To be entirely honest, people blocking and things like that shows lack of communication and articulation skills from the photographer. It has nothing to do with the guest... They don't block you without a good reason or if they know they shouldn't be in front of you.
There is no such thing as luck if you don't "manage" what is manageable.
Unfortunately for me, i do communicate with gwc standing close to me and this is what i usually say, "Hi my name is bla bla bla.. i am the wed photog for today, i hope we can come to a mutual understanding that you will not be in the way while i'm shooting." If i am lucky they will smile and nod and only remember what i said for a minute. If not they will glare and give me the "so what" look and walk away preparing their evil plan to kidnap the moon.
Well, if you use the top end camera and gear, I don't think it will be an issue anymore... Unfortunately it is something is unavoidable... If you rock up with D3X there is no one is going to better you in terms of equipment. To be honest, sometimes this is the way to stop people questioning about equipment stuff.
I still think that equipment shouldn't really matter, like bengchiat had mentioned, even if i should with a D3X lets say, then what if a rich gwc pop up out of no where and shoot with a MF? Give way to the almighty MF and run around looking for another spot to shoot during that short fast moment, for example when the couple is kissing?:bsmilie:
It is more often than not, the demeanor of the photographer that created the "tension" and created the "competition".... One need to start to learn how to articulate.
Taking great images just part of the equation, if one being complaint more than once for the same thing, change it... It is a problem and don't ignore that.
Don't bring the "I AM THE Photographer" attitude... I have seen it far to many of that kind of attitude and they seems to create "issue" with guest which makes their own life a little difficult.
We can't always see things from our perspective....
For myself, i have never showed an attitude of "Hell yeah i am the photog today ya! Check out my pimp'ed equips ya'll, show me some respecta!":bsmilie: I always smile, stop shooting when others suddenly crowd in and start shooting the couples, give way so that they can have a good shot too and even make small chats just so that they are aware of my presence. Just that sometimes i think i am a little timid since the pressure is there on me to deliver and yet at the same time have to be so courteous to the wedding guest as i don't want to end up in their bad books, so i let them stomp all over me.
Great images is only great to land you the job, what makes the different between one photographer can "grow" so quickly is how well they handle their clients.
No doubt, you have seen some Photographers who thinks too highly of themselves and even say they know too much to their job and charge to little for their knowledge but they still seems to be where they were 10 years ago.
One can't expect different result by doing the same thing again and again. One can't expect people to do something if one don't even try.
Regards,
Hart
