Etiquette for the Professionals...

[digitalmemories4]

I have a question for the professional photographers and event planners.
At a recent event the "client" hired 2 photographers and 2 event planners. Of course the event planners had met with the client before hand and all agreed on most situaions. However, at the time of the event there was total confusion as to who had the say in situations that occured during the event. The photographers were acting like each other were "stealing" the other one's shots. Without having to bother the client during the event everyone did their own "thing" and I feel it was a disaster. Although interesting and informative to watch, I felt bad for the client who was totally unaware of the fiasco!
Has anyone else had the problem of 2 photographers or professionals covering one event? How would you handle it?

[DW PHOTOGRAPHY]

I did a wedding that had me the photographer and then there was a video person. But he also wanted to take still pictures for his video. he kept telling the wedding party to look at him and not me, he had them change postions... It was bad. I told him nicely that I was the photographer and if he wanted to get pictures thats fine but the wedding party doesn't know who to listen to. So let me do what I have to than you can pictures after me ok! And from that point on everything went smoothly.

[robindepaula]

OH MY GOSH!! That is a horrible nightmare come true for any wedding professional! I've never encountered that type of situation, and hope that I never will. I guess you just have to use some type of tact & matter of factly ask the bride what she wishes for you to do. Why would a bride hire 2 of each . . . that is pure chaos!!

[DW PHOTOGRAPHY]

I know I am so glad that I worked in retail for 10yrs. That gave me great experience on how to cool, claim , and collected in moments like that.

[affiance-events]

I don't understand why the bride hired 2 of each. Was it that big a wedding? Anyway, since she also hired to event planners, it should have been up to the event planners to call the photographers to let them know that there were going to be 2 photographers and have the photographers get in touch with each other to work out the issue of picture taking.

Thank God the brided didn't know of the caous that was going on. Being an event planner, I stay in touch will all of the vendors that are involved with that event and I email or fax them a final timeline so that we are all on the same page the day of the event.

Angela

[wedbyjean]

I have a clause in my letter of agreement that states: Only coordinator(s) provided by Weddings From The Heart shall be permitted to assume any coordination duties, including day-of services. Any other person(s) (professional or otherwise) attempting to assume any such duties will be considered a breach of contract and all representatives of Weddings From The Heart shall cease work and there will be no refund.

This is not that I fear someone else "stealing my thunder" but to avoid the chaos and ensure that what goes on is to my clients' desires.

I'm surprised that the event planners on this event didn't clarify with the two photographers PRIOR to the event and iron out all of the logistics of what they were to be doing, who was going to get what shots, etc. And make sure the photographers contacted each other prior as well.
Regardless of the size of the event, hiring two of something is so unwise and ridiculous. It's just asking for trouble. If they fel they really needed the extra personnel, hire another photographer from the same studio, and contract the event planner to have additional assistant(s).

Digitalmemories4, were you a vendor at this event or a guest? Just wondering.

Jean Neuhart
Weddings From The Heart

[digitalmemories4]

As to your response above, yes, I was just a guest. Thank God! Another thing I noticed at this event (which happened to be a 50th Wedding Anniversary & Family Reunion combined) was the poor Disc Jockey! It was obvious he was clued in ahead of time and had the appropriate music (big band, etc.) and very tastefully threw in a few "new" tunes to satisfy the younger crowd but the poor guy was overwhelmed by "suggestions" of Rap (!) and more rock music! He was very cordial but he wasn't treated well by the guests, I must say! But the couple celebrating was very happy and satisfied with the celebration so all turned out great. It's just that since I started my own photography business I pay more attention to these things than I did when I was always just a "guest". It was definately a good learning experience!

[robindepaula]

It's just that since I started my own photography business I pay more attention to these things than I did when I was always just a "guest". It was definately a good learning experience!

I'm the same way - I tend to look at things at a professionals prespective now that I've started my own photography business, even if I'm just a guest at the wedding / event.

[wedbyjean]

Sometimes it's hard to attend as a guest. Since I've been in business I notice things that need to be done, fixed, etc., without trying to, and part of me wants to jump right in and do what I would normally do when on the job. Luckily, most of our friends & family are already married, so there aren't many opportunity to have to sit back, enjoy, and keep my mouth shut.

Jean

[babytobride]

I have never heard of such a practice! It seems like the only reason you would hire a second anything would be because you don't think your first hire would do an adequate job. I would think this would create un-needed tension, but that's just me!

[831Photography]

We actually stipulate in our contracts that we are to be the EXCLUSIVE photographers for the day. (We allow family to take pictures obviously, but we don't want to have that situation with another pro.) We do offer a secondary photographer if they want to add that on. Then it is our people working together so they are more in sync with each other.

