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Carpe Diem!!! What
documentary photography (also called "photojournalism") is all about
and how to make the most from your photographer's skills… A good documentary
photographer can most often slide around a subject unnoticed, capturing
moments that would otherwise be lost to time, excitement and champagne.
Other times it is necessary for a photographer to get close to his
subject. If it is that documentary or "photojournalism" style of
photography you've chosen to seize your day, plan ahead to work with
the photographer by relaxing and enjoying your moment. So many times the
people being photographed feel an obligation to pose when the camera is
upon them, but the best photographs come from subjects who are so into
the moment that they are oblivious to the camera. Here's a good
example of what I mean: everyone remembers the iconoclastic photograph
of three firemen hoisting the American flag on top of a pile of rubble.
Think of what that photograph would have been had they stopped to pose
for the photographer. It's an extreme example yes, but the affect of
photojournalism - true photojournalism - the beauty of the reality
and the honesty of the moment, is essentially the same. Imagine your
wedding photographs having the same feeling, that same heart tug. Ten
years from now, long after the cake has been eaten and the flowers have
died, you'll open your album, or treasured photo box, and reminisce
those moments - remembered and forgotten - picture by picture. Some time in the weeks
before your wedding day, tell your bridal party you've chosen a
documentary style photographer, and for this reason you want them to
relax at your wedding and not feel an obligation to "pose" should
they notice a camera lens turned their way. Tell them to grab their
friends and pose for group shots at any time, but to resist the desire
to pose each time the photographer has the camera pointed in their
direction. Talk with your fiancé, too, about what you want from your
wedding photography. If you want a full documentary of your day and he
only wants a few photos snapped, tell him he'll only have to pose for
a few formals - then leave the rest of the work to the photographer.
Your sound decision to use a documentary photographer will be reflected
in the hundreds of beautiful photographs you'll come to love and
cherish. How
to pose for posed photographs and how to get the best formals from your
photographer… Most of this is, again,
the work of the photographer, but there a few things you can do to
ensure you get the most from posed portraiture. Here are some often
encountered difficulties in which wedding photographers are often faced
and how you can help prevent these problems. The
situation: Posed portraiture has
been delayed because a groomsman or bridesmaid is late. This occurs
quite frequently and has delayed the schedule up to an hour or more in
some cases. The
result: Fewer photographs for you. You have a finite time between
when formal photographs begin and when they end. A good photographer
will, of course, wisely use waiting time to photograph other things, but
by the time the late person arrives, the photographer is rushed to
finish the session on time. Just as you wouldn't want your caterer to
rush the job and potentially compromise your food decor, neither do you
want your photographer to be hurried. How
you can help: Remind everyone - this includes the bridal party and
both families - when and where posed photographs are to begin. Remind
them to be dressed and ready to go by this time. Remind the groomsmen
that they will need to put on their boutonnieres before photographs are
to begin. Florists should have all bridal party flowers at the ceremony
site several hours before photographs are to be taken, so attendant's
bouquets and the bridal bouquet, and the church flowers, should be in
place before formal photographs are to begin. The
situation: Two of the attendants
are chewing gum. A bridesmaid and a groomsman continue to talk during
the formal photography session. The
result: Either their mouths look funny in the photos because they
were chewing or talking, or the photographer must stop the session,
correct the talking attendants (sometimes repeatedly) and/or wait for
the gum-chewing attendants to spit out their gum. This can be especially
frustrating for the wedding couple and the photographer as well. How
you can help: Ask your family and wedding party (especially if it is
a large one) to refrain from chewing gum during the photo session. Tell
them also to refrain from talking to each other during the formal
shooting session. Eyes should be directed at the camera's lens and
everyone should be smiling. A good photographer will happily remind
everyone of these good practices at the session, but it saves a
considerable amount of time if, beforehand, everyone knows exactly what
to do. And more time means one thing - more quality pictures for you! The
situation: The photographer is
taking posed portraits, or photos of the cake-cutting and eating, and
guests are either taking pictures over her shoulder or asking her to
move out of the way so that they can take their own photographs. The
result: Harsh shadows, technically incorrect photographs from the
flashes of other camera users. If the photographer has to stop for
others to take photos, you get fewer professional photographs and more
amateur photographs. It's sort of like letting the baker bake the cake
and then inviting each of your guests to decorate it. How
you can help: You've paid a lot of money for professional
photographs. Don't let amateur photographers, although well
intentioned, sabotage your effort, time and money, or the effort of your
professional photographer. Nothing is as frustrating as a great
photograph turned bad because someone else's incorrect flash setting
blew the bride and groom away at the cake table while they were cutting
the cake or because a red light beam from someone’s camera across the
dance floor is in all of your dancing photos and must be digitally
removed. Tell your wedding party, friends and family that you have hired
a professional photographer to document your wedding and you would
appreciate their not taking photographs while
the photographer is taking special photographs (during formals,
toasts, cake cutting, first dance, bouquet and garter toss).
Several of my clients have posted framed signs that explain a
professional photographer has been hired and kindly requests that guests
refrain from taking photos during the ceremony, formal sessions and
other special events. |