Available light photography at weddings 169Isolated incidents like this, showing a lack of respect, have led
many churches to ban professional photographers from the
church entirely, or relegate them to back corners or balconies.
Rules are now in place at some churches requiring that profes-
sionals not use fl ash during the service. Some churches even ask
wedding photographers to sign documents holding them to the
rules before being allowed to work in that venue. It’s unclear
what, if anything, might happen to a guest who violates the
policy and Joe has asked many church offi cials this very ques-
tion. The result is usually a blank look, but one minister made
an announcement before the wedding asking guests not to take
fl ash pictures. Guess what? They ignored him. So much for
decorum.New technology = new opportunities
The ability to set professional digital SLR cameras to high ISO
(800, 1600, 2500, 3200, 6400, and now even 25600!) has opened
up successful available light photography in even the darkest ofA helping hand. Reluctant fl ower girls get an escort to the altar from Dad. These moments happen in a
heartbeat and can’t be repeated, much less “staged” later. The storytelling photographer can’t let down his
or her guard for a minute. This moment happened, obviously, as the girls walked down the aisle. Barry was
kneeling to photograph them walking toward the camera and rotated around when the wedding party started
laughing behind him. Dad rushed forward to escort the girls the last few steps. © 2005 Barry Staver.