Wedding Photography - the Scottish question

On the theme of unusual photos at weddings, I must include the groomsmen who were dressed in kilts. The bride had suggested that they should have their picture taken as they jumped in the air. This is not a photo that I would have suggested. Fortunately kilts are fairly heavy and the question as to what is worn under a kilt is still unanswered. However this gave rise to natural smiles and a close-up of the faces meant that one photo could easily become three or four photos.

Sometimes the bride throws her bouquet to the eligible females. This gives another opportunity if not for a natural smile, then at least it is a natural facial expression. At the end of the wedding day I often hear the comment that facial muscles are aching because of the smiling during the day. I often ask for a serious photo of the bride and groom and they often work very well, but smiling on a wedding day is so natural that it can be hard to get that serious photo.

Happy snapping

Wedding Photography - natural smiles

Last time I wrote about the classic poses at a wedding. I don't think that I have taken photos at a wedding without learning something on that day, so there is a lot to be said for experience. Each wedding is different and I learn something each time because the couples bring something to the day.

One thing that I like to do is take the couple for a short walk from the venue. This means that you get the whole of the building within the photo. In the case of the Ashton Memorial in Lancaster you have to walk for a few minutes to get a picture of the whole building. I did not expect this but the bride jumped into the arms of the groom. It made a great photo but this is obviously not a post for every couple.

I like natural smiles and I usually get natural smiles when someone makes a joke, when the confetti photo is taken, when I am lying on the floor taking a picture of the groomsmen in a scrum formation, and when the bride is lifted horizontally by the groomsmen. Another pose that I do not generally ask for is the 'piggy back'. However it does give a natural smile. At one wedding the best man walked round with us and was holding a card which said 'thank you'. Shortly after the wedding I received a 'thank you' card with my photo on it.

Happy snapping

Wedding Photography - classic poses

I don't think that you can get through a wedding day without taking the classic poses. The signing of the register, the first kiss, walking down the aisle - you know what I am talking about. However I always have a favourite photo of the day and it is hardly ever one of these standard poses.

When I am taking photographs at a wedding I have another photographer with me. They take photos from a different angle of the same scene or they just take photos from a distance while I am setting up those usual poses or the group photos.

I feel that my photos should be the best. People are looking at me and smiling, but when the bride and groom pick up their photos generally they tell me their favourite photos, and more often than not it is the other photographer who gets the acclaim.

A friend came to me who had just bought a compact digital camera and she had not used it before. She had taken one photo of the bride and groom as they walked down the aisle. It was taken at an angle , it needed cropping and I blurred the people in the congregation who detracted from the focus on the bride and groom and they dominated the picture. It turned out to be a great photo.

So the morals of this story are firstly, never discard a photo. Computers have huge inexpensive memories. Secondly, just because there is a photographer at the wedding, it may well be you who gets the best picture of the day.

Happy snapping