Centrepiece Wedding Magazine Issue 03 | Page 20

Camera Phones - A blessing or a curse for your wedding?

Camera phones are great. They're with you all the time so you can take or show a picture at a moment's notice. You don't miss a thing with one in your pocket.

But do you want to spend your entire wedding day surrounded by people glued to their phones trying to take the perfect shot of you, or worse the perfect selfie, to upload?

It's one of those things that divide people. Some couples have a blanket ban on camera phones for their big day while others create their own hashtag to easily find all the photos their guests upload of the day. It is a myth, however, that professional photographers don't like your guests taking pictures. Most don't mind whatsoever but it can be hard for them to get a great shot with everyone stood in the way trying to get theirs.

So what are you going to do for your big day? Are you going to embrace the digital age and everything that comes with sharing all online or are you going to make sure your guests are focussing on you rather than trying to get you into focus?

There are pros and cons to either:

Pros:

- You get loads of free photos!

- The whole day is captured from every angle,

- If everyone is uploading them they're easy and instant to access and share,

Cons:

- you paid for a professional photographer!

- your professional photos will be filled with people on their phones,

- or even worse your professional photographs will be full of unwanted camera flashes and bystanders,

- what if you don't want your wedding day online?

- The images will be harder to share afterwards.

Whatever you decide, make sure you let your guests know either in advance on the invitations or on the order of service on the big day. Your choice shouldn't bother your guests but if you're worried about it have an area with a photobooth or props your guests can use at the reception for their own photos.

By Cassandra Davis