Why I Like to Shoot Weddings

I am often asked why I like to shoot weddings, so I thought I’d take some time to write down some answers. Indeed, after another busy weekend of shooting and with hours of editing in front of me, I might need to convince myself that I’m not crazy!!

The Bride and Groom. First and foremost, it has to be about the bride and groom - there is nothing as satisfying as hearing genuine appreciation for the way I have captured the emotion and fun of the day in an authentic and honest way. Obviously I enjoy the art of photography and am proud of my work; but, it all counts for nothing if the clients I am sharing my work with don’t fall in love with my photographs.

The technical challenge. Successfully covering a wedding from Bridal Preparation through to the First Dance (and beyond) demands 100% familiarity with my gear (cameras, lights, lenses, filters, etc) and a good understanding of photographic theory/technique. I tend to think of a classic Christian-type wedding as a number of phases; each one demanding slightly different techniques ranging from macro (detail) shots, portraiture, families/group work and event work (music/dance). There are a some photographers who’ll say that it’s possible to shoot a wedding with the camera permanently set to ‘P’ mode (Programme Mode) - not for me I’m afraid. I find it necessary to exploit most of the shooting modes on my DSLR as I try to cope with changes in lighting, subject movement and the need for varying focal lengths. I relish this challenge and continue to hone my skills so that my work doesn’t become stale and boring.

The People. Every wedding has its own crowd and a different dynamic. In order to be successful as a documentary style wedding photographer I believe that I have to be noticed to be unnoticed if that doesn’t sound silly. In my experience, wedding guests have to be comfortable with my presence before they’ll forget that I’m around. I really enjoy the interaction at the very beginning where I try to identify those people who will work with me and those who will resist. It is the latter group that I concentrate-on; gradually coercing and encouraging them until they accept that I have a job to do for the Bride and Groom. Inevitably there will still be a stubborn few who will frown at me right through to the end of the evening - their problem not mine!

The Other Vendors/Suppliers. Despite what I’ve said above about mixing with the guests, etc; wedding photography can sometimes be a lonely job. However, there are generally other vendors/suppliers on site and I always try to seek their company when I get isolated. The quietest times for me are during the wedding breakfast - a perfect chance to meet the band or DJ as they’re setting-up, or say hello to the bar staff and ensure they are ready to ply me with diet coke for the duration of the evening!! I recently shot a wedding where the entertainment included an ABBA tribute band - I really enjoyed meeting Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid ;-)