You may or may not have heard of one invitee usually experienced at a wedding.
“Uncle Bob”.
Can be any age (basic requirement being old enough to hold and operate a camera).
Does not have to be male gender.
It is someone who enjoys photography and who also wants to document your day - to one degree or another.
How do we handle “Uncle Bob” at your wedding?
The same as everyone else: with respect and as a valued member of the family/friends that have been invited.
The way that we would want to be treated if we were a guest at a wedding.
We can see some photographers reading this and assuming that we have only had pleasant experiences with “Uncle Bob”.
No.
We have had the jump-in-at-the-other-end -of-the-aisle-just-as-the-bride-is-walking-down Aunt.
A very long title, we know.
We have heard the stories about poor behaviour and so on - we believe them although we ourselves have been mostly lucky.
We have seen the incriminating videos - some of which you may have seen as there are viral ones in the mix.
"Uncle Bob” can sometimes be hard work.
So the next question would most likely be, “How can Poppy & Sage Photography be so confident about how to handle the Uncle Bobs?” (That is, with respect as mentioned above.)
It comes down to one simple question we ask somewhere in the lead-up to your wedding:
“If there are any issues on the day that can be handled with the minimum of fuss, can you please name one individual from each side who can represent each of your wishes?”
That way, if one particular individual is impacting, in our opinion, our ability to work (and so on), we can approach and have a chat with one of the nominated persons who is best at handling confrontation, conflict or even just open discussion.
Furthermore, this is your day. If the Uncle Bob at your wedding is not upsetting you, your Uncle Bob is not upsetting us (unless being directly disrespectful to us, of course).
We will always work together to find a solution to any issue.
<3
For the sake of clarity and for the record: this lovely gentleman was absolutely no Uncle Bob. He brought along a camera and respectfully documented parts of his son and daughter-in-law’s wedding. It was really sweet. It was not until speeches that we discovered the powerful role photography had played in his life. As is typically the case with our clients, their stories - and the stories of their associated friends and family - are not ours to tell. However, we will say this: we are very glad this gentleman had the space he wished for to take images that he - and his family - will treasure. If kindness is an option, take it. <3