Does the documentary style suit the smaller wedding day? An interesting question, and it was raised by somebody who felt that given their small wedding party that one wasn’t required or perhaps even just getting in the way.
But I have covered many small weddings. And in recent years that numbered has certainly risen a bit. Of course I may well be biased here, but in my view it is always important to have a good pro photograph your wedding. And I mean good a pro. The advent of the “content creator” is now in full swing, but results are far from flattering as far as I’m concerned. But I will cover that with its own article shortly enough.
I can’t stress strongly enough the importance of how I operate as a wedding photographer. My approach is a compete candid one. Whether a wedding day is a small intimate affair or the full on bells and whistles, the approach never differs. I have photographed weddings with as little as seven guests. And I have on a couple of occasions photographed weddings with 300 plus guests. Those big weddings can be exhausting, that’s for sure. And while you’d assume that with a smaller wedding I’d even stand out like a sore thumb. If it is a big wedding as opposed to a small wedding, then give me the small wedding all day long. It is just a personal preference.
With a small day there is certainly a level of intimacy. For me it is so much tangible.
I recall one wedding where after the ceremony, the crew of ten went into Kinsale for a few drinks. There was a lovely mood. A real nice quiet mood. On entering the bar you could even hear the clock tick. A customer was reading his paper while halfway done with a pint. Things like this set the mood for me. Like any reception, it can take me a bit to warm up. Mainly this is just allowing the party around me get used to how this will work. Finding angles. The little discussions. Moments. All that cool stuff that will lend itself to what went on.
It’s vital for me that the resulting images are stamped with that tone. Because it is how I sell myself. Going forward. When the client views the pictures I Want them to say “that was it”. That is exactly what it was like”. And to get a real kick out of it. Sure, a smaller wedding day can be a challenge. But without that challenge what is the point? I thrive on it.
