How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

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canerino
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p.2 #1 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

formula4speed wrote:
Chuck, I'll go to the wedding as well with my 500L on the 1DII, throw on the 580EX with a better beamer and ever time I take a shot I'll loudly announce "Ohhhh yea, that's a keeper.". No one will even notice you are there

Actually I usually just carry my 5D 35L as a point and shoot, it's really not a large set up and as you already know it's quite versatile.

dude I laughed out loud.

I thought of that combo but I really wanted to shoot some film and I only have 35mm on the leica. Maybe I can borrow your 500! And I prefer to yell "I f ing nailed that shot"

Jul 25, 2008 at 07:44 PM

canerino
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p.2 #2 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

hassy501 wrote:
canerino wrote:
hey hassy, you have any point and shoots laying around you want to lend me?

Sorry no, but i do have a Bronica SQA with 50/80 and 150 lenses with 220 backs you can borrow ?

I wouldn't want to bring better gear than the pro, but thanks!

Jul 25, 2008 at 07:47 PM

hassy501
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p.2 #3 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

jefferies1 wrote:
The bottom line is the more cameras around and in sight of the subject being photographer the more they look away and a great shot turns into a missed or average shot. "Uncle Bobs" also prevent the spontanious moments that make a good album when the bride or couple are alone and relaxed or just interacting. I never worry the quality of my images as they are well lit, well cropped and of print quality. It is the other factors I have no control over that take album images from just being well shot to full of feeling and emotion. More cameras around, mean less natural the interaction between the couple, less chances for good shots.I start working on this when doing the engagement and bridal shoot way before the wedding so they are used to my style on the wedding day.The weddings with big cameras all over the place never have as many "emotion" shots due to the distraction. In the end the client is the one hurt, not the photographer. Uncle Bob may get one good emotion shot while I would have got a dozen without the couple being distracted. As a professional I will always get my shots with or without Uncle Bobs using a pro camera or a P-S. It is just a lot easier to do the job I am paid for with less of them around. If you want wedding practice shots go volunteer as an assistant for someone in town.
I would NEVER bring my camera when invited to a wedding.

Excellent points.......BIG PLUS on the intimacy issues......i have had people in the background behind me yelling out stuff as I'm tyring to get the couple to be intimate, romantic........but they couldn't due to the guests yelling stuff.............

"Oh baby, yeah, that's it, kiss her"..."
Whistling, whooping......you name it.................how can a just married couple feel comfortable with each other when crap like that is going on around them.......it's just impossible to capture special shots......when all the uncle bobs and aunt janes are causing a ruckus in the background.

So it's not merely an issue of taking photos, it involves distractions.

Edited on Jul 25, 2008 at 07:52 PM

Jul 25, 2008 at 07:51 PM

canerino
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p.2 #4 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

rest assured hassy I am definitely NOT that guy. I promise.

Jul 25, 2008 at 07:53 PM

GeorgeM
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p.2 #5 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

I've spent the last few days visiting my Daughter and family to celebrate my Grandson's 14th birthday. Last evening I was showing her around the 'Uncle Bob' thread and we had some laughs.

This morning she asked about it again. In my family and extended family I'm known as the photographer and have the biggest one around, a D100 w' grip and a SB800. When I show up at a family function I automatically get promoted from participant to official photographer. It just happens.

I told my daughter I'd introduce myself to the Pro, explain to him/her that I'm Uncle George not Uncle Bob. That's my brother. I'd let the Pro know that I was going to shoot for myself and would stay out of the way. That I would put my gear down if it got into that 'eyes' thing that each and everyone of us hates.

The Pro's getting paid to produce and doesn't need me or anyone else screwing up their job.

It would be a balance though, Uncle George or just another Uncle Bob.

George

Jul 25, 2008 at 08:17 PM

hassy501
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p.2 #6 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

Wow, i'm really surprised at how many uncle bob's there are out there......that belong to this forum........there's a post nearly every day regarding this..........

Have fun !!

Jul 25, 2008 at 09:10 PM

hassy501
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p.2 #7 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

I remember one wedding where the wedding coordinator took the couple in a golf cart to the lake area and I was following them.....as we were leaving uncle bob had the nerve to actually want to hitch a ride with me ...........it was funny watching him standing there as we sped away.........

Jul 25, 2008 at 09:13 PM

liza
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p.2 #8 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

asimsoofi wrote:
You know, you could just leave your camera at home, go to the party and actually have fun. I don't know...Just an idea.

