A Texas-based wedding photographer has gained viral attention after she took the bold step of asking guests to put away their phones during a ceremony.
Jennifer Banegas has been a photographer for two years and shared the moment on TikTok in a video with over 1 million views. She said, “Watch me become the bad guy at a wedding,” as the video showed her addressing guests attempting to capture their own photos and footage as the bride walked down the aisle—ultimately disrupting the shots Banegas was hired to capture.
“Lately, I’ve noticed that phones at weddings are more prevalent than ever. Guests often want to capture their own photos, either for personal keepsakes or to post instantly on social media,” Banegas told Newsweek. “This tends to be most disruptive during the ceremony, as guests frequently lean or extend their arms into the aisle, trying to get a ‘better’ shot.”
In the video, several guests can be seen with arms and phones extended into the aisle, blocking Banegas’ view of the bride. She said that she had to intervene to fulfill her professional responsibility to capture the ceremony. “I felt compelled to speak up because I was hired to do my job and capture the ceremony as professionally as possible,” she added.
Banegas’ stance has resonated with many on TikTok, where users overwhelmingly supported her position. One commenter, @Molly, wrote: “Hot take, but if you’re paying a photographer it should be a no-phones ceremony. LIVE IN THE MOMENT, PEOPLE.”
Another commenter, @Skincare&Giggles, said: “This is always the case. I’m considering making an announcement in the downtime when everyone is waiting for the ceremony to start. ‘Absolutely no one in the aisle. Not even just your hands/phone.’”
Other wedding professionals also joined the conversation, sharing how they, too, have encouraged couples to consider “unplugged” ceremonies—where guests are politely asked to put away their devices for certain parts of the wedding.
Although most comments were supportive, Banegas said that some individuals expressed differing views, with a few saying that guest photography doesn’t always bother them. “Ultimately, my goal is to capture what my clients want—if they’re comfortable with guests taking photos, then I’m happy to work around it,” Banegas added.
For wedding guests, Banegas shared a final piece of advice: “I’d encourage them to trust the photographer to capture the important moments. Embracing the day without the distraction of a phone allows everyone to fully experience and enjoy the celebration.”
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