Photographers at wedding rehearsals
How much free rein can your photographer have during your wedding service?
You’ve planned your church wedding to the nth degree, but have you checked with your vicar that your photographer can have a free rein during the service? Maybe I’ve been lucky over the years, but it’s not always the case. I know a number of wedding photographers that have been told on the day that they can only be in one place and to take as few photos as possible so the don’t disturb the ceremony. With today’s silent cameras, disturbance is rare, but it’s important to be effective, safe and unobtrusive. This is where a photographer attending your rehearsal can make all the difference.
The rehearsal is part of the final preparation process. It’s a time to run through the service (without the legal bits in full). The rehearsal allows the wedding party to familiarise themselves with the order of service, rehearse their roles, and iron out any potential hitches. Having your photographer there too can be really helpful just as much for you as for them. If that isn’t possible, putting photographer and vicar in touch with one another can be another solution.
Understanding the Layout
Whether a cathedral or a local village church, has its own photographic opportunities as much as the odd challenge, especially when it comes to light. Whenever I attend a rehearsal I have good look around, often before anyone else has arrived. It gives me a chance to find potential shooting angles, ideal vantage points, and gauge where the natural light is.
Having a chance to explore the church layout means I know where to stand or move to during the ceremony without causing disruption.
Clarifying Restrictions and Guidelines
Churches often have specific rules regarding photography during a wedding service. These can vary at the discretion of the vicar. When you book your church, or have your initial meeting with the vicar, this is the time to ask about their photography restrictions; not on the day of the wedding.
It’s accepted that photographers will not use flash during the service, but some vicars may prohibit any movement. I cannot stress the importance of knowing what your vicar is happy with.
If I’m at the rehearsal it’s a perfect opportunity to discuss any potential restrictions with the vicar in person. This really helps prevent any misunderstandings on the wedding day and ensures that I respect the vicar’s wishes while still being able to capture moments you really want.
Another point that is worth noting early is whether you are happy for all your guests to snap away on their phones. More frequently couples are asking their vicar to include a ‘no phone photography’ notice at the start of service.
Building a rapport with the wedding party
By attending your rehearsal it’s a more relaxed environment for me to meet key members of the wedding party, such as parents, the best man, bridesmaids, and ushers. This introduction can help build rapport, making everyone feel more at ease in front of the camera on the day of the wedding.
It gives me a chance to introduce myself to everyone and potentially ask an usher and/or a bridesmaid to be onside to help round up those that need to be photographed as they are far more likely to know who they are than I will.
Placement photographs
Being with you during the rehearsal means I can see where you will be standing and allows me to plan key shots for the following day. If there are any unique or particularly important shots that you’d like, the rehearsal offers an opportunity to see if they will work logistically. For example, where the bride will enter (especially if there is more than one door), are the bridesmaids walking in front or behind the bride, who will take the bride’s bouquet (and more importantly remembering to give it back to her as she leaves), which door the newly weds will leave from, where the confetti line will form etc, etc.
Conclusion
I would say that although not essential, having your photographer at your rehearsal is a worthwhile investment that will really help on the wedding day itself. From understanding the church layout and possible restrictions to building a rapport with the wedding party, there are multiple benefits. While I will always visit the church in advance so I know I’m comfortable in the environment, being at your rehearsal really makes the difference.
Knowing what your vicar is happy with as early as possible also makes a huge difference to how the day runs and avoids any unexpected hiccups simply because you haven’t asked the question.
