An interesting question I received in an email recently from another photographer, had me thinking about how to articulate my style in photographing weddings:
Do you sometimes feel as if you can’t be inconspicuous in order to get a certain shot during a wedding? There have been times I feel like I’m not blending into the background enough. How do you handle this?
In trying to verbalise my answer, I came upon some interesting insights for myself.
Firstly, although I believe there is a strong sense of story-telling in my photography, I’m not particularly purist about the idea of ‘photojournalism’ in wedding photography. I do interact with people and especially during the portrait session, I do direct the bride and groom – all in an effort to give my couples the best wedding photographs I can. But even even when I interact with my couples and direct them, I still aim for spontaneity and genuine expressions.
How then do I blend in and remain inconspicious? For me this has more to do with being accepted within the group of family and friends – and in that way less obviously stand out – rather than the ‘ninja’ mindset that many wedding photographers try to hold up, trying to become invisible.
A comment on my blog by a groom’s mom gave me a key insight into something I hadn’t thought of before or tried to verbalise before receiving Regina’s email. The groom’s mother wrote:
It was like a friend of the family taking loving pictures.
You made the photo shoots actually fun and it shows in your work.
As I already mentioned, I’m not a ‘photojournalistic’ photographer, although I do photograph largely in an unposed, unplanned style through most of the day …
… but during the course of the portrait session, I begin by directing the couple (and the bridal party), and interacting with them – and eventually they ‘take over’ naturally and act more like themselves .. and more spontaneously. In a sense then I have become less of a distraction, and I’m less noticed.
I feel that once I’ve built that rapport with a bride and groom and their family and friends, I become less noticeable. Confidence in being around people and working with people also greatly helps here.
.
During the portrait sessions, and engagement sessions, I try for a natural approach. I do want my couples to appear relaxed and look like themselves. To this end, I “take myself out of the picture”, by using a longer lens and having talk to each other and just cuddle and walk, and just be together. This will definitely help with any nervousness in front of the camera – and give portraits which appear casual and relaxed.
