Digital cameras…. they are every where. Grandmothers… fathers, brothers, sisters and even young children have access to them. Sure, Aunt Sally’s VCR is flashing 12:00 at home, but she wouldn’t be caught dead without her camera at your wedding. Years ago the only cameras at a wedding were the disposable one on each table that the bride and groom bought. Sure there were a few folks that brought a quality point and shoot, but not many. Now a days, it is more uncommon to find someone without a camera than with.

So, does a wedding photographer care if Aunt Sally takes a picture of a shot he or she has worked to compose? Some do… They believe that it will cut into their picture sales… that it might ruin the moment (Think eyes looking at the wrong camera). So does it?? Who knows, it just might… Then again there are even more photographers who could care less! I for one embrace the idea and have even decided to use the shots (like above) in my proofs. Why would I do that? Well, it goes back to the reason you hired a photographer in the first place. We are there to document the events of the day and tell the story through still moments. So, when you have a bunch of uncles together for the first time in years… and a niece or nephew decide to pose them and take pictures, then why wouldn’t you want a picture showing those events. Sure, I could just capture the uncles together, but that wouldn’t tell the whole story now would it.

I had never really thought about this subject until I read a book by Marcus Bell. Haven’t heard of him? No worries, check out his site… better yet read his book. He has absolutely gorgeous images that I hope to one day to incorporate into my style. In particular there is a an image where he was shooting the bride and her party… and it must of been a large party because he says he heard a bunch of commotion behind him and saw the husbands taking pictures of their wives/girlfriends. So he grabbed a shot of them. The result… about 15 men in tuxes… all with the cameras to their eyes… some on their knees… some crouching… some standing… others in the background laughing and pointing. All I can say is that it was a moment at that wedding people will remember. I am sure that Marcus and his assistant(s) spent time and set up a group shot that reflects his years of knowledge and experience… and did the husbands benefit… definitely. However, I bet that the shot he took was purchased by each one of those bridesmaids and may of even found itself in the bride and groom’s album…