I have never been in that situation myself though. Sorry that you had to deal with that! It sounds like a mess. Hopefully it worked out and everyone got great stuff!

Steph

[mrsmatrimony]

Been there done that .
In addition to my firm I am the coordinatorfor a 7000 member church and act as the Church's coordinator. I often have to work with another coordinator and have done well in coming to a meeting of theminds. It's always about the couple and I get it worked out before the event so everyone knows what to do.

I also have worked a number of events where because of a celebrity factor I have had multiple photographers and videographers and even caterers working on one event. It all gets handled ahead of time. And i see to it that there aren't too many chiefs. each vendor has a hot button and we all acknowledge that and allow them to get all they need to fulfill their individual contracts.

[Katherine Smith]

I have had the same problem with videographers and photographers vieing for the perfect picture. I had a beautiful Grand Exit with 36 Champagne fireworks fireing off as the limosine exited the gates of the mansion... just as the viedographer was geting incredable shots of the fireworks going off.. the photographer stepped directly in front of him, and ruined the shot ~ never to be recovered.
I have solved this problem, however and it makes my life as a planner so much better! I recommend only photography services that offer videography as well. This way the photographer and videographer work for the same company, and as a team. I have beem using the same "teams" for over ten years and it has made it smooth sailing through each and every event!

[WebLady]

I used to be a wedding photographer myself and I have had many problems with videographers getting in my way but only once with another photographer. I finally found this one videographer that worked well with me and I always referred him :wink:

There was always grandma or "Aunt Sue" with a camera that I would have politely tell to shoot before or after me and stay out of the way. But once I did a wedding where the grooms mother hired a photographer to take candids and their special requests ... (the brides mother hired me for the whole thing) it was awful, I felt like the other photographer was trying to out do me or something, he was all in my way the whole day and even stepped in front of me during the first dance!

I should have said something up front as soon as I got there but I didn't want to make a big deal about it on the wedding day. It was actually in the contract that no other photographer could be there. When I later asked about it, the brides mother swore she didn't know until the rehearsal.

I ended up getting most everything I had to get though. The bride made a few comments about how they wish I had gotten a couple of shots that the other photographer got and I had to remind them about how he shouldn't have been there.

The grooms mother started this when she sent me a 4 page list of special requests 2 weeks before the wedding and I told her she would have to cut it down a bit or hire me to come in earlier than planned or stay later. (keep in mind that is was the brides mother that was paying me) So I guess she was mad at me and decided to hire someone herself.

This kind of 'drama' is one of the reasons I am glad I don't do this anymore :wink:

[robindepaula]

I have had the same problem with videographers and photographers vieing for the perfect picture. I had a beautiful Grand Exit with 36 Champagne fireworks fireing off as the limosine exited the gates of the mansion... just as the viedographer was geting incredable shots of the fireworks going off.. the photographer stepped directly in front of him, and ruined the shot ~ never to be recovered.
I have solved this problem, however and it makes my life as a planner so much better! I recommend only photography services that offer videography as well. This way the photographer and videographer work for the same company, and as a team. I have beem using the same "teams" for over ten years and it has made it smooth sailing through each and every event!

As a professional photographer that is not affiliated with a videographer, I always contact the videographer before the event if one is hired. We go over a game plan & all works out great. I've never had an issue with a videographer trying to fight me for a shot.

Robin

[delmar]

Hiring 2 photgraphers is OK, but typically you can get dual coverage photography through ONE studio/provider.
Hiring 2 planners/coordinators/consultants is INSANE! Even if one was for the reunion and one was for the anniversary they should have known about each other and been given the chance to COORDINATE together. WOW!

I like the clause about being the only coordinator! I forgot who mentioned that, but I may be adding something along those lines into my contract.

I am however more than willing to work with Church and Hotel Coordinators, as long as they know I am the primary person in charge. I like attending rehearsal for this reason, so that all the bridal party members, close family, officiant and others involved know who to go to with ANY questions.

[wedbyjean]

"I am however more than willing to work with Church and Hotel Coordinators"

Not a problem here either. But then, the service they provide and the service I provide are very different. As long as we're all on the same page and the same wavelength (as in "as long as they know I am the primary person in charge") and they also know I'm not going to pull a diva attitude on them either, we all work in sync together.

Luckily, in nearly 12 years of being "in the business" I've only had a problem with 1 church coordinator, but the bride quickly nipped it in the bud by telling her attendants (within ear-shot of both myself and the church lady), "Listen to Jean!"