I’ve been doing this game working as a documentary wedding photographer for a while now. I have certainly been around and gained a hell of a lot of experience. On the way I have met a lot of people and seen a lot of places. Making sure to learn a little on the way. The style of photography has evolved throughout the years. Because the style demands that evolution. But certainly no wholesale changes.
In my mind there’s no other way but for the work to evolve. This is clearly something that happens in an organic fashion.
In my work as a documentary wedding photographer, I find it critical that recent work be assessed. I often look or consider ways to improve. To be more dynamic. Or just subtle. Should a certain scenario demand it. What I do find is that when the day is moving at a particularly fast pace the reaction to what is going on becomes almost intuitive. Quite often these pictures jump out right at you.
Especially when work begins on the edit.
That never changes.
As long as the final set is consistent. For me that is the key to a good tight set of images. My black and white work constantly gets noted for the atmosphere and mood. I have always seen myself as a black and white photographer in the main.
Having a set of wedding pictures that will tell their own story of any given wedding day trumps anything else.
And while sometimes I’ll be asked, and often by guests at weddings, “don’t you get a bit bored just photographing weddings?” The answer is no. Given that there’s certainly no set ups to be repeated week I week out. I take each day on its own merits and in turn this tends to keep everything fresh. And quite often lively too.
Once this year’s season kicks off, It’ll be excited to get going again and to see what imagery can be produced.