Videographers and photographers have an uneasy relationship – I’ve mentioned this before. Some combinations of the two will cause more problems than others. I’ve worked happily with the guys mentioned on the links page of this blog. And I’ve had some difficult days with others whom I won’t name. Nothing, though, beats the nightmare I had recently with one particular videographer.

Documentary wedding photography relies heavily on letting things happen of their own accord. Some videographers will try to direct the entire day. They should never be let anywhere near a documentary photographer.

Even worse are the guys who have no regard for the occasion. They should be sealed in lead caskets and used as ballast on board containerships. These are the kind of people who can ruin photographs and prevent the documentary photographer from doing their job.

The wedding ceremony is the crux of any wedding day. In Ireland, 19 out of 20 times, it will take place in a church in front of an altar. The number one place nobody other than the priest and the couple should be is the altar. The altar is the focal point of the whole thing. It is where every eye in the house is looking. It’s where all the attention is. The altar is the place of the holy trinity – priest, bride and groom.

The altar is not where the friggin’ videographer should be. (Nor, for that matter, the friggin’ photographer – We’re there to photograph the ceremony, not put ourselves in the middle of it).

Yet that’s where yesterday’s videographer was. Right at the priest’s shoulder – an alien element in the marriage scene and ruining any kind of photograph of the actual marriage rite. “Me, my husband and the videographer” does not make a great 10×8 to put on the mantelpiece.

Unless, the videographer is Steven Spielberg.

Documentary wedding photography is about observing and recording the day. It doesn’t get on well with videographers who want to join in. (Check out the links page for some of the good guys).