Bells v. Whistles

Bells v. Whistles

While sports photography is something I really love to do, and is probably where my heart is, I have done a few weddings this year. Weddings offer something that no other type of photography genre has. I can't put it into a word, but going in, knowing that this event is likely to be the single most significant event of their lives so far, can cause a great deal of stress for everyone involved. Along with the "once in a lifetime" event, it is also a long affair. Coverage can start in the early to mid morning and go long into the nights. From MY PERSPECTIVE, it's not all too different than any major sporting event, with the exception of the money spent and number of people involved. But there are other football games, hockey championships and tennis matches. Those might have players that it is their last game forever, but they have been playing it (the game) for a long time. There too, are other weddings with other people. But we all still expect each one to be the one and only ceremony for that particular couple.

Unlike most sporting events, wedding photographers go into it understanding that there are no timeouts, no redo's. Knowing all that, we see in 360 degrees. Or we try to. Even though the events are choreographed and have been run through the day before. Things change when you toss in a little, or a lot, of emotion then you sprinkle it with some guests and viola, it's a wedding party. We have to know our equipment, be conscious of human emotion and be almost clairvoyant. Anticipation is key here. Knowing when something is going to happen. We have to be there and be ready to capture that moment in time. As the ceremony progresses, we have to be able to get the kiss, the drink, the tears. Then be somewhere else to do it all over again in an instant. But we can't create such a commotion that people know we are there. It's not our ceremony, it's the bride and grooms. A successful event is when one can look at the pictures and say "we didn't see them (the photographers) take that".

Wedding photograpy has changed over the years. It used to be structured poses, specific times and activities. Now, it has changed into free flowing robes and comfortable slippers. Well, figuratively speaking. The current model is the "Journalistic" style hinging on papparazi chaos. Where there used to be one photographer whom might have an assistant. Nowadays it is one photographer, two or even three. Plus everyone with a point and shoot digital camera (hence the papparazzi monikor). It is said that brides (and their grooms) want emotional shots. They want to feel the moment again when they look at their wedding album. So not only is it a once in a lifetime event, photographers have to bottle up the tears, joy and excitement and put it in the album for later recollection.

Professional digital cameras and lenses = $15,000
Gary Fong lightsphere = $45
Knowing a little about human reactions from Sociology 101 in college = $269
Having a second photographer and you capturing "those" moments at your wedding, priceless.

Every wedding is different and every wedding is the same. Through our vision, we take this event and turn it into the single most important event in the world at that time and deliver it with those same expectations a few weeks later. Complete with joy, happiness and lots and lots of tissue paper.

Here are just a few wedding pictures from this year.