The more wedding photographer websites you look at, the more you realise people just say the same stuff as pretty much every other wedding photographer. While it's commonly accepted that most couples really are a bit nervous about the whole having a camera on them all day, or posing for pictures 'thing' - the solution isn't, as a wedding photographer, to simply write stuff like:
"I'm a relaxed unposey wedding photographer"
"I photograph from a fly on the wall perspective"
"I really am just a guest, you won't even notice me"
"I'm totes documentary in my approach"
only to not actually do any of that stuff. Yeah yeah I get it, these couples wouldn't know the difference anyway, half of them don't even know what a documentary photographer is, the rest have nothing to base the claims off to check what 'fly on the wall' actually means. So really you could write pretty much anything, and they'd be completely clueless, lap it up like hungry puppies and be non the wiser, until their wedding day when you're invariably forced to say things like:
"I don't usually do stuff like this but can you just stand there for me while I take a picture, the light is so amazing" - and then repeat it every 30 minutes, much to their annoyance.
Then there's the hiding the huge hoofing camera you're carrying around, how do you explain that one? How can you possibly blend in with such a large device stuck on the front of your face going click, click, click. Suppose it's too late once you're there though isn't it hey, no turning back now, can't very well send you home and go find themselves a genuine unobtrusive documentary type photographer can they…hahaha suckers!!!
Then there's the portfolio, given you're so heavy on the "I capture 99% candid moments, genuine honest natural things that happen with no guidance whatsoever", why then is your portfolio 95% posed pictures? People don't just happen to walk halfway up a field and stop for a 'dip' and a kiss, they don't in a moment of pure spontaneity decide to sit on the floor together cuddling, or happen to wander outside to watch a sunset.
Yeah yeah I know I sound like I'm just having a moan, and I guess in a way I am. My points are valid for a reason though, as a couple if you're reading this and think you're booking a genuine documentary / relaxed / candid / fly on the wall type photographer - take a minute to reflect on these words, look at portfolios again and if the pictures don't match the claims made then you may be hugely disappointed if you are looking for genuine as they happen moments. In short, you're probably being fed a bunch of crap photographer sales speak from those unscrupulous wedding photographers who’ll say anything to get your money.
If you want genuine relaxed documentary, choose someone whose pictures match their claims, not someone who writes things because (let's face it) it's a bit of an in thing at the moment from a photographer perspective. Don't be fooled by words, judge by pictures only.
….and to photographers pulling these stunts, stop being silly.
A relaxed approach to wedding photography.
Friends, family, life, love, perfect moments, imperfect moments, drunken dancing, your Nan knocking back tequila shots, all the things that make this day yours, exactly as it happens.
No cheese, no awkward posing, promise.
I feel it’s super important to tell a full story of a wedding, not just from an hour before leaving to get married to the first dance. A full story (for me) is the complete story of a wedding day from beginning to late in the evening. The nerves and excitement of getting ready on a wedding morning right through to the crazy evening partying (and everything in-between).
If you would like to inquire about my availability to photograph your wedding day, please use the form below to get in touch.