Wedding Photo Etiquette

Photo Credit: Diana Lewkowicz Photography

Most everyone loves taking photos at weddings. We all want to capture those special moments: the bride’s walk down the aisle, the first dance, the toasts, cutting the cake and more. I’m a huge photo-taker myself, but at a wedding I recently attended, I couldn’t help but notice how impossible it was to get a decent shot due to the number of other guests armed with cell phones, iPads or digital cameras. Just when I thought I had a great picture lined up, someone would pop in front of me, block the view and start clicking away with her own camera or cell phone. I gave up and later asked the couple if I could just take a few photos of them. They happily obliged.

Now, if I found it impossible to get some decent photos, imagine how frustrating all the guest paparazzi are to professional wedding photographers. Their goal is to present the bride and groom with a beautiful portfolio sans the interference of guests’ heads, arms, cell phones, iPads or cameras blocking the view. Plus, all those flashes can cause a picture to become blown out or create red or green focus dots on the subject. And some couples simply do not want any photos posted on social media sites before they’ve had a chance to receive professional pictures from their photographer.

Photo Credit: Diana Lewkowicz Photography

To the rescue: Photo Etiquette Cards, designed by Diana Lewkowicz, a photographer from Falls Church, VA and founder of Photoquette. “Wedding clients and most event planners spend thousands of dollars to hire a photographer,” says Diana. “It’s frustrating when a photographer is competing with the guests, and what a waste of money the investment becomes for the couple. The Photo Etiquette Cards are a sophisticated solution and offer a graceful manner in which to ask guests to put their cameras away, live in the moment and enjoy the special occasion.”

The cards are available in six designs — from traditional to modern to vintage-inspired — and are pre-cut into five-inch-diameter rounds with a pre-printed message. They come in packs of 100 for $50 — well worth it to ensure the money you’re spending on photography doesn’t go to waste.

You may want to present the cards only at the ceremony or customize the wording for an additional charge, i.e. “Please allow our photographer to take the first photos of our special moments.” So if you’re the least bit concerned about having your photos compromised and want to unplug your wedding, be sure to visit photoetiquettecards.com and place an order. Your photographer will be most appreciative, and your guests will soon adjust to the idea of just relaxing and having fun instead of frantically competing for floor space to get the perfect shot.

—Diane Forden