As a wedding photographer one of the things I’ve often been told is that we’re not allowed to take a photograph of a particular event, whether it be the signing of the register or even the entire wedding ceremony, but that we can do some fake mock-ups afterwards. That way the couple still have those photos of the event but photography doesn’t interfere with the event itself, win win right? Well we reckon it’s time to put it to the debate and find out just how good a plan it is in is week’s Friday Fight-Out!
In the Red corner, she’s a documentary wedding photographer with the motto “Documenting Without Directing” and therefore fighting to keep it real and avoid the fakes, it’s Dom “The Tog Bride”
In the Blue corner, he’s a wedding videographer who also shoots in a documentary style but having seen the look on his wife’s face upon suggesting she fight the fake side of the argument he’s mysteriously decided fake is best after all it’s Matt ” The Gormless Groom”
Take Pic Vs Fake Pic
Fight!!
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Dom: Wedding Photographs are all about memories and emotions and doing a fake picture just doesn’t have the emotional impact of the real thing! You want to look back at your wedding photos and be able to say “look, that’s when we got married” not “look, that’s the day we had some nice clothes on and pretended to get married”
Matt: But photos aren’t necessarily just about showing you the moment the way it happened, they’re about stirring your own emotions and memories and if it’s not possible to take a picture of the genuine event then having that photo of you dressed up in the right setting with the right decoration can help to stir the genuine memories of the day which might otherwise be forgotten
Dom: most of the time though there is no real justification as to why the real moment can’t be captured, just individual officiants deciding not to allow pictures based, perhaps, on bad past experiences with a different photographer. Usually this can be negotiated though rather than simply agreeing to fake pictures afterwards.
Matt: But for certain moments, such as the signing of the register, most officiants quote legal reasons as to why photos can’t be taken.
Dom: But as this isn’t a rule that is agreed by all registrars etc. the legal argument doesn’t seem to stand up. Most people who object to the picture quote copyright or data protection reasons but this seems very odd as the marriage register is a public document which anyone is entitled to view anyway.
Matt: But with the signing of the register many couples are looking for the traditional shot with the pen in their hands but looking at the camera which has to be posed anyway and is always taken just moments after the real signing so the emotion is still raw and present in the photos.
Dom: having to go back and mock-up moments that have already happened means taking more precious time away from your guests and from getting on and enjoying your day to set them up and take them.
Matt: Sometimes the official photographer isn’t there for the full day and so couples choose to have shots such as them about to cut the cake well before the actual event takes place as they otherwise wouldn’t have any record of it in their wedding albums
Dom: If the wedding photographer isn’t there for the moment then surely faking it doesn’t help, it feels silly holding a knife over the cake but not actually cutting it. The memory is false therefore the moment is false, surely then the couple will prefer the real one even if the quality isn’t the same. Fake smiles don’t win over genuine delight!
Matt: Sometimes it is necessary to have a fake moment otherwise a very sick relative might miss it, grandparents are always a huge fan of the traditional moments and if they missed them they will be most upset!
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So those are our thousands on the subject but we’d love to hear yours! Leave a comment to join the debate and don’t forget to register your vote in our weekly poll!
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