Photography and portraiture

Be daring, be different, be impractical; be anything that will asset integrity of purpose and imaginative vision.
- Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) fashion and portrait photographer

capturing moments

These days, everyone who owns a digital camera thinks they’re a photographer. Though it’s true that they may take the odd good shot, do you want to trust the most important day of your life to them to capture and preserve all the special moments? Your wedding photographs—preserved in the pages of an album and adorning the walls of your new home—will be forever reminiscent of your first day as a married couple. Since the photographs are the most visual, lasting elements of the wedding, find a professional photographer who exhibits the creative skills and techniques essential to capturing the beauty and joy of your wedding day.

Historically, mid-nineteenth-century photographers were limited to a single formal portrait after the ceremony, often using sets and props to enhance the drama of the day. It wasn’t until the 1930’s, when cameras became much lighter and film technology much speedier, that the various important moments of the wedding were captured, telling the full story of the day. Today, stolen, intimate moments such as a bride putting on her earrings are as much a part of the wedding album as the portrait shot of the groomsmen who are just as likely to be cavorting by the cars in the parking lot, being ‘just the guys’ for the camera.

Finding the right photographer to chronicle your wedding is one of the more extensive searches you’ll have to make during your planning. In order to find the right fit in style and a return to the formal bridal portrait captures the elegance of your gown personality, allow twelve months to shop around or start as soon as you become engaged. The cost for a professional photographer also is one of the higher budget items for your wedding as you’ll spend almost as much on a wedding photographer as you do on wedding bands, so take care when making your choice. When choosing a photographer, remember that your relationship with them is going to be a long one, from the engagement photos to the proofs and albums after the wedding. Visit at least three different studios, and make sure you meet the person who will actually be shooting the photographs at your wedding.

After the meeting, ask yourselves several questions: are we completely at ease with this person? Is the spirit and style of their wedding albums reminiscent of what we’d like at our wedding? Do the people in the wedding collections look like they were having fun? Does the photographer seem passionate about his or her work and about weddings in general? Experienced photographers, while honouring the wishes of their clients and always working in their best interest, develop their own unique style over time. Ask them about their approach and what makes them different from others in the field.

Tip: Select a photographer who envisions your wedding day the way you do.

family dynamics

Flexibility and sensitivity should be a trait in every professional photographer’s character. Since your photographer will be on a first-name basis with your family, be sure to brief him or her about family dynamics (divorces, separations, or other changes) in order to dispel any awkwardness on your wedding day. Along with your list of the times and locations of the ceremony and reception sites, draw up a wish list so they have a definite idea of places, portraits, special guests shots—anything that has special meaning to you. Some brides and grooms like to chronicle their journey as a couple through photographs, starting with a shot of where they got engaged, moving to a favourite place where they love to spend time, the wedding ceremony, reception and some couples even invite their photographer along to capture their honeymoon.

Another discussion to have will be about black and white vs. colour shots. Most photographers will be capable of striking a balance with both; each type can lend an entirely different mood to a photograph. The timeless and romantic quality of black and white may be perfect for the group shot of the combined families on the steps of the church, while the colour photographs capture the reason why you chose your flowers or jewellery in the first place—for their gorgeous hues.

Striking a balance between candid, or photojournalistic, and portrait shots is yet another decision to make with your photographer, but it doesn’t mean the process can’t be fun. Think about how you want the story of your wedding to be told. Most couples wisely prefer a combination of the two styles. The posed, more formal shots of the couple and extended family are perfect heirloom pieces, but the candid moment of that loving look the father of the bride gave his daughter on the dance floor is equally priceless. Photojournalist shots can artistically capture the smaller, sometimes forgotten details of the day as well: the delicacy of the bride’s bouquet, the silk embroidery on the attendants’ purses, the fondant blooms cascading down the side of the wedding cake.

photo fun and guests

Some photographers provide fun extras that can add some variety to the photography experience for the couple and their guests. An alternative to putting disposable cameras on the reception tables is to use a photo booth, ideal for weddings with over 100 guests. Friends and loved ones who may not be in the wedding party can pose in the booth, giving the couple the opportunity to get more candid shots of many more guests. Some may be quite a surprise!

Even when the happy event is over, your work is not quite finished. You will have to decide which of your favourites to display on your wedding website or social media group page, on the walls of your new home, and how you choose to preserve them in albums. Prints, output on canvas and even when framed, should not be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture, so avoid hanging them near bathrooms and kitchens. An upstairs hallway or bedroom is ideal for displaying large collections of photographs, while a few dramatic shots are perfect for the living room or study. Try arranging the photos on the floor first to find the best configuration before you start pounding nails into the walls, and remember that larger, darker photographs look best on the bottom of an arrangement.

Have fun with using your wedding photographs in creative ways. Most photography studios carry a variety of albums and portfolio boxes that will beautifully display and protect your prints. Putting your favourite photographs into thoughtful thank-you cards or books, such as an accordion-fold, ribbon-bound book that opens to display an assortment of prints, reminds you and your guests of the joy of your wedding day all over again.

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