I’ve got a litany of weddings coming up, with of course a few enthusiasts that don’t know the etiquette, per say. Thanks, once again! <3
Thanks Krystal, so glad you liked it!!
I love this article! So much so I linked to it on my blog….. http://krystalmuellenberg.squarespace.com/home/2010/8/20/odds-ends.html. Thanks so much for writing it up! You rock!
Kudos, again. 
Thought I’d provide a track-back for you.
http://basemanstudios.blogspot.com/2010/08/gwc-guest-with-camera-neenah-wedding.html
GREAT ARTICLE!
I think the most important thing that I think guests need to keep in mind is respect for the bride and groom, respect for the venue/service, and respect for the professional trying to do their job.
Mandie – great post, love it!!
Thank you EVERYONE! I am so glad this is proving useful and relevant to so many people.
Jenn- you are right! That is another thing that interferes with portraits and other shots. I’ve also seen the little red autofocus or red-eye reducer light from point and shoot cameras show up on my bride & groom’s faces. Not a good thing!
Great post Mandie! Another thing to keep in mind as well is if your flash on your camera is pointed at or interfering with the photographer’s line of sight – I’ve had a few cases where half of the cake cutting or first dance photos have flash spots from guests cameras that interfere with the photo. Overall I agree with you, we love that guests love photography as well! Well said!
AMAZING article. Great points, I agree with them all!!!! I am so going to share this!
Great post… Hope you don’t mind if I re-post!
Great article. I want to share this with everyone, especially clients. I don’t know how many weddings I have shot as a second shooter or primary photographer and this has happened!!
Great post, Mandie! Educational for guests and photographers alike!
GREAT BLOG POST! I will actually be at Liz and Zach’s wedding as the maid of honor on September 11th. I’m excited to meet another professional photographer! Although I may bring my camera I am going to be a guest 99% of the time See you soon!
Very nice article. I agree with every point you have made. I do agree that guests with cameras are expected and we all hope they love their pictures they take, but this is a polite reminder of how respect can be mutual!
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by Mandie Haberman
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