standing out / blending in
An interesting question I received in an email recently had me thinking about, and considering 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? (Regina Coble)
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 ‘photojournalism’ in wedding photography. I do interact with people and 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. Even when I interact with my couples and direct them, I still aim for spontaneity and genuine expressions.
But then how 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 - 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 mom 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 become themselves. At that point, they become spontaneous and act like themselves and in a sense I have become less of a distraction, and less noticed.
Once you’ve build that rapport with them, you become less noticeable. It does take confidence in working with people, and it does take time to build up that confidence.
.
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.
Stephen in NJ Said,
April 8, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
Hi Neil,
That first picture is incredible. You positioned yourself quite nicely in that tiny triangle between the bride’s arm and veil to blur out the subject but keep the mirror’s reflection sharp. It is a good picture to represent this blog entry.
Was your lens opened wide on that one? (f2.8?)
Neil Said,
April 9, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
Ed Verosky Said,
April 9, 2008 @ 8:42 pm
Neil, well said. I tend to be blunt with my personal opinions, so I’ll say this: Pure photojournalism doesn’t exist in wedding photography.
It’s a marketing ploy and often an excuse for photographers who aren’t comfortable interacting, directing, and who need a reason for why they didn’t get a particular shot, or didn’t get it right.
Candid shots can most certainly happen. Unplanned moments can be captured. But, the idea that a hired photographer can covertly cover an entire wedding properly without being noticed is silly. What is really the point of that anyway? To more accurately capture a ceremony and celebration? To get those tender quiet moments without interfering with the “reality” of the day?
I agree with your methodology. If you have become a part of the day, THEN your presence is more natural and unobtrusive. The photographer can be a solid fixture and friend. This makes it even more possible to accept him in his role, forget he is there at times, and respond to him when appropriate.
Imagine the lucky bride who’s photographer can casually walk up to her during a free moment, and say, “I found a great spot where we can take a really great picture, would you like to try it?”
Much better than the idea of huddling off to the edge of the action all day long with a telephoto. Or being invisible enough for the bride to come looking for you.
Neil Said,
April 10, 2008 @ 11:20 am
Stephen from NJ Said,
April 10, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
Hi Neil,
My understanding is that f1.8 has a very shallow depth of field. So, if you took a picture of somebody’s face and focus on the nose, the nose would be in focus, but other parts of the face would (potentially) be slightly blurred from the shallow depth of field.
But everything on the bride’s face and chest are in focus! I presume that is the case, because the mirror’s surface is flat. Thus, the bride’s reflection is on the same optical plane for the camera lens, so her face and chest are in focus. Am I correct?
–Stephen
Neil Said,
April 11, 2008 @ 3:18 am