Wow... what a selfish ass. He's RUINING THEIR wedding, to yell at some wedding photographers trying to do their job? Typical prima dona Catholic priest.
That's exactly what I was thinking! Look at the expression on their faces. They are floored that this guy is being such an ass and making such a scene at their wedding. I don't care if he's a "man of god", they paid for him to perform a service, which he ruined.
And guess what, Big Guy? The photographers were signed up to take pictures of the wedding. He stained the memory of the wedding by acting like a giant jackass that has any right to dictate how the photographers do their job.
Wow. What a jerk. Not only has he just interrupted the ceremony and embarrassed the couple, but they're not going to have the photos that they paid hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for. They're not even in a church!
The Priest throws a little Prima Dona hissy fit about a small, but expected, distraction and completely grinds the entire ceremony to a halt. The only person he is making this ceremony about is himself, and if anything did more damage to the bride, groom and family than the photographer ever would have... In fact, in hindsight, the couple probably has better pictures than they do memories of the actual experience. Easily one of the most unprofessional things I have ever seen.
This couple will, for the rest of their lives, look back on this moment and think, not of each other, but HIM. He made their time about himself. Just look at how the couple exchange looks when he threatens to stop the ceremony. He ruined their day, not the guy they paid to capture the moment on film.
You could clearly see the priest upset the bride, she was shocked to say the least that he went out of his way to ruin her video of her special day.... so sad :(
He didn't ruin the video , that can be edited out .I totally agree with Helga , communication is key .The photographers should have cleared things with the Preacher and Wedding planner first .
It's really sad, because the photographers are actually paid A LOT more than the priest to be there. If I was the bride I would have thrown a fit. You do NOT disrespect the people hired to do a damn job in the first place. They are there to capture a moment for the bride and groom, no one cares about the nonsense jesus ramblings.
Yes, a wedding is a solemn occasion, but it's also a celebration. The videographer and the photographer are there at the request of the bride and groom and this is a shot that they would want. In my opinion, the pastor was waaaaay out of line. Frankly, the bride or groom should have spoken up and set the minister straight.
As I thought about it more, what was probably bugging the priest is that the camera was set on continuous shoot. If the photographer left, the videographer could have stayed since it's unlikely that the noise from his equipment would be bothering the officiant.
I agree with MyPhotoSchool. The priets/pastor could've chosen a better moment. I shoot countless weddings, and try to be as unobtrusive as possible, but also coming from a very religious background myself, I know that most pastors have an understanding that the photographer has a job to fulfill. If the photographer was really out of line, and you can't see it from this short clip, then sure, talk to them about it; but in my opinion, I'm more embarrassed for the bride and groom on the priest's outburst, than I am for whatever the photographer (seems to) have done wrong.... As a photographer though, I always speak with the person that is doing the ceremony, beforehand, to gauge how conservative they are, and I ask them if I may film during prayer, where I may and may not go. I think that guy just didn't have his prozac that morning.
I would tell the priest to leave and ask the photographers to officiate. My wife may get mad but who gives a shit, it's not like it will be my only wedding.
Jesus, I would fucking sue that guy. He just made the rest of their ceremony awkward and uncomfortable for everyone. Those photographers had a job to do, too.
Exactly. Debbie is correct. Episcopal priests are volunteers in these ceremonies--they don't get direct compensation--and an Episcopal service is a SPECIFIC ceremony that doesn't allow for photogs in the ceremony. If the couple didn't want that, there are many nice justices of the peace for them.
I am a wedding videographer and I can confirm 100% that yes, there are people like this, and yes, they are the most frustrating, annoying thing about shooting a wedding.
Lol I remember when something similar like this happened to me. It was my sisters registration of marriage and she wanted her favourite wedding song to be played when she took the oath or sworn or whatever, so I played that song and thought it was romantic. But the registrar interrupted like a douche she was and told me to turn it off or she would leave. Absolutely spoiled the moment and I had to leave the room.
In some way, the photographer should keep a distance and use a telephoto lens, noone is like it when somebody pant in his neck. But the Pastor shouldn't be an assh*le too, he's NOT the only Pastor in the world and i think in the city or whatever. He shouldn't blackmail the couple by cancelling the ceremonie. That's my opinion
That minister was right in what he said & did. Too many people forget that they are making their vows before God & use this kind of occasion just to "show off". It is not solemn and religious occasion for them. If it were they would ask the photographers to take their pictures at a distance. Cameras can take close up pictures at a distance. When I got married, the priest did not allow any pictures to be taken during the Mass - only before & after, which was just fine. But they were told before.
I'm a Christian and a photographer. Whether the priest was wound-up or not by the photographer being too close (not using a longer lens) he still should'nt have reacted like this. I've never seen any wedding where the photographers have to stop. God IS in the moment. Its a celebration. Its typical for a Catholic priest to think its a "solemn" moment, unfortunately. Its actually a joyful and happy moment. God is joining these two as one in holy matrimony. He just ruined their day by doing that. He's told the photographers to remove all camera's which is ridiculous (!!) and also the VIDEO camera -making NO noise behind him. That poor couple have no photo's of the ring exchanging now, the first married kiss, the celebration of the moment etc and just poorly witnessed the Christian faith too. This upsets me. Maybe he was having a bad day and has personal stuff going on that caused that reaction.....who knows. Either way, we all have "stuff" going on in our lives, but you leave that behind and do the job you're being asked/paid to do. Its not his day, its THEIR day. The photographer should've had a longer lens and also put his camera on its silent shutter setting, so it shuts it up. That WAS very loud, but still, he didnt have to do that. He's only there for a matter of minutes in his part, up to 30mins tops. He should have spoken to them quietly on the side afterwards. Im sure the photographer would've understood that it was distracting and to not let it happen on the next wedding. Real shame it all turned out this way. It could've been avoided by: 1) The photographer not having his camera on burst mode taking rapid shots when theyre not actually moving. 2) Having the shutter setting on silent mode so its not clicking away so loudly which it was as its (normal) shutter setting. 3) Used a longer lens to be further away from the priest/bride&groom.
