The "pro" photog was an amateur while the bride's grandpa was a "pro"

[HankCastello]

As usual, since we live so far out in the boonies, our first meeting with the couple was at the rehearsal.  This was a black couple.  The bride was tall and beautiful, the groom was basketball player tall and Hollywood handsome.  This would be the reverend's first wedding and he seemed a little nervous, and asked me how to do this and that, etc.

As we watched them do the first "run-through", we saw that we had absolutely no angle of the couple's faces.  The stage area was shallow, so we'd have to man cameras from the side aisles, but the way the wedding party was standing on the steps and their angle, would have prevented a camera view of the couple.

I say "would have" because there was an arch with wide columns that absolutely blocked any chance of seeing the couple from where we would have to be positioned.

A little chat with the coordinator, reverend and bride and everything was corrected.  The arch was pushed back a couple feet and the couple brought forward.  The wedding party came down one row of steps and angled more parallel to the stage.  Now we could finally see the couple, at least from my wife's side, the side with the best view of the bride.

I felt that my side wasn't workable and after the processional, which I would shoot over the maid of honor's shoulder from the stage, I would move to the rear where I was told the area would be all mine and I had blocked off with gear bags.

But of course, guests moved the bags and I had to clear them out before setting up.  At least Jean had me covered and we had three static cameras shooting, as well.

I was worried about my wireless Sennheiser getting a good signal from the rear of the chapel, even though it was a small chapel, so I'd setup the receiver onto the digital recorder which was hidden behind the organ (which wouldn't be played) and also had the feed from a mic on a stand for the soloist.

We'd miked the grandpa who was giving the bride away, miked the reverend, the groom and the soloist.  A static camera aimed at the guests had a shotgun to better get reaction audio.

We'd arranged at the rehearsal to get a copy of the cd that would be played for the soloist, so our audio was all covered.

The air conditioning wasn't working in the chapel and it was 85 degrees outside.  Apparently quite aware of the discomfort, the reverend did one super fast wedding ceremony, even skipping the exchange of vows!

After the kiss, I quietly moved outside the chapel and kneeled down on one side of the exit door (after clearing out several camera-toting guests) to shoot the recessional.

Everything went well, but we'd been curious over the photography situation.  We were told that "grandpa" would be doing the photos but then a "pro" photographer hired by the couple also showed up.

"Grandpa" was a retired professional weddding photographer who brought his Hasselblad and wore a conservative suit.  I had a long conversation with this gentleman when I first started setting up.  As it turns out, he and I came from the same neighborhood (but he was ten years older).  This was a man who could talk all day about the subtleties of various shutter types and was a joy to converse with.

The "professional" photographer showed up late, wearing blue jeans, a belly that usually hid his western type belt buckle and a bright blue shirt with tails that demanded freedom.  Watching him work, it was apparent that his photos weren't going to say "professional" any more than his clothing did.

Why, oh why would anyone show such disrespect at a wedding to wear jeans when everyone else in in tuxes or suits?

[On a Roll]

10 bucks says grandpas photos are better

I had a close call with jeans this last weekend (I'll post the story in it's own thread). Basically, my last clean pair of black pants ripped on me as I was going to the church, so my wife had to mend them (I'm all thumbs with sewing). So I went to the church in the AM wearing my nicest dress jeans (which are at least black jeans), and it wasn't until about 40 minutes before the wedding that my wife made it into the church. If I didn't know the couple, I'd have felt super embarrassed! It amazed me, because I've seen photogs like that, who just show up in their jeans, and they expect it to fly.

And good call on reworking the stage. I had a wedding about a month ago where I had to do the same thing. The church didn't allow any cameras near the platform, and the wedding party was clustered so close to the couple that we couldn't see their faces from the side aisles. So the party moved forward, the couple moved back, and there became a perfect window to see through. I love it when a plan comes together.