The wedding photographer we used still uses our shots in promotional materials. I'm flattered! But the marriage ended just months after those pictures were taken because I found out she was having an affair.
Its just how photography copyright law works. The person who presses the button owns the photo. I was a wedding photog or a while. I wouldn't stop the couples sharing my photos on social media, but they wouldn't be allowed to sell the photos for use in marketing or anything. Nit that ot ever came up.
If a couple asked me not to use their photos for advertising then I would have taken them down, not because I was legally obliged to, but because I'm not a horrible person.
When I was getting started I charged less, because I didn't have examples of my work at weddings. But I made it very clear to the couple that I would be using the photos for advertising o get my business off the ground, so they knew their pics would be all over my website, etc.
Yes, as far as I'm aware that's pretty standard practice. We signed a contract essentially saying the photographer owned all rights to the photos and could use them however they wanted forever. We were simply going to be given a copy which we couldn't use for anything other than personal reasons.
I ended up becoming Facebook friends with a lot of my couples (wedding DJ) because we worked so closely together…I became invested in the couple and event emotionally and made it a point to care about them and advocate for them at every point. See Forrest Gump carrying Bubba out of the Vietnam jungle…sometimes getting through the ceremony and reception is like that and you become bonded by trauma 😂
Always hated when certain couples did not make it…but lots of times the ones who are just a pleasure to work with take care of each other and stay together.