+10,000

Jul 25, 2008 at 10:33 PM

canerino
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p.2 #9 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

liza wrote:
asimsoofi wrote:
You know, you could just leave your camera at home, go to the party and actually have fun. I don't know...Just an idea.

+10,000

well, i wasnt going to address this one because no matter what I write, it will come off as me being ultra defensive, but since it got a +10,000, why not.

it is such a silly statement on so many levels. it would be like me saying to you, 'chocolate ice cream is yucky, you should have vanilla...i dont know, just an idea'.

by writing your statement you assume that I have 'fun' the same way that you do. i can assure you that I am very different than you in many ways, thus, I am going to bring my camera AND have fun. i know it sounds CRAZY, but thats one of the many ways *I* have fun.

Jul 25, 2008 at 10:46 PM

hassy501
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p.2 #10 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

Ok, this is one thing i've always wanted to ask the unpaid wedding shooters.

What exactly do you do with the photos and what exactly do you do for the bride and groom ?
Fully edit and make a flush mount album ? Give them a fully edited disc ? Print cheap 4x6 proofs for them ? Or give them selective images on media ? Is it a gift in lieu of a real gift ?

Jul 26, 2008 at 12:32 AM

canerino
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p.2 #11 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

alright hassy, i'll play.

my intentions are to capture images for my own personal record, the way that I see their wedding. the photos that i take will most likely get printed to 4x6 and put in one of the photo boxes that I have going.

if i shoot something that is of quality (and I am not delusional about my abilities) that is unique or of something that the pro probably didnt get (after all, i know the style of the people in the wedding WAYY better than the photog), then I will probably get an 8x10 mounted, matted, and framed for them (I use WHCC for prints). i will especially do this if i get a good film shot...my lab does excellent hand processing of enlargements (including all dodging and burning where necessary).

and none of this will be a substitute for my gift to them (this couple will get $400).

but hey, thats me.

Jul 26, 2008 at 01:27 AM

hassy501
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p.2 #12 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

I see.......but you are more than some uncle bob.......you do photography in other areas..........so you can do that for the couple. You appear to be the exception.

I once asked an uncle bob what he was going to do with his photos........he stated, and i quote " Uh, gee, i don't really know"..........."but it's fun"............

Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...................

Jul 26, 2008 at 01:36 AM

ohtoberich
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p.2 #13 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

canerino wrote:
by writing your statement you assume that I have 'fun' the same way that you do. i can assure you that I am very different than you in many ways, thus, I am going to bring my camera AND have fun. i know it sounds CRAZY, but thats one of the many ways *I* have fun.

+1

I bring my camera to parties because I enjoy photography! And that includes weddings.

I give from the registry, and I post some edited photos on flickr. If there's one I particularly like, I print it and give it to the couple too.

Jul 26, 2008 at 01:56 AM

karl_yyz
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p.2 #14 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

well, i wasnt going to address this one because no matter what I write, it will come off as me being ultra defensive, but since it got a +10,000, why not.

it is such a silly statement on so many levels. it would be like me saying to you, 'chocolate ice cream is yucky, you should have vanilla...i dont know, just an idea'.

by writing your statement you assume that I have 'fun' the same way that you do. i can assure you that I am very different than you in many ways, thus, I am going to bring my camera AND have fun. i know it sounds CRAZY, but thats one of the many ways *I* have fun.

Don't sweat it canerino, just go and have fun....YOUR way!

Jul 26, 2008 at 02:03 AM

paregorike
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p.2 #15 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

I might be an "uncle Bob" at a weeding in NEw York on Augsut 9th at St PAtricks Cathedral. I don't plan on being in the way of the photographer but would like to take nice pics on the wedding.

Jul 26, 2008 at 02:23 AM

Paul Bottomley
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p.2 #16 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

I'm more like cousin bob because of my age but I'll bite too since I don't make any money at photography but first I want to explain how I approached the last wedding I went to.

I was asked to bring my equipment along to my wifes cousins wedding last November. She had hired a pro who she knew and asked if she (the pro) would mind if I tagged along and she didn't feel threatened in the least. I basically became a second shooter but there was no sharing of photo's and I at no time got in her way or messed with shots or anything she did that day.

