It’s a phenomenon that’s been getting more annoying by the day. You go to a big event like a wedding or a concert. You’re ready to enjoy it. Can you see what’s happening?
Probably not. Odds are, your view is being blocked by phones. Instead of paying attention to the event, people watch it through their phone screens, trying to capture the event for Instagram or whatever.
Wedding and lifestyle photographer Hannah Mbalenhle Stanley has had enough. She posted a photo on Facebook to illustrate the problem:
This was an important moment for the bride. Her father was walking her down the aisle. Was Stanley able to capture the moment? No. She explains here:
To the girl with the iPhone…
Not only did you ruin my shot, but you took this moment away from the groom, father of the bride, and the bride. What exactly do you plan on doing with that photo? Honestly. Are you going to print it out? Save it? Look at it everyday? No. You’re not.
Stanley is right. Do people look at all the pictures on their phone? Doubtful. Stanley continues:
But my bride would have printed this photo, looked at it often and reminisced over this moment as her dad walked her down the aisle on her wedding day. But instead, you wanted to take a photo with your phone, blocking my view, and taking a photo that you will not use.
Rude. It’s really a selfish move, if you think about it. This guest is putting her need to capture every moment with her phone above the needs of the bride. Stanley has a message for wedding guests:
Guests, please stop viewing weddings you attend through a screen but instead turn OFF your phone, and enjoy the ceremony. You are important to the bride and groom, you would not be attending the wedding otherwise. So please, let me do my job, and you just sit back, relax and enjoy this once in a lifetime moment.
Sincerely,
Wedding photographers
Honestly, it’s easier to enjoy moments if you just, well, enjoy them instead of trying to capture them on your phone. Turn your phone off and enjoy the wedding, or the movie, or the concert.
Please?
