Individual Wedding Photos

I have returned to Morecambe Bay for this last blog on last Saturday's wedding. Once they are married then the vast majority of photos are centred around the bride and groom. I also take photos of the bride and groom individually, and the opportunities for the individual photos tend to arise at set points during the day. Before the wedding there is usually the chance to get photos of the groom, the groom with the best man and with the groomsmen. There may be time for other photos as well but there are often a few moments to show off the rings (see right).

I really like the photo on the left, not just for the background but because of the relaxed pose. This is often the case when I come back for the first dance. The ceremonies of the day are over and there is a sense of relaxation after all the activity of the day. It is well worth going back for more photos in the evening.

In the photo on the right I tell the groom that he will be out of focus but a smile will be seen. This gives him a break from the smiling that is done throughout the day, and it often means that there is a more relaxed smile which is picked up by my assistant. Look for techniques to help you take your photos and see how they work.

Happy snapping

Posed and informal photos

Since I took photos at a wedding on Saturday, I will write about it for a couple more blogs. I have previously mentioned that I tend to know when I have taken my favourite photo of the day at the time when I take it. This is the photo on the left, but there are a lot of other contenders.

I am pleased with many of the photos from Saturday. My favourites are not necessarily the favourites of the bride and groom. For example, group photos mean so much more to them, and the informal shots taken by my assistant are often the photos that they prefer.

Sometimest the first photos of the day show signs of a few nerves. This was not the case on Saturday when the pose (yes it is posed) on the right was taken. If the photographer can use a technique to make nerves less obvious then they should be used. Sometimes this means just getting the bride and groom to walk together, but pretending to be dragged away from a pint is an alternative.

Happy snapping

Use Morecambe Bay if you have it.

I took the photos at a wedding on Saturday 2nd May and we were so lucky with the weather. The forecast was good but the forecast was also for rain the day before and rain the day after. It hasn't been too bad today (the day after) but the main point is that you have to be lucky with the weather. There are many indoor scenes that make wonderful backgrounds but at least you have outdoor options if it is not raining.

You can see that both of these photos have Morecambe Bay in the background. Well according to Bill Bryson it is the finest view in Europe so it makes sense to use it if there is the opportunity. The photo on the left was taken in the afternoon. The photo on the right was taken when I went back in the evening for the first dance. I think both photos are great but my preference is the evening shot. I have used flash in both photos. On the right I needed to. The sun is setting in the background. On the left flash has helped a little because of the shadows cast in mid-afternoon. So for these photos I have been lucky with the weather and lucky having Morecambe Bay.

Happy snapping

One More Manipulation

In the last few blogs I have been defending photo manipulation. I will defend it one more time. I am usually behind the camera taking the photographs. My assistant takes the candid photos that generally get more praise than mine, but rarely do I manage to get in his photos. It was deliberate in yesterday's blog. Today's was accidental. It is interesting to consider 'truth' again with this photo because the eye is more than likely to be focused on the bride and groom. This means that the blur manipulation is more likely to be true than a photo that is all in focus. Do you disagree? Let me know.

It is a very nice picture of the bride and groom. I ask them whether they mind having their picture on my website and invariably they say they don't mind. You can see more photos of this couple and many others on my website at www.gradwellphotography.co.uk

I don't tend to ask guests and so I don't put them on the website, but this photo uses a blur manipulation which means that the only people you can recognise are the bride and groom. I am afraid I am there too in the foreground but at least I have been blurred. Good old photo manipulation.

Happy snapping