Should the photog have maintained a lower profile? Yes, probably... OK, _definitely._ And yet, _that_ isn't how this disaster could've been avoided... There's really only *one key thing* that should've happened differently to avoid the irreparable tarnishing of this lovely couple's beautiful celebration: *The priest needed to behave like a mature adult.* Imagine how different this whole thing would've been if, rather than publicly displaying his *poor anger-management skills*, he had instead calmly paused for a moment and huddled with the B&G, asking them "It's your choice and your special day, so I'm OK with whatever you prefer, but I was wondering if you'd mind if I asked the photographer to step back a little further?" Then _they_ could've made the decision, and *his request could've been communicated so calmly, quietly, and quickly that many folks in the audience would hardly have noticed*... and even those who did notice would not have thought much about it. There you have it: Problem solved. No embarrassment. No hurt feelings.
when I saw this clip - as a videographer I would have never in a million years put a camera back there. I put them off to either side with Tele's for OTS shots and then WS in the back and then 3 Axis gimbal for moving shots.
I was videoing a wedding and the amateur photographer was going crazy and moving every where and occasionally used the flash. The priest stopped and said "would you kindly stop that and go outside". You could have cut the air with a knife. The female photographer was found sobbing outside because she had "ruined" their wedding day.
The Episcopal church has long had a policy of not filming any sacrament. It detracts from the sanctity of the moment. Cheers for this priest for having the courage to stand up for his convictions.
wasn't even about god though, god wasn't like "Hey minster, make a big unnecessary scene for me real quick because I can't stand where the photographers are standing they should be about 5 feet to the left"...
Unless you were given the parameters beforehand as to where you could and couldn't shoot from, the priest was completely out of line. I don't think he'll get many chances to officiate weddings in the future, but I do hope you get lots of bookings as a wedding photographer. You handled a difficult situation well.
the minister looks like he came out of the American Gothic painting And the looks on the bride and groom faces priceless...congrats on your wedding hope you have a great life together
"This is not about the photography. This is about God." Riiiight. It's more important to respect a nonexistent deity than to create beloved memories from a momentous occasion. Holy shit.
zacsimillion they're not dead you fucking idiot. They'll grow old and have kids and a family to share them with. You really want to side with that guy?
I am a wedding photographer, and I side with the priest on this one. A professional photographer/videographer should not distract from the ceremony. It looked like the photographer was standing next to the priest on the stage/altar in full view of the audience. Unprofessional behavior. The priest was firm, but I wouldn't say he was rude (hie did say "please!"
If anything the priest was just as unprofessional if not more. Rather than simply turning to them and saying "Guys could you take the pictures over there a ways you're a bit too close" in a soft voice he brings the whole thing to a screeching halt, severely dampens the entire ceremony and makes everyone INCLUDING mr and mrs. deer-in-headlights cringe to the maximum
The question here is - do you want a wedding ceremony or are you making a movie? Go for the wedding. You can have it both ways, but only if the cameras stay out of the way. I've officiated several weddings where everybody but the bride and groom has a camera. Essentially, they're recording a bunch of idiots recording. You wonder if anybody is experiencing the moment.
BTW, 95% of the photographers and videographers I've worked with have been respectful and polite. Non-intrusive. The videographer shooting this was an exception to the rule. Definitely not a professional.
By bringing the camera to the front and center, the videographer was intrusive. The officiant made it clear that he was in the way. Instead of moving, he continued recording from the same position. The minister also seemed unprofessional and rude, but I don't know what was said beforehand. The officiant may have asked politely to no avail. My guess is this videographer doesn't do much wedding work.
David Weidlich Bringing the camera front & center was what the Bride & Groom wanted & most definitely NOT intrusive. If the minister had an issue with the videographer & photographer's being up there, then he should have backed out long before the wedding day. The officiant made it clear that he is a drama queen who ruined this couple's special moment with his egotistical & unnecessary theatrics. The videographer & photographer's were not making any noise, talking, or causing a scene. His attack was totally unprovoked. You can tell by the looks on the couples' faces that they were very upset with his lack of self control & uncouth behavior.
David Weidlich The priest behaved like a child and absolutely ruined the ceremony for no reason other than to demonstrate the depths of his arrogance. If he had a complaint, he should of aired it after the ceremony, not during. He had no right to ruin that couple's wedding and was VERY much so in the wrong to say what he did. What a piece of work.
HE DID! Before the ceremony, he specifically asked the minister if there were any restrictions (which the minister has no right to make, since it's outdoors), and the minster said he didn't want them in the center aisle.
Thank you for understanding my situation. I did not want to interrupt their beautiful ceremony. I left the moment he threatens me with "or I will STOP". I moved away at least 30 feet away from him.
As a pastor, as well as a photographer, I see both sides. I have been a guest at weddings with a photographer immediately behind me and the shutter clicking in my ear. Really? That's rude to the guests; silence the shutter: it's digital photography after all. If someone wants me to officiate, it becomes a religious ceremony where God is the central point. Sorry, but whether in my church or in a public setting, it becomes the pastor's turf. Weddings are tough -- for the bride's family, for the photographer, and for the pastor. We pastor's have just as many horror stories as you. The onus is on the photographer here. It's the photographer's responsibility to ask what is acceptable and what is not. To be sure, constantly and rapidly clicking shutters is not. I always work with photographers with a guideline of what is acceptable and what is not, how to be silent and how to be transparent. This video clip illustrates how quickly a situation can digress. As the pastor, I would not want all that clicking in my ear; it breaks your concentration, it's annoying to the couple, and yes this is a religious ceremony that is about the union of two people in the presence of God. The photographer is only recording the event, not monopolizing it. Look at the faces of the couple in this video -- they lost! Their wedding is forever tainted. Don't forget professional photographer: YOU must be professional. If I had a bad experience with a photographer, I would not allow them back to my church or events I officiate. My goal is for a wonderful wedding ceremony where many things can and do go wrong -- don't let your photography be part of a bad memory.