I explained up front I was an amteur and there more to capture things when she was not around for. In the link below I laid on my back for the "circle shot" while she was prepring the bridal party for shots on the second floor, I took shot #30 from below while she took it from the balcony. I got the hockey shots while she took bridesmaid photo's on the steps. She stayed in the limo while the guys went for burgers at this hole in the wall joint

I made a point of moving out of her way when she worked the room for the after dinner speaches yet I managed to get what I feel are a few terrific shots that captured the emotion of the moment while I stayed out of her way. She was no wear to be seen for the last two shots but no one can be everywhere and she can't be faulted for not being around impromptu shots through out the night.

If anyone looks at my photo's they will see they are not pro, the editing sure is not pro level (but I have improved since this and continue to learn) but in the end the bride said my photo's were shots the pro didnt get. If a pro is afraid of my quality then they have a lot more to be worried about than another uncle bob

Ok, so what did I get out of it? I LOVE photography and doing this was a blast to say the least as I am close with this couple and it had real meaning for me. We are very close to my wifes cousins and this made it personal, not just a chance to shoot away. The wedding was in Winnipeg and I live in Calgary about a 2 hour plane ride. Others also travelled to the wedding and some missed it altogether. My shots allow people to view the day because the pro didn't provide them with a disk, only photo's. It's much easier for people to re-live the memories when they can at least see my shots on the web vs. the shots in the b&g's album in Winnipeg which they have never seen.

I am not sure if it has come across in my posts on FM but I even though I aspire to be able to take those perfect shots I see here I believe more than anything that photo's capture memories. When you have an ongoing relationship with your subjects then you have insight into what you want to pull out of find in them. Pro's do this one way by knowing what makes a great shot, I do it by knowing what I know I can get from my friends/family.

So if I am uncle bob then I don't appologize because I am not out to accomplish what the average pro is, great shots that evoke WOW which many here do beyond anything I can hope to do in the near future. I am not the competition, I am a compliment to the pro's great work and the wedding albums they have purchased from the pros prove that.

Anyway, here's the uncle bob link for those who care to look http://cattle.zenfolio.com/p176529736/

Edited on Jul 26, 2008 at 02:42 AM

Jul 26, 2008 at 02:39 AM

hassy501
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p.2 #17 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

I noticed that on the group formals on the steps, some of the people were looking at the pros camera and some were looking at you....in the same exposure....how did you guys work that ? Were you shooting off camera what the pro was shooting ? If so, why are some of the bridal party looking at your camera ?

That is one of the banes of pros......distracting eyes wandering NOT knowing who to look at .........

I've heard it time and time again over the years where a bride will complain that not everyone is looking in the same place..........I then explain that I can only do so much since SHE had many people taking photos at the same time and it wasn't my place to try to stop them..............

In the scope of an entire wedding, if a professional had TEN photographers shooting, they would not be able to capture EVERYTHING in the eyes of someone....anyone.......there would always be someone to fault them........just how many expos can a photographer be expected to shoot ?

Business is business........we sell a look, a style.......a product. We don't shoot just to shoot regardless of the amount of photos........guests have no limits.........and they have NO other weddings, portraits, commercial etc. jobs to work..............they shoot ONE wedding and can spend limitless hours working on it..................................

Personally, I would not take my camera to a wedding i was invited too.......why would i want to be running around when i could be enjoying food, drink and friends...........not sweating and working.

I'm just totally confused by that...but to a point i can understand being that you don't shoot weddings every weekend.........so for you it's unique time to have some fun at something that doesn't come around often............

Edited on Jul 26, 2008 at 03:01 AM

Jul 26, 2008 at 02:54 AM

Paul Bottomley
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p.2 #18 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

Hassy, I understand what you are saying but I can assure you with 100% confidence that for "every pose" she did my camera ws tilted straightdown for at least the first 5 shots she fired (she took a lot btw). I shot some at the end of each pose and that is why they were looking two places in some instances. The expection to this was the jumping shots which we stood side by side and fired away like crazy for about 5 or 6 jumps. That was her idea as she knew how hard it is to nail everyone in these.

She was great to be around and when I offered to back away in a couple of instances she asked "why"?

I hope that helps, I just thought my first post was to long to begin with without every detail I could think of.

PS - I had more than my share of great food and time with people when the camera was parked on the table. No sense in missing that

Edited on Jul 26, 2008 at 03:06 AM

Jul 26, 2008 at 03:03 AM

Mike Yamin
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p.2 #19 · How to NOT be an "Uncle Bob"?

I was just thinking, wouldn't it be funny to pull out a giant novelty camera and say "look at my camera please"? Just dwarf all of the distracting Uncle Bobs with your massive inflatable DSLR.

Jul 26, 2008 at 04:56 AM


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