As a professional wedding photographer, I regularly interact with all parties involved in taking a wedding from start to finish: wedding planner, maid of honor, best man, catering staff, hotel special events coordinator, family, friends and of course, the bride and groom themselves. For truly successful wedding photography it is necessary for all the moving parts of a wedding to work together in a smooth and cohesive manner in order for me to capture the perfect shots and tell the full story of the couple’s special day.
A few months ago, a nervous bride and her mother sat down with me for the imperative final meeting just a few days before the wedding. Well prepared with itineraries, schedules, and invoices, the bride opened a three ring binder labeled “Wedding Day” and handed me a photography checklist. Bridal magazines and wedding planning guide books love these neat little photo inventory lists. Photographers don’t always share the same sentiment.
The bride had meticulously checked off shots necessary for me to take on their wedding day. I scanned down the small font list, my eyes momentarily halting on items such as Bride with Mother, Bride with Groom, and — my favorite — Bride Walking Down the Aisle.
I’m a firm believer in the axiom “redundancy is better than error.” However, how could any wedding photographer overlook the shot of the Bride Walking Down the Aisle?
Professional wedding photographers share a unique relationship with their client. We are a potpourri of hired gun, artist, and psychologist. The details required by photographers to get the very best shot are far beyond just a few checked boxes on a list. These details that cannot be written down on a list because they are so personal and second nature that you don’t realize their significance — these details must come out in a client-photographer conversation.
The idiosyncrasies of every family can be complex, colorful, sometimes dysfunctional and always entertaining. Therefore, it is imperative that the photographer and couple have a frank conversation prior to the wedding about family and friends. This conversation is so important that it should be in the Wedding Day binder right after “buy wedding cake.”
This conversation is the couple’s opportunity to fill in the missing details between those little checked boxes. It is their only chance, before the wedding, to give the photographer all the needed details to get the perfect shot.
For instance, the bride’s family may be getting together for the first time in 5 years. Or perhaps the groom’s sister just found out she will be having a baby boy. The details of interpersonal relationships are endless, and photographically priceless. Such detailed conversations prior to the wedding helps both the photographer and the client put the family and friends into perspective.
These little morsels of family lore will help the photographer produce their own checklist that reflects each family’s unique characteristics.
So, after I looked over the bride’s generic list of shots to take, we talked for almost an hour. She spoke openly about her family, friends, and future husband.
Through this conversation, I discovered the following:
- She and her brother are best friends.
- Her fiancée can’t dance
- Her mom will cry at the drop of a hat
- Her great grandmother just turned 104
Wedding Photography: Capturing the emotions
Knowing this information, I was able to capture four priceless shots:
- Her brother’s face during the ceremony
- The groom’s proud, relieved, and delighted expression at the end of the first dance
- The moisture welling up in mom’s eyes during the bride’s toast
- The bride tenderly embracing her great grandmother’s weathered and brittle hands
Guest Blogger: Paul Barnett
Since opening his San Diego photography studio in 1991, Paul Barnett has garnered a reputation as the top wedding photographer in San Diego. His team has over 75 years of collective experience photographing weddings, engagements, family and baby portraits, and corporate headshots and events. See Paul’s work at www.barnettphoto.com and connect with us on Facebook.
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Capture of a day that for some is the most important day in their lives is critical. I can only wish that I had someone who is as obviously caring as what is demonstrated here at my wedding. You really dont know how important things like this can be until you realize that you dont have the connection to that day.
I love this site I would love to feature some of your images on my site as well! Let me know if your interested
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Those are beautifully shot moments
Liberty recently posted..My Husband; the Consummate Flirt, the Rock Star
That hands shot, amazing!
tampa wedding photographer recently posted..Clearwater Family Photography {L family beach family portraits}
“I’m a firm believer in the axiom “redundancy is better than error.” However, how could any wedding photographer overlook the shot of the Bride Walking Down the Aisle?”
This post had me in stitches as well as being amazingly touching. Absolutely love the shot of the bride and her grandmother. Goes to show that time spent building a rapport and taking a real interest in our couples and their families can reap rewards.
Rob Dodsworth recently posted..Cambridgeshire Wedding Photographer – South Farm
Wow, “Bride with Groom” is my favorite. Great article, and so very true! Wonderful examples of how a conversation with the bride resulted in better wedding photos.
Laura recently posted..Holiday party tips for seasonal celebrations
I like this image
Great post. I couldn’t agree more with talking to the couple as much as possible about their relationships with family and friends. You can capture moments that you may not have known would be significant to them otherwise.
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