This minister was so unprofessional. As a wedding photographer for over 30 years, I always had the ministers meet with the photographer and set their rule. The minister should have got there early enough to meet with them. This ruined the most important day for the bride and groom. Photographers are professionals who work their butts off to capture the day. Future brides should think twice before hiring this minister. He owes an apology to everyone at the wedding.The grooms face says it all
Yep...the bride and groom paid well over 2-4k for photography and video so that they dont have pictures of the ceremony....Im a professional photographer and those ceremony pictures are the most important shots of the entire wedding. Regardless if it is a sacred ceremony, I've never had a priest or rabbi or any type of religious person tell me that I cant take pictures during that moment. You know why, because its understood thats the most important moment.
In fact, in some churches (usually Catholic) the video guys are TOLD to be behind the ceremony on the alter (usually off to the side a bit) to shoot the weddings.
You'd be AMAZED what priests consider a wedding to be about. My sister is getting married in a few months and the stuff the priest has "asked"/"organised" is shocking. -They HAVE TO attend a mandatory relationship course. -No special readings or eulogies can be read out unless a suggested passage from the bible. -On top of the fee for the ceremony and renting the church, a "donation" is expected, as well as an invitation to the reception (equating to $3000). [I should clarify we're Catholic].
"Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them" would indicate that a pastor or priest marrying a couple in the name of the Triune God is totally a church service. But my point is simply that, if you think your job is to do whatever the person with the money wants in the wedding, don't lump yourself in with clergy who have a far more sacred view of their duty in joining a man and woman as one flesh.
The photographer went up to the minister beforehand and asked if he had any restrictions (which in itself is ridiculous, as it's an outdoor ceremony, so who is he to make those decisions?). The minister asked him to just stay out of the aisle... and he did. This minister is a fool.
There were so many other ways to handle this type of situation... And I agree, the biggest thing this poor couple will remember is how the Priest stopped the whole procession to yell at someone... (At the very least, he could have simply spoken with the photographers quietly, not at full volume...)
Exactly! I am not familiar enough with Baptists/Lutherans etc to know how they handle this, but the Episcopalians have rules--clearly stated upfront and signed off on by the couple--and this couple just ignored or broke them.
Michael, After 35 yrs of wedding photography I absolutely agree with you. The photographer should have known his boundaries before got up there and allowed the celebrant, the opportunity to flip out. 100% photographers fault for not being professional! And call the guy the officiant or celebrant of the wedding not priest...How do we know hes not a justice of the peace or a judge? Ive seen some of those that spoke more of what a holy occasion it was than I ever saw from a religious person!
Kathy: Sorry, but those are the rules--clearly spelled out--in the contract that the Episcopal church gives to people seeking to use their clergy. If the couple didn't like it, guess what? They should have hired a Justice of the Peace.
Well. That just became a Wedding Day memory they'll certainly never forget..! God is like "Dude, ease off it, they're just having a wedding and they've hired photographers to document the occasion, you hapless dolt. Don't use my name ever again Pastor Kill-JOY."
I am a wedding vendor, sound production to be exact. I have done literally hundreds of weddings..... this priest is so far out of line he should not have been paid and on the border line of being asked to leave for ruining the moment. When you are at a third party wedding site, the officiant, the music, the decor, the venue, catering are ALL VENDORS. We all work together to what the bridal party wants and paid for. He should never ever be a wedding officiant again!
I have been a wedding photographer for 9 years. I am also a Christian and have been attending church since I was a baby. My husband is a pastor. This pastor was in the wrong. I believe HE was being distracted by the photographer, not the couple and the guests. He should have quietly asked the photographer to move, and not caused a scene during a wedding ceremony. I do agree that the photographer should not have planted himself there for the entire ceremony (if that was even the case).
For the couple, the marriage is about God and God's blessing on the couple. The service begins with "we come together in the presence of God." and the bride and groom each say, "In the name of God, I take you..." If they wanted a civil marriage they could have chosen to have one with full regalia---dress, flowers, and photographers clicking away during the entire ceremony.
I do, actually. I've been a photographer for a long time, and the best close-up photos of subjects are for the most part taken from close-up. Yes, you can get decent photos from a distance with a good lens or a good camera, but they'll never be of the caliber that you can get by putting yourself in front of the subject. It's why photographers are always trying to get as close to the action as possible.
I am a wedding photographer...Wedding photography is an art. People pay BIG MONEY for particular wedding photographers to shoot particular type of pictures...Judging by the equipment of the photographer on the right these guys are no amateurs... This priest could have possibly ruined what the wedding party hired their photographer to do...Thank God for contracts!!
The photographers responded to comments on PetaPixel, they had spoken to the minister before the ceremony about photos, he didn't apparently raise concerns then and this was apparently a random unexpected outburst. The couple hired them to do a job just like they hired the services of the minister. Granted, machine gunning like they were wasn't the best idea, use quiet mode if you have it and anticipate the moments to capture.
Agreed, religious weddings tend to be a little too strict for my tastes. The religious angles almost seem to overshadow the bride and groom aspect. And yes, the couple tends to be much more pleasant to deal with.
