The wedding party holds the cards
/Oct/07 Filed in: Tips and
tricks
Weddings can be stressful for all involved; the bride
and groom (obviously), the caterers, the decorators,
the parents... and yes, the photographer. But people
forget how much stress is on the bridesmaids and
groomsmen, actual wedding party. Considering this
fact can make all the difference in the results of
your imagery of the event. Simply put, the wedding
party and their mood and emotions can make or break
your day so I have put together a few tips for
lighting the atmosphere of any photo shoot.
This is your opportunity to get some inside details on the bride and groom. Find out what dynamics between each member of the wedding party has between them and the bride and groom; how they met, funny stories, sensitive topics and so on. Knowing this information up front will help you compose shots later on.
Instead, try to establish a solid rapport with the clients that demonstrates your confidence in your creative ability while at the same time respecting their position of likes and dislikes in photography. Don't bow to their every whim, but at the same time try to demonstrate some flexibility and understanding when it comes to taking their picture. This is ever so important when it comes to photographing women; they don't like this side of them, or this angle makes them look chubby, or whatever their concerns might be. Work with this as best you can but keep in mind that good composition is good composition. What a camera sees and what someone sees in front of a mirror are often to different things.
You need to get a little deeper into their psyche. Watch how they interact with each other and more importantly, how they receive you and your attempts at befriending them. Are you viewed as one of them, or just a fly on the wall, or are you intruding in their little circle? Do they all like each other? Are they lifelong friends, or were they thrust upon each other do to the circumstances? Your take on this will heavily influence the role you try to play in their day. For instance, if they are a tight nit group, give yourself a little distance between you and them. Shoot them interacting and show genuine interest in the results of your photo taking. They will be quick to do one of two things; put on a show for the camera or invite you in to the circle to have you share what you have been shooting. Either way is a winning situation.
If, on the other hand, the party is comprised of an eclectic group of yesterdays classmates and todays colleagues who have little, if anything in common, you might find yourself being the bridge that closes that gap. You can do this by shooting this person or that person and then sharing that with a member of the party that hails from a different era in the bride or grooms life. It's the icebreaker, so to speak, and before long you should be able to get all of them interacting more. And when they do... shoot!
Humor may not come naturally to most. I am fortunate enough to be the class clown who can morph into what ever comical persona the group needs. A lot of people aren't so lucky so I recommend arming yourself a catalogue of joke you can rhyme at a moments notice. The internet is a great resource to find an endless supply daily funnies.
Being a photographer is like being an entertainer; you are only going to receive from the crowd, that which you give them. Just remember; a big grin and a belly laugh may not always flatter the vanity, but it sure does warm the soul. Have fun!
1. Be a friend to your clients
The wedding party may not be the ones paying you, but you should treat the brides maids and groomsmen the same as you would the bride and groom. Get friendly with them. Be compassionate. Allow them to talk about what things, good or bad, transpired on the days leading up to the wedding and be sure to make them feel like they can trust you to keep their stories in confidence.
This is your opportunity to get some inside details on the bride and groom. Find out what dynamics between each member of the wedding party has between them and the bride and groom; how they met, funny stories, sensitive topics and so on. Knowing this information up front will help you compose shots later on.
2. Be an equal
I shouldn't have to bring this up but it is worth stressing. You should never look down at your client. But the other side of the coin is, you should never let your client look down upon you either. If you do, you fall into the trap where the client demands you shoot this way and that despite your better artistic judgement. And yes, the bridesmaids and groomsmen will indeed make compositional demands on you.
Instead, try to establish a solid rapport with the clients that demonstrates your confidence in your creative ability while at the same time respecting their position of likes and dislikes in photography. Don't bow to their every whim, but at the same time try to demonstrate some flexibility and understanding when it comes to taking their picture. This is ever so important when it comes to photographing women; they don't like this side of them, or this angle makes them look chubby, or whatever their concerns might be. Work with this as best you can but keep in mind that good composition is good composition. What a camera sees and what someone sees in front of a mirror are often to different things.
3. Read your clients
This is a tricky one; you either have it or you don't. If you do then you have the advantage of gaging what your clients are all about. Chances are this is easier with the bride and groom because presumably you have seen them and interacted with them on a few occasions prior to the wedding day from meetings and engagement sessions, etc, but what about the wedding party? The wedding day is often the first time you've met or even seen any of them. You don't know who they are, what they do, what they like and dislike, etc... That's why point 1 is so useful. But you can't just rely and getting friendly with the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
You need to get a little deeper into their psyche. Watch how they interact with each other and more importantly, how they receive you and your attempts at befriending them. Are you viewed as one of them, or just a fly on the wall, or are you intruding in their little circle? Do they all like each other? Are they lifelong friends, or were they thrust upon each other do to the circumstances? Your take on this will heavily influence the role you try to play in their day. For instance, if they are a tight nit group, give yourself a little distance between you and them. Shoot them interacting and show genuine interest in the results of your photo taking. They will be quick to do one of two things; put on a show for the camera or invite you in to the circle to have you share what you have been shooting. Either way is a winning situation.
If, on the other hand, the party is comprised of an eclectic group of yesterdays classmates and todays colleagues who have little, if anything in common, you might find yourself being the bridge that closes that gap. You can do this by shooting this person or that person and then sharing that with a member of the party that hails from a different era in the bride or grooms life. It's the icebreaker, so to speak, and before long you should be able to get all of them interacting more. And when they do... shoot!
4. Build on relationships
Nothing conveys better in an image than the bond of dear friends. Often times in a wedding party you'll have a one member that is best friends with another member of the party. By briefly highlighting those relationships and centering out what is sure to be a special moment for them you earn there trust and appreciation and you will find that they put in more effort into the day and work harder for the camera thereafter. Of course this is only true if you tease them with a sample of what you have just captured. They will feel as though you have done something special for them and in-turn reciprocate the favor by, perhaps, being on their best behavior for the rest of the day. One can only hope.
5. Laugh at yourself
The quickest and easiest way to get people to loosen up and have fun is laugh at yourself first. Make a spectacle of yourself. This is where reading your client comes into play since you will scale your antics based on the mood and background of the people in the party. A younger playful group may respond better to flirtation, blue humor, and locker room antics while an older group could be in favor of a more reserved, sophisticated repertoire. Often times there are at least a few members in the group with children so I find that tails of the trials and tribulations of parenthood are richly rewarded with jovial smiles and free spirits.
Humor may not come naturally to most. I am fortunate enough to be the class clown who can morph into what ever comical persona the group needs. A lot of people aren't so lucky so I recommend arming yourself a catalogue of joke you can rhyme at a moments notice. The internet is a great resource to find an endless supply daily funnies.
6. Show enthusiasm
If it's your first wedding you are probably terrified. If it's your two-hundredth wedding you are probably bored. Expressing either one of these emotions will kill your career. What you should convey to your clients at all time is complete and total enthusiasm. Enthusiastic to be there, enthusiastic to work with this group, enthusiastic about the results you are getting... That excitement and enthusiasm gets the party excited and into it. They can't wait to pose for you so they can help you realize your artistic vision. They figure if you like what you are seeing they can deliver more and they can work it better.
Being a photographer is like being an entertainer; you are only going to receive from the crowd, that which you give them. Just remember; a big grin and a belly laugh may not always flatter the vanity, but it sure does warm the soul. Have fun!