You cannot be both.

If you have been to a wedding recently you may have noticed how many people are taking photos on that day. Nothing wrong with it, but why do not enjoy moments and remember them for what they are?

If you really cannot avoid taking photos, well it’s fine. It’s just matter of keeping an eye and respect the other people around you. Maybe if you notice the official photographer is just behind you while the bride is coming along the aisle, well.. you could maybe avoid standing on the aisle itself and taking photos from the side.

From the Neil van Niekerk’s blog post:

1. With the family portrait session, let the hired professional photographer be the only one taking photos.
2. Don’t obstruct the hired professional’s view of the processional or other key events.
3. As a guest, you really don’t *have* to take tons of photographs as well.
4. Don’t put emotional pressure on the bride to get permission to also be a photographer at the wedding.
5. My advice? Be the wedding guest, not the photographer.
   

A recent article on the Off-Beat Bride blog, dealt with the topic of the unplugged wedding: couples tell guests to put down their devices.
I can assure you that often it’s not a bad idea at all

A wedding is something that takes months to prepare. Every moment is carefully planned, and everything usually happens as you want it to happen. Still, something might go wrong.

That’s why it’s extremely important to have your services done by an experienced photographer who really cares about you and takes all possible measures to minimize risk. A professional will put all effort to ensure you get a flawless service.
Read further to learn how I care for your peace of mind.

Gear.
I always shoot a wedding with at least two cameras, plus an additional camera and two flash units in my car. Just in case. Should all my SLRs fail at the same time, my Canon G11 is in my coat pocket. The importance of having adequate backup equipment cannot be stressed enough. No investment in batteries and memory cards is ever wasted!

Insurance.
I am insured against any damage caused accidentally to any person or property during the provision of the service. This could be a simple accident such as someone tripping over a tripod to being “bumped” with a long lens right through to more serious issues.
Public Liability insurance also covers damage to 3rd party property.

Backup.
A good backup routine is extremely important to keep all those precious photos safe. I always make multiple copies of my work and store off-site backups. I have at least four copies of all weddings stored in different locations.