Actually, Fr. William Lahey, and Episopal priest in Winter Haven, had a strict no-photography policy (with flash) during a wedding ceremony. It detracted from the ceremony. You could take all the photos after and even videotape from a balcony.
This would have made a good "Seinfeld" episode. Elaine and Jerry (Bride and Groom), Kramer (Photographer) and the Priest (Soup Nazi). George (Best Man) but he has already gone to the buffet. A fight breaks-out, the ceremony is stopped and they live happily un-married, ever after.
Possibly, but I can almost think of nothing that would merit a reaction like that at that moment. Can you imagine finishing your vows after that?! He was mad at the photographers, but it was the couple who was punished by his reaction.
For the record, this Episcopal priest is one of the most upbeat people I've ever met. (I say this as a Bill Maher-level atheist.) To react this way, he'd had to have been pushed to the limit by an intrusive photographer who should have known how to use a zoom lens. (The photog HAD instructions and chose to ignore them, nearly bumping into the guy, and then not backing off when asked.) Those who have made personally nasty remarks are unkind to this sincere clergyman, husband and father.
The priest told the shooters they couldn't be in the aisle and shooed them away. Before the ceremony, they asked him where they could be and he spread his arms wide, slowly turning around, and said, "not here". That's NOT what the couple wanted. If the priest was so concerned about the shutter going off in his ear, he should have let them stand where they normally would instead of eeking out a spot to capture their faces. He was a problem long before anyone walked down the aisle.
I am a professional photographer also, and in my opinion it wasn't obtrusive at all. If the minister was at all experienced and had the couples best interest in mind, he would have just gone with it, let the photographers do their jobs, like he should have been doing, and just went on with the ceremony without making a scene.
This is why I always talk to the priest before the ceremony. It usually works out on forehand. But this priest really blew his cap. *This must go under Force Majeure...*
I agree that the photography was extreme, I try to lay back and blend in as much as possible. The fact remains that this happened to me as well, and I was being subtle :\
It doesn't depend how annoying they are. They were paid by the bride and groom to be there, and it was THEIR day, not his. MAYBE if it was in his church, I would have more sympathy, but this was outdoors, and he had no business pulling crap like that.
Getting close helps framing for sure, but it also puts you in the scene. You don't always want that and in a ceremony it's unacceptable. But again, to say good photography means getting close is a stupid generalisation and doesn't take into account foreground / background composition (shooting through something to create a natural vignette for example) or subject compression. Long lenses are more flattering. This is a wedding, flattering is often a good thing. Pros don't get in the way, period.
On wedding photography forums, this is an example of what NOT to do, from a professional photographer's point of view. It is he responsibility of the photographer/videographer to arrange to meet with the officiant beforehand. Anything else is amateur.
The minister is wrong on multiple levels. 1. He made a mockery of their wedding. 2. It's an outdoor wedding, not in his church, who is he to decide where anyone stands? 3. The wedding is about the bride and groom and getting the best pictures for them, and since the minister's only restriction (which he had no business giving) was to stay out of the aisle... which is equally ridiculous
I totally agree with you, the photographer should have checked with him. Whether or not the photographer should have checked, or not, he behaved worse than the photographer by making such scene in such a joyous event. The officiant was just nasty, if they paid him I would demand for my money back.
Great, now the pastor has left a stain on what otherwise should have been one of the best moments in the couple's lives.
They'll probably laugh about it in hindsight
***** He also leaves plenty stains on children's faces
heyooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Pack it up folks, this one wins the comments section.
Wedding is the one of best moments in life? Pleeeeease xD
Wow... what a selfish ass. He's RUINING THEIR wedding, to yell at some wedding photographers trying to do their job? Typical prima dona Catholic priest.
That's exactly what I was thinking! Look at the expression on their faces. They are floored that this guy is being such an ass and making such a scene at their wedding.
I don't care if he's a "man of god", they paid for him to perform a service, which he ruined.
it's his responsibility to conduct the wedding a certain way. that's what he was signed up to do. blaming him achieves nothing.
And guess what, Big Guy? The photographers were signed up to take pictures of the wedding. He stained the memory of the wedding by acting like a giant jackass that has any right to dictate how the photographers do their job.
Narcissists are drawn to positions of power so they can throw their weight around. This priest looks like he’s a classic case.
He’s just mad that he never gets laid.
Wow. What a jerk. Not only has he just interrupted the ceremony and embarrassed the couple, but they're not going to have the photos that they paid hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for. They're not even in a church!
The Priest throws a little Prima Dona hissy fit about a small, but expected, distraction and completely grinds the entire ceremony to a halt. The only person he is making this ceremony about is himself, and if anything did more damage to the bride, groom and family than the photographer ever would have... In fact, in hindsight, the couple probably has better pictures than they do memories of the actual experience. Easily one of the most unprofessional things I have ever seen.
But on a positive note, this priest gave this couple a funny story to tell for the rest of their lives.
"This is not about the photography. This is about me-I mean...God."
jesus christ is that enough bridesmaids?
LOL
I LOOOOVE the looks on the 'nearly-weds' faces... they're both like w...t...fuuuuuuuuuuu LOL
This couple will, for the rest of their lives, look back on this moment and think, not of each other, but HIM. He made their time about himself. Just look at how the couple exchange looks when he threatens to stop the ceremony. He ruined their day, not the guy they paid to capture the moment on film.
Nothing like having your wedding being called a"Solemn Assembly" 😂
You could clearly see the priest upset the bride, she was shocked to say the least that he went out of his way to ruin her video of her special day.... so sad :(
He didn't ruin the video , that can be edited out .I totally agree with Helga , communication is key .The photographers should have cleared things with the Preacher and Wedding planner first .
