Consider An Unplugged Wedding…

 

This image has been making the blog + fb rounds today {06.18.12}. There have been a lot of mixed responses… here is mine:

As digital cameras and smart phones are increasingly more available it would seem that guests and family members at weddings feel compelled to capture, tweet, and facebook every waking moment of a wedding. I personally feel that this inhibits one’s ability to truly experience the emotional and special nature of the ceremony and formal aspects of the reception. Instead of listening as you exchange your vows; instead of feeling the love pour over the room guests and family are ‘watching’ you through an LCD screen.

As a Professional Photographer I understand that the most CRITICAL moments during a wedding are only seconds long {usually less than 5 seconds to be more precise} and that I NEED every second that that moment lasts to capture it fully. I was hired as a second photographer a few years ago for a beautiful outdoor wedding. Throughout the formal portraits a particular family member would insist on standing in front of the first photographer to take their pictures of poses the photographer designed. During The Kiss they stood up, and REFUSED to move, blocking the first photographer. Fortunately I saw this happening and kept shooting, getting as many shots as possible, knowing that she wasn’t getting a single one {Let me tell you that the feeling you get when this is happening is HORRIFYING!!!}. Increasingly photographs I take during the ceremony, first dance, toast, and cake cutting lack smiling faces of friends and family… they are replaced by faces blocked by cameras and phones {sad + frustrating}. Or even worse, beautiful loving photographs are ruined because a guest insisted on photo-bombing to take their ‘quick pic’.

As a wedding guest I am frustrated by people seated in front of me blocking my view by holding up their cameras and phones. When I attend a wedding I do not take photographs during the ceremony or formal reception activities… Now there are some Nay-Sayers to the unplugged wedding. They say that the photographer can’t be everywhere at once; while that’s true {physically it’s impossible} that excuse honestly only applies to the casual aspects of the reception, at which time I don’t think ANYONE has an issue with a guest taking pictures. The Professional Photographer, however, is working their butt off during the ceremony and formal reception activities {which please remember only happen one at a time} to capture every tiny moment. “The photographer doesn’t know who is really important or what is really special to the Bride + Groom.” As a Professional I take great care to educate myself on who is especially important, who came in from out-of-state, and what details are special to the Bride + Groom.

Most importantly I’d like to say that when a Bride + Groom hire a Professional Photographer is likely wasn’t an easy task. There were several meetings + consultations, planning planning and planning, not to mention that they paid a pretty penny for their Professional Photographer(s) so that their wedding would be captured for them to have wonderful happy memories with… and they invited you so that you could enjoy, share, and experience their commitment and love WITH them. So please have a great time, make some new memories, and leave the work to the pros.

Please also read this EXCELLENT blog post at Offbeat Bride: http://offbeatbride.com/2011/06/unplugged-wedding

What are YOUR thoughts on the Unplugged Wedding trend? Please comment below…

Planning your own Unplugged Wedding? I would love to hear your wedding vision! Contact me for wedding photography details + booking.