[Leica] Wedding Photography (longish)

["William Gower" <wgower@eco-tec.com>]

I just got married two weeks ago, so this really hit home. I'll give you my
0.02 - not as a wedding photographer, but as a (just finished paying $1200)
client.

> I'm thinking about changing the way I do weddings for my business. I
> really don't like doing all the dumb groups and it's frustrating herding
> disinterested people around like a sheepdog while all the interesting
> photographic opportunities are elsewhere. I'm wondering what experience
> people on the list might have marketing candids-only wedding
> photography? I'd like to do it in black and white if possible, and
> hopefully take the marketing (and the pricing) a little upmarket to
> distinguish myself from the high street wedding crowd.

We gave our photographer as much artistic licence as he needed, but
personally, I would have been really disappointed if we didn't get the
standard group shots - i.e. bride with her family, groom with his dad, bride
and groom with grandparents, etc. These shots are important - particularly
for the family members who will get copies of them. I don't see them as
great photographs, but buy the same token, my 96 year old grandmother
probably has little appreciation for bokeh. Granny wants a nice clear
photograph of her grandson and new bride she can show all the folks down at
the happy haven retirement home. That's all. A "nice" picture.

My wife's cousin got married in July and had a horrible experience with
their photographer. This guy was so into making "art" (some kind of
human/environment/landscape/portraiture) that he forgot why he was there in
the first place. It was all about him - at one point he had the bride
positioned into a corner of a building where he wanted the buildings wall,
light, shadow and bride to converge and was adamant about getting the shot,
regardless of what the bride wanted. Turns out the corner was full of
cigarette buts, broken glass and smelled of urine. No wonder she felt
uncomfortable about squeezing in there with her white dress and satin shoes.
Plus, he took the bride and groom away from the reception for a little over
three hours while he did his "art" - time they should have been spending
with their guests. Not a pleasant experience for them at all.

Maybe this is an extreme case, but it points to an example of what the
photographer wants vs. what the client wants.

Speaking from the clients end, the best thing a potential wedding
photographer can be is receptive to what his or her clients want, be
flexible and make people comfortable. You may think that group shot with mom
and dad are boring, but mom and dad don't. Remember it's not about _you_
making photographs, it's about what paying clients expect and want.


Regards

William