Inspired: Wedding Portraits.. Formalities of Photography

Amber
24th January 2009

There are two types of Bridal portraits that I love creating. The first, as shown in this image, is not staged but it is very focused. Amber was still getting dressed when I took this photo. Her mother was behind her helping with the dress and she glanced over at me for just a moment. At this time of the day, there is not much time for words and people are often extremely silent. A room full of dressed up girls all focused on what is about to happen. I love trying to capture that feeling.



Jessica
21st February 2009

The saying that every bride is beautiful on her wedding day is no joke. Whether it is the makeup, the anticipation, the family and friends surrounding you, or if its just because you know its all going to be over soon, nothing makes a girl look as beautiful as being a bride.

I like to call it, the final picture. Just one photo that symbolises everything you are right before the wedding. In one glance, you represent your family, your achievements and your ambitions. As much as everything stays the same once married, everything will always be different from here on.

This is possibly my favourite part of the day. More so then any other part of the wedding day, this is the one opportunity to produce an image that will never be forgotten.



The Boys
8th August 2009

After taking individual portraits of both the Bride and Groom, I like to get photos with the people that surround them at this time. We all look to our family and friends for support. A family is not just a string of people with similar blood, its a life long connection between us. There is a quote that I try to live by which easily sums up these relationships.

"A true friend, is one who for the sake of your gain, is willing to suffer a loss"



Wait
24th October 2009

After a year spent planning the wedding, you would think that the wedding day would be non-stop action. You might be surprised by the fact that many brides suffer even more waiting as the time drifts closer to the ceremony.

After getting dressed, Christine was waiting for her Groom to arrive to travel to the ceremony together. With the weather looking bad and not knowing how long until he would arrive, she was forced to just wait.



Building Blocks of Life
19th September 2009

As much as I am wanting to produce photographs for the Bride and Groom, I am also wanting to produce them for the family. Having invested a great portion of their lives into bringing you up properly, your parents would be filled with thoughts and emotions that simply cannot be put into words. Sometimes saying "I love you" just doesn't cut it. Having not only formal photographs but images that capture the relationships between you is an easy way to say thanks and to recognise everything they have done for you.



Everybody Smile
17th October 2009

After the ceremony comes family photos. The best way to start these is with a group photo of everyone that has come to watch you wed.

There is nothing that annoys me more then a group photo in which you cannot see everybody's face. I have learnt my tricks and technique to organising crowds of significant size and enjoy producing images like this. I strongly believe in quality over quantity when it comes to photography. I believe that if you can produce one image that symbolises an idea, or a moment, then that is all you need. One hundred years from now, this will not be a group shot, it will be a piece of history treasured by our descendants.



Romance
17th October 2009

A house full of love is a beautiful thing. Weddings often signify the beginning of a family which will grow and develop in ways that cannot be expected. The wedding photos will be first of many moments of love that will hang from the walls of your home.

After trekking the bride and groom up and down steep rocky tracks and river beds I asked them to give each other a simple kiss and photographed it through the window of the limousine. For something that just took a few minutes to execute, I believe it is time well spent.



Lords of the House
31st October 2009

A long time ago while having a discussion with a friend, we decided to take a "man of the house" photograph. The type of image we are talking about is the type that you see in movies and old mansions sitting above a fireplace. They boldly portray the father/man of the house in a stern and powerful pose. Everything about the image is designed to portray dominance. We took the photo, and it was great, and still sits on top of his fireplace much to the misfortune of his wife.

Well the days of the male dominated household are pretty much gone. A husband and wife hold an equal footing as lords of the household. An image that represents this is important. An ultra classic portrait of the two of you takes only seconds to create, yet will last for decades as a center point of your home and can help shape the family dynamic of a household.