*****
He can be edited out of the video, but unless he can be edited out of their memories, this is a hideous offense.
It's really sad, because the photographers are actually paid A LOT more than the priest to be there. If I was the bride I would have thrown a fit. You do NOT disrespect the people hired to do a damn job in the first place. They are there to capture a moment for the bride and groom, no one cares about the nonsense jesus ramblings.
the priest also had a job to do. and his was most important. a wedding can take place even without photographers.
@@drooleybob yes, it can
Yes, a wedding is a solemn occasion, but it's also a celebration. The videographer and the photographer are there at the request of the bride and groom and this is a shot that they would want. In my opinion, the pastor was waaaaay out of line. Frankly, the bride or groom should have spoken up and set the minister straight.
As I thought about it more, what was probably bugging the priest is that the camera was set on continuous shoot. If the photographer left, the videographer could have stayed since it's unlikely that the noise from his equipment would be bothering the officiant.
Doing a Christian Bale.
Actually, he SHOULDN'T have. This was an outdoor wedding, not one in his private church. He has no business telling them where they can and can't be.
This is not about the photography...this is about the magical non-existent being I think might live in the clouds
I agree with MyPhotoSchool. The priets/pastor could've chosen a better moment. I shoot countless weddings, and try to be as unobtrusive as possible, but also coming from a very religious background myself, I know that most pastors have an understanding that the photographer has a job to fulfill. If the photographer was really out of line, and you can't see it from this short clip, then sure, talk to them about it; but in my opinion, I'm more embarrassed for the bride and groom on the priest's outburst, than I am for whatever the photographer (seems to) have done wrong....
As a photographer though, I always speak with the person that is doing the ceremony, beforehand, to gauge how conservative they are, and I ask them if I may film during prayer, where I may and may not go. I think that guy just didn't have his prozac that morning.
"This is not about photography, this is about God." LMAO.
That pissed me off so much
I would tell the priest to leave and ask the photographers to officiate. My wife may get mad but who gives a shit, it's not like it will be my only wedding.
Catholic Priests don't do outside weddings...so this must be a different religion..
It's Christian I think
I’m getting a pissy Lutheran vibe.
Episcopalian.
"This is not about photography. This is about me."
I guess they purchased the Solemn Assembly wedding package.
The atheist troll-cloud sure is thick in here.
This is not about a photography, it's about my bald spot.
Thank you, I am the photographer he yelled for no reason, he snapped out of no where.
I'm so sorry that happened to you. I hope you were paid super well and the bride and groom apologized about the priest.
Jesus, I would fucking sue that guy. He just made the rest of their ceremony awkward and uncomfortable for everyone. Those photographers had a job to do, too.
and the priest was doing his.
Yeah I can promise you they paid way more money for those photographers.
"This is not about the photography, this is about god." I thought it was about two people getting married.
Thanks for that god.
It that is about a "god", maybe people should consider other kind of ceremonies to start their lives together.
We had a great party, actually. Everyone was laughing about it.
This is about God, goddammit!
God critical hit strikes for 16430 damage points
Exactly. Debbie is correct. Episcopal priests are volunteers in these ceremonies--they don't get direct compensation--and an Episcopal service is a SPECIFIC ceremony that doesn't allow for photogs in the ceremony. If the couple didn't want that, there are many nice justices of the peace for them.
I knew it. This is why the world is so fucked up - God is too busy with the backlog of wedding photographers.
Hey, they cut out the part when he says "this is about god" on Good Morning America. I thought that was the funniest part. Jesus Christ! Oops.
I personally know this Priest. He is strong in his faith and a good man. He was trying to keep the ceremony special under the word of God.
I am a wedding videographer and I can confirm 100% that yes, there are people like this, and yes, they are the most frustrating, annoying thing about shooting a wedding.
naah. you lot are.
Lol I remember when something similar like this happened to me. It was my sisters registration of marriage and she wanted her favourite wedding song to be played when she took the oath or sworn or whatever, so I played that song and thought it was romantic. But the registrar interrupted like a douche she was and told me to turn it off or she would leave. Absolutely spoiled the moment and I had to leave the room.
+Fuck You CZcams If I were your sister I would have let her leave. It's YOUR SISTER'S DECISION what song plays at her wedding, not the registrar's.
In some way, the photographer should keep a distance and use a telephoto lens, noone is like it when somebody pant in his neck.
But the Pastor shouldn't be an assh*le too, he's NOT the only Pastor in the world and i think in the city or whatever.
He shouldn't blackmail the couple by cancelling the ceremonie.
That's my opinion
Exactly! There are many here that are biased and think that just because a minister makes a claim, that somehow it then becomes "truth".
That minister was right in what he said & did. Too many people forget that they are making their vows before God & use this kind of occasion just to "show off". It is not solemn and religious occasion for them. If it were they would ask the photographers to take their pictures at a distance. Cameras can take close up pictures at a distance. When I got married, the priest did not allow any pictures to be taken during the Mass - only before & after, which was just fine. But they were told before.
I'm a Christian and a photographer. Whether the priest was wound-up or not by the photographer being too close (not using a longer lens) he still should'nt have reacted like this.
I've never seen any wedding where the photographers have to stop.
God IS in the moment. Its a celebration. Its typical for a Catholic priest to think its a "solemn" moment, unfortunately. Its actually a joyful and happy moment. God is joining these two as one in holy matrimony.
He just ruined their day by doing that. He's told the photographers to remove all camera's which is ridiculous (!!) and also the VIDEO camera -making NO noise behind him. That poor couple have no photo's of the ring exchanging now, the first married kiss, the celebration of the moment etc and just poorly witnessed the Christian faith too. This upsets me.
