Put Thee Cell Phone Away!

Here’s the thing: I honestly don’t mind them. People are excited; they want to capture moments for themselves. I get it. I’ve even embraced it occasionally, shooting through cell phones to grab a unique perspective that actually adds to the story of the day. But… there’s a line, and that line is when your cell phone ends up smack in the middle of my shot.

A lot of photographers and videographers in this industry make a huge fuss about cell phones at weddings. They’ll rant about it in posts, which, to be fair, does get a lot of shares, likes, and comments—and maybe even some new clients. But I’m not here to jump on that bandwagon. In an ideal world, sure, it’d be great if cell phones stayed tucked away. The professionals were hired for a reason: to capture your loved ones and all the big moments beautifully and unobstructed.

I’ve noticed it’s mostly boomers and millennials who whip out their phones, which makes sense. If it’s your son, your daughter, or your best friend getting married, you want your own memory of the moment. I get that. But here’s what I’d love for everyone to consider: when a photographer or videographer asks you to put your phone away, they’re not being a buzzkill. They’re asking because editing those phones out later is no small task. For video, it means going frame by frame, creating intricate masks, and spending hours ensuring your phone isn’t a distracting blob in the shot.

I’ll admit, it’s a big ask to expect people to think about the editing process in the heat of the moment. But if you’re attending a wedding, try to remind yourself: there’s a team of professionals paid thousands of dollars to document this day perfectly. Trust them to do their job.

Now, let’s talk about the exceptions. If someone sticks their phone out into the aisle while the bride is walking down, I will say something. I have to. That’s a make-or-break moment, and if I’m timid about it and end up with a ruined shot, there’s no way I’m telling the couple, “Sorry, there was nothing I could do.” There’s always something I can do, and if it means politely intervening in the moment, I’ll do it.

I’ve had to step in several times to protect the “money shot,” and I don’t feel bad about it. That’s part of why I’m hired—to ensure the couple gets the best possible footage. Beyond that, though, I’m pretty chill. Most of the time, I’ll just work around the phones. If the vibe of the film calls for it, I’ll even use those moments in the edit to show a different perspective.

So, to sum up: if you’re a guest, enjoy the day, maybe take a few quick snaps, but trust the pros to handle the big stuff. And if your phone’s in my way during a critical shot? That’s when I’ll care. Otherwise, I’ll keep doing what I do best—capturing memories, even if that means weaving through a sea of cell phones.