Working within the parameters of photojournalistic wedding photography, I am often curious as to what others have selected when it came to their wedding photography. It is rare to hear “No, we never really looked at our wedding photographs…”. yet this was what I heard when recently chatting with a couple during a wedding which I was photographing. And actually a story I have heard a few times in my career. Which I thought was rather odd. But when I probed further I got a better picture, so to speak, as to why this couple never got enjoyment from their wedding pictures
I have noticed this in recent years, where the photography was not seen as a major requirement of the wedding day. Or just neglected perhaps part due to expenses. And this is absolutely strange to me. “Sur, a friend or relative with good camera can do the same thing…” which you will sometimes hear, but this is not true. Maybe, if all photographers were created equally, but this is not the case.
This couple in particular were initially seeking out a photographer to “capture the day in a few candids”. And Christ do I hate hearing that, because there is just so much more to it than just capturing a few “candids”.
But I get it.
And yet they just went with a photographer who never does this. Never works in a photojournalistic Wedding Photography style. And they told me this. They were honest about this to me. But further digging told me, and these are my words, that they really didn’t see the need to invest in a coherent and tight set of wedding images captured by a photographer that knows what they are doing. And in a dedicated style. Instead opting to go with a small budget and a hope for the best attitude. Our photographer never does candid wedding photography but we’ll ask to do so anyway. It is as blunt as that
I know quite well myself that this approach while not super common does happen. I will always engage with a potential client to get an idea of what they are after.
Do they have a certain style they are looking for?
Do they have a realistic budget?
What are the expectations?
It does appear to me that while many will aim high when seeking a wedding photographer, the budget demands that they search until a photographer hits that budget with others. And I have no issues with that whatsoever. And so why do they aim at a high level of photography work initially? Or maybe it is a case of just hit landing page and then navigate to the contact page asking for “price and packages”. Not really understanding what a documentary wedding photographer does. Or the consistent quality of that work.
And very often I get this request with zero other information. It is a very loose manner to book a wedding photographer. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, if you do not take your wedding seriously then no one else will.
I think it is unfortunate that the couple in question did not like their pictures. This is what it amounts to, that if you have paid a couple of hundred euros then the pictures may well just reflect this. Was there a tinge of disappointment? I think yes. How could there not be? It’s one day. All that will remain will be the pictures and images from the day. You kind of want that well documented for prosperity sake if nothing else. But get it right as best you can. If you want a traditional style seek it out, engage with a photographer who is good at that. If you want a contemporary style seek it out and engage with a photographer who specialises in that.
For myself and my photojournalistic Wedding Photography style, I will be as articulate as I can when thrashing out what I do and how I do it with any potential client. No stone is left unturned. There will be no ambiguity. And I certainly don’t do something that is alien to me. And I have often been asked. It wouldn’t be fair to either party, but certainly not for my own sanity.