Maybe he was having a bad day and has personal stuff going on that caused that reaction.....who knows. Either way, we all have "stuff" going on in our lives, but you leave that behind and do the job you're being asked/paid to do. Its not his day, its THEIR day.
The photographer should've had a longer lens and also put his camera on its silent shutter setting, so it shuts it up. That WAS very loud, but still, he didnt have to do that.
He's only there for a matter of minutes in his part, up to 30mins tops. He should have spoken to them quietly on the side afterwards. Im sure the photographer would've understood that it was distracting and to not let it happen on the next wedding.
Real shame it all turned out this way. It could've been avoided by:
1) The photographer not having his camera on burst mode taking rapid shots when theyre not actually moving.
2) Having the shutter setting on silent mode so its not clicking away so loudly which it was as its (normal) shutter setting.
3) Used a longer lens to be further away from the priest/bride&groom.
Should the photog have maintained a lower profile? Yes, probably... OK, _definitely._
And yet, _that_ isn't how this disaster could've been avoided...
There's really only *one key thing* that should've happened differently to avoid the irreparable tarnishing of this lovely couple's beautiful celebration:
*The priest needed to behave like a mature adult.*
Imagine how different this whole thing would've been if, rather than publicly displaying his *poor anger-management skills*, he had instead calmly paused for a moment and huddled with the B&G, asking them "It's your choice and your special day, so I'm OK with whatever you prefer, but I was wondering if you'd mind if I asked the photographer to step back a little further?" Then _they_ could've made the decision, and *his request could've been communicated so calmly, quietly, and quickly that many folks in the audience would hardly have noticed*... and even those who did notice would not have thought much about it.
There you have it: Problem solved. No embarrassment. No hurt feelings.
when I saw this clip - as a videographer I would have never in a million years put a camera back there. I put them off to either side with Tele's for OTS shots and then WS in the back and then 3 Axis gimbal for moving shots.
Wes Nicholson, well said. As a christian and a photographer as well, I absolutely agree with you.
I was videoing a wedding and the amateur photographer was going crazy and moving every where and occasionally used the flash. The priest stopped and said "would you kindly stop that and go outside". You could have cut the air with a knife. The female photographer was found sobbing outside because she had "ruined" their wedding day.
You took probably 3 minutes out of your day to type that. And I wasted 3 to read it. Thanks
What ever became of this?
The Episcopal church has long had a policy of not filming any sacrament. It detracts from the sanctity of the moment. Cheers for this priest for having the courage to stand up for his convictions.
I'm a wedding photographer as well, and it has happened to me too. I 100% concur with your post.
If Karen was a guy
he had to make it about him and his god
wasn't even about god though, god wasn't like "Hey minster, make a big unnecessary scene for me real quick because I can't stand where the photographers are standing they should be about 5 feet to the left"...
Priests are like vegetarians, they have to tell EVERYONE
Unless you were given the parameters beforehand as to where you could and couldn't shoot from, the priest was completely out of line. I don't think he'll get many chances to officiate weddings in the future, but I do hope you get lots of bookings as a wedding photographer. You handled a difficult situation well.
the minister looks like he came out of the American Gothic painting
And the looks on the bride and groom faces priceless...congrats on your wedding hope you have a great life together
"This is not about the photography. This is about God."
Riiiight. It's more important to respect a nonexistent deity than to create beloved memories from a momentous occasion. Holy shit.
why will memories matter when you're dead?
zacsimillion they're not dead you fucking idiot. They'll grow old and have kids and a family to share them with. You really want to side with that guy?
when the sun explodes none of them will matter
I see. You're just a really bad troll.
not trolling. short of an infinite life nothing that has ever happened will matter in the long run.
Its about how much the clergy can fleece from these sheep.
LOL, that's funny mostly true also
One thing is for sure, word will get around and this priest will not be celebrating many weddings in the future!
This is why you have one of your friends ordained so in case you have a pastor like this, you can get rid of him and have your friend do it instead
I am a wedding photographer, and I side with the priest on this one. A professional photographer/videographer should not distract from the ceremony. It looked like the photographer was standing next to the priest on the stage/altar in full view of the audience. Unprofessional behavior. The priest was firm, but I wouldn't say he was rude (hie did say "please!"
If anything the priest was just as unprofessional if not more. Rather than simply turning to them and saying "Guys could you take the pictures over there a ways you're a bit too close" in a soft voice he brings the whole thing to a screeching halt, severely dampens the entire ceremony and makes everyone INCLUDING mr and mrs. deer-in-headlights cringe to the maximum
"This isn't about photography, this is about God." LMAO, only a theist. I swear.
Well, yeah...
Well, obviously.
thank god for the theist for standing up for himself.
Shit roasties say
Michael, would you be okay if I used this clip as part of a podcast or videocast?
It’s funny that right after he says: “We’re still good, right?” he proceeds to ruin all the “good” they had so far. 😂
The question here is - do you want a wedding ceremony or are you making a movie? Go for the wedding. You can have it both ways, but only if the cameras stay out of the way. I've officiated several weddings where everybody but the bride and groom has a camera. Essentially, they're recording a bunch of idiots recording. You wonder if anybody is experiencing the moment.
BTW, 95% of the photographers and videographers I've worked with have been respectful and polite. Non-intrusive. The videographer shooting this was an exception to the rule. Definitely not a professional.
David Weidlich How were they not professional?
By bringing the camera to the front and center, the videographer was intrusive. The officiant made it clear that he was in the way. Instead of moving, he continued recording from the same position.
The minister also seemed unprofessional and rude, but I don't know what was said beforehand. The officiant may have asked politely to no avail.
My guess is this videographer doesn't do much wedding work.
