The wedding season is upon us once again, and while couples celebrate their big day, wedding photographers often face some truly strange and frustrating requests. From unrealistic edits to awkward moments, these unsung heroes who capture your special day have their fair share of challenges. Here’s a look at some of the oddest demands wedding photographers have encountered.

  1. “Can you make us brighter?”
    Bipradip Chakraborty, a wedding photographer from Kolkata, recalled a particularly uncomfortable request: “Can you make our pictures brighter since we are dusky?” While photographers aim to highlight natural beauty, altering skin tone is not part of their job. He also shared a request to change a saree’s color in every photo, asking for a red-golden Benarasi look instead of the red-silver one. His least favorite request? Capturing people mid-bite while eating – something he says no one wants to see.
  2. Instagram Dreams Gone Too Far
    Abhishek Goel, from Delhi, expressed frustration with couples trying to replicate Instagram-worthy weddings. “They want a copy-paste event from Pinterest or Instagram, but our job is to highlight their individuality,” he explained. Another annoyance? Guests insisting on taking photos with their phones, which disrupts the professional shots being taken.
  3. Public Displays of Awkwardness
    Nitesh Valecha, a photographer from Lucknow, finds exaggerated public displays of affection (PDA) during photoshoots uncomfortable. “I believe keeping it natural works wonders,” he said. His biggest irritation? Families rushing through couple shoots amid the chaos of wedding rituals, expecting perfect shots in minutes.
  4. The Superhuman Photographer Myth
    Sambaran Kumar Pal, a photographer from Chandannagar, near Kolkata, highlighted how couples sometimes expect photographers to perform miracles. “Some think Photoshop can make them look taller, slimmer, or fix makeup issues,” he said. His biggest pet peeve is last-minute shoots after dinner when everyone is exhausted and makeup has worn off.
  5. Social Media Obsession
    Surjayan Mukherjee, another Kolkata-based photographer, shared the challenge of social media-driven demands. “Pose changes and requests to replicate unrealistic photos derail the schedule,” he said. Additionally, early morning calls followed by long waiting periods add to the frustration.
  6. Missing Guests and Crying Brides
    Siladitya Dutta, also from Kolkata, was asked to digitally insert a friend who couldn’t attend the wedding into the group photo and to add fireworks to the images. But the most irritating request? Retouching makeup after a bride’s tears had washed away her kajal.

While wedding photographers are always ready to capture beautiful moments, it’s clear that not all requests are easy to fulfill. And in the age of social media, managing expectations can be as tricky as taking the perfect shot.

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