As a documentary wedding photographer, my goal and biggest challenge is to deliver authentic, emotional, story-telling images to my clients that they didn’t even realize I captured. Usually just getting the authentic and emotional part is great- it’s not always possible to hide completely, especially at a more intimate wedding. But as long as you can get those shots without getting in the way, you’ve done your job and you’ve done it well.
Here are 4 tips for getting those authentic images without taking away from the moment itself.
- Get to know your couple and your timeline.
I always offer a complimentary session to my couples when they book me for their wedding. Why? So we can get comfortable with each other and I can see how they are as a couple. They will photograph better on the wedding day because they already trust me. It’s easier for them to be in the moment. I will also be able to read them better as a couple and anticipate those little glances and stolen kisses. It’s imperative to know the order of events, who the key players are, and when, where, and with whom moments are likely to happen.
Once you know the schedule it’s not too difficult to catch the traditional moments. But it’s also important to capture the not-so obvious ones. And here comes the second tip:
2. Anticipate un-planned moments.
Like when mom helps the bride put on her dress and then takes a good look at her. Or how the room responds to the best man’s jokes. This kind of anticipation requires skill that may come naturally to some- if you’re like me, you’ll need to hone that skill with extensive people-watching. It’s the difference between capturing the moment and missing the moment and when it starts to click for you, you feel like a rock star!
An exercise that has helped me is to consciously watch, listen and take note of people’s reactions in a social setting. You can feel the beats as someone tells a funny story or in more emotional situations you can feel the pause, almost like a moment of realization, before the tears come.
3. Use the best lens to tell the story.
Our goal is to not distract from the event, right? So that means mostly staying back, out of the way. Pick the lens that will best serve the story happening in front of you without being too close. Use a wide lens to get establishing shots and capture big movement and action. A good time to use a wide angle is to show the hustle and bustle as the bridal party is getting ready or when the couple is getting jiggy with it on the dance floor with their guests. The beauty of the wide angle is that it’s easier to get a full story in one image. You can capture not only the reaction, but what everyone is reacting to!
Use a zoom when there are intimate moments and subtle expressions that a wide angle would miss. It’s also key when you don’t want people to know you’re getting a shot of them. I use it for the ceremony and various times throughout the reception. In fact, my 70-200 mm is on my camera probably 75% of the wedding. It’s more difficult to get the entire story in one shot with a zoom lens. To remedy this, I try to get the entire story in 2 -3 shots. I can then tell that story as a series in the wedding album.
The detail shots are also a key component of the wedding day. Most couples have spent thousands of dollars and/or hours on the decorations and details. Use a macro lens or extension tube to get that close focusing and beautiful bokeh for stunning detail shots.
4. Find the good light!
We all know that emotion trumps just about everything- BUT lighting can make or break any image, no matter what the content. As a documentary photographer I use available light as much as possible and when I do resort to creating my own, I do it in the most natural way I can that reflects the tone and atmosphere of the location. Most weddings do not have ideal lighting the entire day. Find your good light and get into position first and then find your moments. And if it’s not working move move move!
Guests often like to shoot at weddings as well and I’m of the opinion their images are just as important as the pros! But it’s difficult for guests to be discreet when they’re using smartphones and ipads- the lenses on these devices are wide and make it nearly impossible to capture special moments without getting in the way.
There’s a new product on the market that will interest both hobbyist and professional photographers- Light is a new camera technology company that has a camera with a variety of focal lengths that is not much bigger than a smart phone! I often use my smart phone camera when I’m on the go but I’m always frustrated by it’s limitations. I’m very interested to try Light’s new product!
Natural Bourne Photography 