David Weidlich Bringing the camera front & center was what the Bride & Groom wanted & most definitely NOT intrusive. If the minister had an issue with the videographer & photographer's being up there, then he should have backed out long before the wedding day. The officiant made it clear that he is a drama queen who ruined this couple's special moment with his egotistical & unnecessary theatrics. The videographer & photographer's were not making any noise, talking, or causing a scene. His attack was totally unprovoked. You can tell by the looks on the couples' faces that they were very upset with his lack of self control & uncouth behavior.
David Weidlich The priest behaved like a child and absolutely ruined the ceremony for no reason other than to demonstrate the depths of his arrogance. If he had a complaint, he should of aired it after the ceremony, not during.
He had no right to ruin that couple's wedding and was VERY much so in the wrong to say what he did.
What a piece of work.
AAAAAAASSSSSSS-HOOOOOOOOLE!!!
HE DID! Before the ceremony, he specifically asked the minister if there were any restrictions (which the minister has no right to make, since it's outdoors), and the minster said he didn't want them in the center aisle.
Thank you for understanding my situation. I did not want to interrupt their beautiful ceremony. I left the moment he threatens me with "or I will STOP". I moved away at least 30 feet away from him.
As a pastor, as well as a photographer, I see both sides. I have been a guest at weddings with a photographer immediately behind me and the shutter clicking in my ear. Really? That's rude to the guests; silence the shutter: it's digital photography after all.
If someone wants me to officiate, it becomes a religious ceremony where God is the central point. Sorry, but whether in my church or in a public setting, it becomes the pastor's turf.
Weddings are tough -- for the bride's family, for the photographer, and for the pastor. We pastor's have just as many horror stories as you. The onus is on the photographer here. It's the photographer's responsibility to ask what is acceptable and what is not. To be sure, constantly and rapidly clicking shutters is not.
I always work with photographers with a guideline of what is acceptable and what is not, how to be silent and how to be transparent. This video clip illustrates how quickly a situation can digress. As the pastor, I would not want all that clicking in my ear; it breaks your concentration, it's annoying to the couple, and yes this is a religious ceremony that is about the union of two people in the presence of God. The photographer is only recording the event, not monopolizing it. Look at the faces of the couple in this video -- they lost! Their wedding is forever tainted.
Don't forget professional photographer: YOU must be professional. If I had a bad experience with a photographer, I would not allow them back to my church or events I officiate. My goal is for a wonderful wedding ceremony where many things can and do go wrong -- don't let your photography be part of a bad memory.
Imagine if the priest decides to officiating. That is very unprofessional and childish. What a nightmare thanks to him.
This minister was so unprofessional. As a wedding photographer for over 30 years, I always had the ministers meet with the photographer and set their rule. The minister should have got there early enough to meet with them. This ruined the most important day for the bride and groom. Photographers are professionals who work their butts off to capture the day. Future brides should think twice before hiring this minister. He owes an apology to everyone at the wedding.The grooms face says it all
Yep...the bride and groom paid well over 2-4k for photography and video so that they dont have pictures of the ceremony....Im a professional photographer and those ceremony pictures are the most important shots of the entire wedding.
Regardless if it is a sacred ceremony, I've never had a priest or rabbi or any type of religious person tell me that I cant take pictures during that moment. You know why, because its understood thats the most important moment.
In fact, in some churches (usually Catholic) the video guys are TOLD to be behind the ceremony on the alter (usually off to the side a bit) to shoot the weddings.
That's a good example of a real Drama Queen! Those guys do more damage to the faith than they do good!
You'd be AMAZED what priests consider a wedding to be about. My sister is getting married in a few months and the stuff the priest has "asked"/"organised" is shocking.
-They HAVE TO attend a mandatory relationship course.
-No special readings or eulogies can be read out unless a suggested passage from the bible.
-On top of the fee for the ceremony and renting the church, a "donation" is expected, as well as an invitation to the reception (equating to $3000).
[I should clarify we're Catholic].
"Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them" would indicate that a pastor or priest marrying a couple in the name of the Triune God is totally a church service. But my point is simply that, if you think your job is to do whatever the person with the money wants in the wedding, don't lump yourself in with clergy who have a far more sacred view of their duty in joining a man and woman as one flesh.
The photographer went up to the minister beforehand and asked if he had any restrictions (which in itself is ridiculous, as it's an outdoor ceremony, so who is he to make those decisions?). The minister asked him to just stay out of the aisle... and he did. This minister is a fool.
There were so many other ways to handle this type of situation... And I agree, the biggest thing this poor couple will remember is how the Priest stopped the whole procession to yell at someone... (At the very least, he could have simply spoken with the photographers quietly, not at full volume...)
Rude priest is now popular! I haven't seen a wedding without photographers.
Exactly! I am not familiar enough with Baptists/Lutherans etc to know how they handle this, but the Episcopalians have rules--clearly stated upfront and signed off on by the couple--and this couple just ignored or broke them.
Michael,
After 35 yrs of wedding photography I absolutely agree with you. The photographer should have known his boundaries before got up there and allowed the celebrant, the opportunity to flip out. 100% photographers fault for not being professional! And call the guy the officiant or celebrant of the wedding not priest...How do we know hes not a justice of the peace or a judge? Ive seen some of those that spoke more of what a holy occasion it was than I ever saw from a religious person!
Kathy: Sorry, but those are the rules--clearly spelled out--in the contract that the Episcopal church gives to people seeking to use their clergy. If the couple didn't like it, guess what? They should have hired a Justice of the Peace.
Let's hope the couple look back at this, laughing and seeing the funny side
It's about God . It's a solemnity . Agree Father .
Well. That just became a Wedding Day memory they'll certainly never forget..! God is like "Dude, ease off it, they're just having a wedding and they've hired photographers to document the occasion, you hapless dolt. Don't use my name ever again Pastor Kill-JOY."
