I shot a wedding once where the groom tried never to smile and the bride, though quite beautiful, wore a dress that was about six inches too long. The groom stood stoically at the alter while his bride stumbled down the isle walking on the bottom of her dress. Both wearing embarrassed expressions but not quite for the same reason. Result - disaster for me! I made a few decisions after that wedding. Believe me, I’ve learned some of my lessons the hard way.
Shooting a wedding can be a very difficult thing and I truly feel sorry for the photographer who indiscriminately accepts every assignment that comes his way. I do not! People see my wedding pictures and choose me because they want their wedding pictures to look the same as the ones they’ve seen. Frankly, it’s impossible to do this for every client who comes my way.
So I ask strange questions. I want to know who’s planning the event and how the plans are coming along. I try to meet with the couple long before the wedding (when possible) to see how they respond to each other, and how they respond to me. I want to know that the story they want their wedding album to tell really is possible. Sometimes a bad apple slips through the cracks, but I try.
It’s vital that the couple provide the wedding photographer with what he needs to tell the story the way they really want it told. Of course, I’m going to prod, and direct, and suggest this and that. I’ll say what works and imply what does not. I crave the spirit of the bold and unconventional. I want time to run about laughing myself silly - if that fits, or time to be candid, dreamy, and romantic. The goal is to find the couple who can have the story I can enthusiastically give.
Shooting a wedding can be a very difficult thing and I truly feel sorry for the photographer who indiscriminately accepts every assignment that comes his way. I do not! People see my wedding pictures and choose me because they want their wedding pictures to look the same as the ones they’ve seen. Frankly, it’s impossible to do this for every client who comes my way.
So I ask strange questions. I want to know who’s planning the event and how the plans are coming along. I try to meet with the couple long before the wedding (when possible) to see how they respond to each other, and how they respond to me. I want to know that the story they want their wedding album to tell really is possible. Sometimes a bad apple slips through the cracks, but I try.
It’s vital that the couple provide the wedding photographer with what he needs to tell the story the way they really want it told. Of course, I’m going to prod, and direct, and suggest this and that. I’ll say what works and imply what does not. I crave the spirit of the bold and unconventional. I want time to run about laughing myself silly - if that fits, or time to be candid, dreamy, and romantic. The goal is to find the couple who can have the story I can enthusiastically give.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments welcome, but will be moderated.