This can be one of the most frustrating parts of a wedding ceremony from a professional wedding photographer’s point of view, especially in England. Church of England ministers and Local Authority-employed Registrars seem to be completely divided and often incoherent over what I, as the official photographer, should be allowed to do when it comes to the signing of the Register. The marriage ceremony is their responsibility and the church, hotel room or other venue is their domain. I am a professional photographer and I respect their position, but my aim is to record your day as unobtrusively and artistically as possible. Every part of that day belongs to you, it does not belong to the photographer, videographer, minister, verger or Registrar. As a full-time professional wedding photographer of well over a decade, I have seen all of the other bit-players on that list behave unprofessionally at weddings. No doubt each of those has encountered an unprofessional photographer and that is certainly the reason behind the current shambles of divided opinion amongst celebrants.
Quite simply, some Registrars and ministers will allow me photograph the signing as it happens, which allows me to create believable documentary images. Then there is the type of celebrant who, for reasons best known only to themselves, will not allow any photography and insist on me setting the shot up with a mock register and a biro for the couple to grip and then grin inanely at each other for the camera, after the event.
The point is, if you want a genuine documentary record of your wedding, then tell the Registrar or Minister that that is what you want and insist upon them allowing me to do the job for which you are paying me. You can even tell them that I don’t actually photograph the entry on the register page. I, of course, am a professional. I will continue to politely introduce myself to your celebrant on your wedding day in order to find out what their ground rules are. I will always abide by whatever rules they see fit for that particular day in the knowledge that the rules will change by the following week. Clear as mud, isn’t it?
I get told that it is because they need to keep the details of the people who have signed above secret and private. An unscrupulous ‘tog can snap the register and blow it up later and commit identity theft. As if!!
As you gain more experience, you’ll find that the usual reason for not being allowed to photograph the signing is because of ‘….data protection….’. We then have to go through the farce of setting it up with a blank register page and a biro, because the celebrant thinks it is a good idea.
The result is that couples are disappointed and feel silly and the (genuine professional) photographer is irritated and frustrated by being tarred with an unwelcome brush.
However, given the crass stupidity of some ‘wedding photographers’ (and videographers), I can see why there is no set rule. Those celebrants who have had bad experiences at the hands of photographers and videographers will not allow photography, those who trust the photographer might allow it this time. Either way, it is encumbent upon you as the photographer to introduce yourself to the celebrant, establish their ground rules for the day and adhere to them. My approach has always been, and always will be, to remain professional throughout. As long as you make the couple aware of the situation, you have done your best. Transgress those variable ground rules and you deserve to pay the price.