Wedding Photography

The Journalistic Approach to Wedding Photography
By Kenneth C. Hoffman

The twenty first century brought the computer into our lives and along with it a different style of photography. No longer the domain of news reporters and expose journalists/photographers, true candid photography has piqued the interest of every modern bride.

That one in a million shot of a tearful mother behind a deliriously happy bride, a groom fiercely bear hugging his dad at the church or an awed look on a ring bearer as he gazes up at the cake are all candidates for the new look in wedding albums. In order to find a photographer who is capable of producing these images, the bride and groom must canvass the studios and check out the sample albums.

Remember that the wishes of the parents are part of your final decision. No wedding coverage would be complete without a bridal portrait and a family picture. A certain amount of direction is necessary for these pictures to be successful but even these traditional images can be done with flair and natural real life expressions. Put yourself twenty years in the future and try to imagine which pictures in your album are going to be most precious to you..

Many techniques add to the uniqueness of a wedding album. Not every picture must be taken at eye level. Pictures taken from the ground or high in a balcony take on a different and revealing look. People don’t always stand around immobile, but walk, talk and even run around. Capturing these moments presents a challenge to the wedding photographer but the results are worth it.

Series pictures are valuable to the album for the micro event they tell. A ring is placed on a finger, the hand brought to the eye to brush away a tear, then kissed by an adoring new husband. Mini stories like this portray the real emotions ordinarily hidden behind bland smiles. For every event there is an action leading up to it and a result following.

While flash pictures insure perfect color and frozen action, natural light and slower shutter speeds add a new dimension to the journalistic approach. The photographer may have to resort to a not so sharp 800 ISO setting, but the opportunity to capture a magic moment in natural light is a small price to pay. With no flash popping off every few minutes, brides start to relax, offering real expressions and emotions to appear on their faces.

Retired portrait and wedding photographer.

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