Bride about to go into full Bridezilla mode… and I don’t blame her.
I am a wedding vendor, sound production to be exact. I have done literally hundreds of weddings..... this priest is so far out of line he should not have been paid and on the border line of being asked to leave for ruining the moment. When you are at a third party wedding site, the officiant, the music, the decor, the venue, catering are ALL VENDORS. We all work together to what the bridal party wants and paid for. He should never ever be a wedding officiant again!
The fact of the matter is it should have been discussed between the pastor, the couple, and the photographers before the ceremony even started!
I have been a wedding photographer for 9 years. I am also a Christian and have been attending church since I was a baby. My husband is a pastor. This pastor was in the wrong. I believe HE was being distracted by the photographer, not the couple and the guests. He should have quietly asked the photographer to move, and not caused a scene during a wedding ceremony. I do agree that the photographer should not have planted himself there for the entire ceremony (if that was even the case).
For the couple, the marriage is about God and God's blessing on the couple. The service begins with "we come together in the presence of God." and the bride and groom each say, "In the name of God, I take you..." If they wanted a civil marriage they could have chosen to have one with full regalia---dress, flowers, and photographers clicking away during the entire ceremony.
I do, actually. I've been a photographer for a long time, and the best close-up photos of subjects are for the most part taken from close-up. Yes, you can get decent photos from a distance with a good lens or a good camera, but they'll never be of the caliber that you can get by putting yourself in front of the subject. It's why photographers are always trying to get as close to the action as possible.
I am a wedding photographer...Wedding photography is an art. People pay BIG MONEY for particular wedding photographers to shoot particular type of pictures...Judging by the equipment of the photographer on the right these guys are no amateurs... This priest could have possibly ruined what the wedding party hired their photographer to do...Thank God for contracts!!
The photographers responded to comments on PetaPixel, they had spoken to the minister before the ceremony about photos, he didn't apparently raise concerns then and this was apparently a random unexpected outburst.
The couple hired them to do a job just like they hired the services of the minister.
Granted, machine gunning like they were wasn't the best idea, use quiet mode if you have it and anticipate the moments to capture.
Agreed, religious weddings tend to be a little too strict for my tastes. The religious angles almost seem to overshadow the bride and groom aspect. And yes, the couple tends to be much more pleasant to deal with.
Actually, Fr. William Lahey, and Episopal priest in Winter Haven, had a strict no-photography policy (with flash) during a wedding ceremony. It detracted from the ceremony. You could take all the photos after and even videotape from a balcony.
This would have made a good "Seinfeld" episode. Elaine and Jerry (Bride and Groom), Kramer (Photographer) and the Priest (Soup Nazi). George (Best Man) but he has already gone to the buffet. A fight breaks-out, the ceremony is stopped and they live happily un-married, ever after.
Possibly, but I can almost think of nothing that would merit a reaction like that at that moment. Can you imagine finishing your vows after that?! He was mad at the photographers, but it was the couple who was punished by his reaction.
For the record, this Episcopal priest is one of the most upbeat people I've ever met. (I say this as a Bill Maher-level atheist.) To react this way, he'd had to have been pushed to the limit by an intrusive photographer who should have known how to use a zoom lens. (The photog HAD instructions and chose to ignore them, nearly bumping into the guy, and then not backing off when asked.) Those who have made personally nasty remarks are unkind to this sincere clergyman, husband and father.
The priest told the shooters they couldn't be in the aisle and shooed them away. Before the ceremony, they asked him where they could be and he spread his arms wide, slowly turning around, and said, "not here". That's NOT what the couple wanted. If the priest was so concerned about the shutter going off in his ear, he should have let them stand where they normally would instead of eeking out a spot to capture their faces. He was a problem long before anyone walked down the aisle.
I am a professional photographer also, and in my opinion it wasn't obtrusive at all. If the minister was at all experienced and had the couples best interest in mind, he would have just gone with it, let the photographers do their jobs, like he should have been doing, and just went on with the ceremony without making a scene.
This is why I always talk to the priest before the ceremony.
It usually works out on forehand. But this priest really blew his cap.
*This must go under Force Majeure...*
I agree that the photography was extreme, I try to lay back and blend in as much as possible. The fact remains that this happened to me as well, and I was being subtle :\
It doesn't depend how annoying they are. They were paid by the bride and groom to be there, and it was THEIR day, not his. MAYBE if it was in his church, I would have more sympathy, but this was outdoors, and he had no business pulling crap like that.
Getting close helps framing for sure, but it also puts you in the scene. You don't always want that and in a ceremony it's unacceptable. But again, to say good photography means getting close is a stupid generalisation and doesn't take into account foreground / background composition (shooting through something to create a natural vignette for example) or subject compression. Long lenses are more flattering. This is a wedding, flattering is often a good thing.
Pros don't get in the way, period.
On wedding photography forums, this is an example of what NOT to do, from a professional photographer's point of view. It is he responsibility of the photographer/videographer to arrange to meet with the officiant beforehand. Anything else is amateur.
The minister is wrong on multiple levels. 1. He made a mockery of their wedding. 2. It's an outdoor wedding, not in his church, who is he to decide where anyone stands? 3. The wedding is about the bride and groom and getting the best pictures for them, and since the minister's only restriction (which he had no business giving) was to stay out of the aisle... which is equally ridiculous
I totally agree with you, the photographer should have checked with him. Whether or not the photographer should have checked, or not, he behaved worse than the photographer by making such scene in such a joyous event. The officiant was just nasty, if they paid him I would demand for my money back.
Haha. They were noisy and right behind his head while he's reading so weird. But he totally made it awkward 🤣