Photographing a Catholic wedding

[gumbygo1]

A Protestant friend of mine emailed me yesterday because he was asked by a friend to be the photographer at a Catholic wedding and he wanted some advice about what to photograph and what etiquette to follow.

The groom is Catholic and the bride is not, so I told him that they may or may not actually do a full Mass for the wedding, but he could ask them. I told him it probably would be respectful to refrain from pictures during the consecration, but I wasn’t entirely sure if that was necessary or not. I also told him that he should not go up into the sanctuary but should take pictures from outside the sanctuary. Does anyone know what general guidelines should be followed?

I told him to just go to the rehearsal and tell the priest that he wasn’t Catholic and that he didn’t know what would be acceptable or not and simply get directions from the priest about what boundaries should be respected.

Can anyone comment on this? Feel free to share your experiences from your own weddings, or weddings of your friends/family.

 

[redtech]

At our wedding, the stayed in the back row of pews and just snapped a few shots while we were exchanging vows and lighting the unity candle and then when we were walking down the aisle. He took some pictures in the chaple before the wedding but MOST pictures were taken afterward.

My cousin got married 2 years ago and the photographer was practically standing on the alter during the mass.

I would just tell him to ask the priest ahead of time.

 

[Orogeny]

He will need to get together with either the priest or the wedding coordinator. Different parishes have different rules regarding when and how photographs can be taken.

Peace

Tim

 

[bluerose]

Definitely have him get with the priest or the parish coordinator. For the most part, I don’t think photographers are allowed in the sanctuary (doesn’t mean they don’t go there, but it’s generally not allowed…)

Some parishes, for still photography, ask that the photographers wait until AFTER the ceremony and then pose the shots they want (exchange of rings, lighting candle, etc.) so that the flow of the ceremony isn’t interrupted.

And he may have to jockey for postition with the inevitable family photo hounds who have to try out their new digital camera and have been known to elbow the professionals out of the way to get the “perfect shot”. No, I’m not making this up, I seriously considered sending my photographer’s bill to one cousin–whom I hadn’t seen in years–who kept stepping in front of the pro whenever he had a shot lined up (this was 20 years ago and I still don’t see that cousin that often… and I never saw the pics she took either!)

 

[Ray_Scheel]

I photographed weddings semi-pro for a while, though its been several years since the last time I worked a wedding. A general rule is to avoid use of flash and stay to the back during the mass and the priest/deacon will be happy. For that matter, most protestant ministers are not a big fan of a big flash interrupting the ceremony either. At no point has anyone ever objected to me taking pictures from the back or far side without a flash during the ceremony (even during the consecration), so that was how I started planning on doing it unless the officiant volunteered a way / time for me to get in closer.

I will take as many pictures as I can prior to the ceremony starting. Everyone is in a better mood / less tired before the ceremony starts, and this gives the photographer a chance to evaluate how all the parties behave when they know a camera is pointed at them before any of the high-pressure shots. It is also the photographer’s unofficial duty to cart along several safety pins in his pocket. Many are the times that a wardrobe issue was first noticed when I was posing a picture prior to the ceremony.

I used the flash during the entrance procession, and then removed my flash from the camera to catch the shots during the ceremony / mass. As the ceremony ended I switched back to flash. Using film it really worked best when I had two cameras, one set up for the close work with the flash during the entrance/recession and the other for the distance shots with high-speed film to compensate for the lack of light.

 

[gumbygo1]

Great feedback guys. It helps to get some perspectives. I definitely will encourage him to speak with the priest at the rehearsal.

Thanks!

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I photographed weddings semi-pro for a while, though its been several years since the last time I worked a wedding. A general rule is to avoid use of flash and stay to the back during the mass and the priest/deacon will be happy. For that matter, most protestant ministers are not a big fan of a big flash interrupting the ceremony either. At no point has anyone ever objected to me taking pictures from the back or far side without a flash during the ceremony (even during the consecration), so that was how I started planning on doing it unless the officiant volunteered a way / time for me to get in closer.

I will take as many pictures as I can prior to the ceremony starting. Everyone is in a better mood / less tired before the ceremony starts, and this gives the photographer a chance to evaluate how all the parties behave when they know a camera is pointed at them before any of the high-pressure shots. It is also the photographer’s unofficial duty to cart along several safety pins in his pocket. Many are the times that a wardrobe issue was first noticed when I was posing a picture prior to the ceremony.

I used the flash during the entrance procession, and then removed my flash from the camera to catch the shots during the ceremony / mass. As the ceremony ended I switched back to flash. Using film it really worked best when I had two cameras, one set up for the close work with the flash during the entrance/recession and the other for the distance shots with high-speed film to compensate for the lack of light.

You are a rare photographer. Anyone would be grateful to have you around.

 

[1ke]

Tell the photographer to call the parish and ask. Our parish had very specific guidelines-- they actually had a diagram of the church and had marked where the photographer could stand, where a video camera could be placed, and a hand out about using flash, etc.

 

[lizaanne]

Our parish requires that all professional hired photographers and videographers read and sign a statement, along with the wedding couple, that states the rules of the parish and that they agree to abide by them.

Of course such a think is not really enforceable, but at least they can’t say they didn’t know if they do something totally out of line.

I went to a wedding at my church, there were two photographers, and you would have thought they were Hollywood paparazzi - it was so disruptive and disturbing!! Flashes the whole time, and you could tell Monsignor was NOT pleased. So much for the signing of the statement - but I’m sure it works in most situations. I would certainly hope that most “professionals” are not so bold.

~Liza

 

[katieq]

Just a quick thought. My husband and I had a non-catholic photographer take pics at our wedding. She was very respectful for the most part (stayed back, no flash (though others there did w/ their cameras )). However, through no fault of her own (as we didn’t even think about telling her) she took pictures during the consecration (I’m not sure about the technicallity behind this, but it made me very uncomfortable later when I realized it as I looked through the pics). Other than this, it worked well!

God bless,
Kate

 

[Ray_Scheel]

Since there appears to be a running theme behind some of the reservations about when to photograph and when not to during a mass, there is nothing I am aware of in “official” literature to suggest that respectfully taking a picture of the consecration is in any way inappropriate. I would propose that the reservations actually stem from too often witnessing examples of how to be disrespectful while taking such a picture. When I’m asked to take pictures of a mass, I don’t think I’ve done well if I don’t get a few good pictures of the consecration.

 

[Orogeny]

Since there appears to be a running theme behind some of the reservations about when to photograph and when not to during a mass, there is nothing I am aware of in “official” literature to suggest that respectfully taking a picture of the consecration is in any way inappropriate. I would propose that the reservations actually stem from too often witnessing examples of how to be disrespectful while taking such a picture. When I’m asked to take pictures of a mass, I don’t think I’ve done well if I don’t get a few good pictures of the consecration.

I would agree with you, Ray. I don’t know why a photograph should not be taken during the consecration as long as it doesn’t distract or disrupt the process. I think I would draw the line at flash photography at that point, but having a fast lens takes care of that. In fact, I think that would be a great photo to have as a memory of the wedding Mass.

Peace

Tim

 

[lizaanne]

We specifically asked our photographer to NOT photograph the consecration or communion. We preferred that she stop working for only that one short period of time (yes, she is Catholic). Also, we just didn’t feel the need for any photos of this part of the mass which was so intimate and sacred for us. We didn’t even have music during communion - just holy silence.

But this is just our very personal choice and opinion. I’m sure others would want this to be part of their photo memories, and that’s fine, as long as it is done respectfully.

I share this only to say to the photographers that one can not assume that the couple would want this portion of the mass photographed, so please ask.

~Liza