Wedding Photography: Wedding photographer highlights the problem of mobile phones at weddings

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Published on 9th Nov 2015

By Katie Byrne

A photographer has highlighted the issue of guests using phones and cameras at weddings - and obstructing the view for the bride and groom.

Australian snapper Thomas Stewart was photographing the wedding of a couple in Bowral, New South Wales, when he found that guests were blocking the view for the groom as he waited for his bride to walk down the aisle.

Sharing an image on his Facebook page of the expectant groom craning his neck to catch a glimpse of his partner, Thomas wrote: "Right, I've had enough. I want to talk to you all about guests using mobile phones / cameras at weddings. I want to plead with you, and I'm going to make this very simple: brides and grooms, please have a completely unplugged wedding ceremony".

THIS BRIDE DID SOMETHING WONDERFUL WHEN HER BRIDESMAID WENT INTO LABOUR ON THE WEDDING DAY!

He continued: "Look at this photo. This groom had to lean out past the aisle just to see his bride approaching. Why? Because guests with their phones were in the aisle and in his way. This sucks. And i'm not blaming these guests in particular; I actually take a large amount of responsibility for this occurring. In the past I should have been more specific with my clients in explaining to them why guests should be told no photos. Well, from now on, I'm going to make a pretty big deal about it".

The photo has since been shared tens of thousands of times, as well as receiving thousands of comments and likes - with many agreeing with Thomas.

PHOTOGRAPH OF PARAMEDIC BRIDE GOES VIRAL

Thomas finished his post with four tips for couples to consider, writing:

"1. Guests with phones, iPads and cameras get right in your photographer's way. They have no idea how to stay out of our way.

They often ruin many of our shots. They will make our photos worse. You're paying a photographer quite a bit of money; that means you want great photos. We cannot do our best work with people getting in our way.

2. These same guests will get in YOUR way. You will miss moments of your own wedding day because there'll be an iPad in the way. You will miss seeing your partner's face in the aisle.

3. The guests' photos are usually cr*p. I'm sorry, but it is true. You can't take great photos with your camera phone by leaning into the aisle of a dark church to photograph a moving subject.

Hell, even lots of professionals have trouble with this.

And finally, the most important point:

4. Imagine you're in the middle of your wedding ceremony. You're elated. You decide to take a quick glance towards your guests as you're sure they're sharing these happy moments with you, possibly even shedding a tear of their own.

What do you see?

NO FACES AT ALL AS THEY ARE ALL HIDDEN BEHIND PHONES AND CAMERAS!

I highly doubt this is the way you want to remember your wedding ceremony.[sic]"

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