Wedding Photography
by John Baikie ASWPP LMPA, Captiv8
Choosing the right photographer is one of the most important decisions any couple will make, as it will be the key, lasting memory of their big day.
A bride will often spend years planning what to wear, where to hold the wedding, what her hair and make-up will look like, what flowers to have, and so on. In many years time the photographs are all that is left and the manner in which a wedding is shot means that all these details can be captured to showcase to later generations, in order for them to look back and see exactly how things were.
I could write a book on the stories I’ve heard from brides who regret opting for a cheap photographer, and in fact a lot of my clients are second time brides who refuse to compromise on quality after making the mistake before. That said, I appreciate that every bride is working to a budget, and I do offer some very affordable options alongside my top end packages. Digital advances over the last few years have seen a massive increase in the number of photographers who think they can shoot weddings to make some pocket money at the weekend. These amateur photographers often use your big day to practice, rather than learning the craft properly, and this is a shame as it’s not them that suffers, but the newly married couple, when they fail to produce the goods.
I am starting to see a big change however, in the number of couples who are appreciating the difference in spending a little more to get top quality photography. Bride and Grooms to-be are definitely beginning to fully appreciate the importance of the investment. Due to this, couples are certainly taking more of an active part in discussion and decision making related to the photography on the day. Modern brides have a clear idea in their head of exactly what they want. Many couples are cutting back on a lot of the extravagance on the day and spending money more specifically on the things that are important, like the dress, the venue and of course, the photography.
My own style has gradually changed over the last few years and I now shoot about 75% of the day in a photojournalist style, shooting natural moments, which is a very popular style. My clients like arty images which look good on a wall as much as in an album. Although I’m best known for dramatic and sometimes unusual images, this isn’t actually a huge part of what I do, as I don’t like to take over on the day and take the couple away for hours on end. I think the key is getting the reportage/posed ratio balance right.
Currently, my portable lighting images are causing a lot of interest, as they can be quite dramatic, and these are the images people are asking for time and time again. Again it’s only a small part of what I do as I still like to shoot most of the day using available light as it captures the day exactly as it was.
I’ve always favoured black and white images and Brides definitely like a good percentage of the images to be done that way. It is classic, timeless and very simplistic. Black and white images have been a big part of what I do since I began shooting weddings, but in recent years I have found Brides ask about black and white right from the consultation stages, as it is often a vital element of what they want.
There has been a massive shift over the last few years in the style of album clients request. In a very short time we’ve gone from very traditional, one image per page albums, to CD’s, then digital magazine style books, and now things are just starting to go back to a more traditional style, although much more contemporary in the layout. Metal covered albums are the most popular, as they look very modern, but yet classy. I see an increase in requests for digital files of the images now, especially as couples want to have their pictures on social networking sites like Facebook and Bebo etc.
Many photographers don’t like giving files away but I have always been happy to let clients have the images, although I would advise they got their prints done at a professional lab to ensure the quality is high.