The Wedding.
Photography is something I take a genuine interest in and I am very proud of every photo I take. Of course there are the blurry, ugly, messed up ones but for every photo that is sharp, not blurry, and almost perfect, I will show no dismay with that photo. I was honored when Dee and Vic wanted me to be the photographer at their wedding on the Fourth of July. This was my chance to show people that a wedding photo does not have to be posed. It also doesn't have to be so called "normal". From my previous work, I am not one to take a "straight" photo. I mean, I have done them and some of them turn out beautifully. However, there will always be a slight angle, and I don't mean just the actual frame of the camera. The camera could be straight but the perspective of the object could be askew. For example:
I wanted to create a different, more unique angle of the wedding. Most of the wedding photographers that I have seen are always making the bride and groom either pose with each other or their relatives. It's all too fake and posed. I didn't want that. I wanted to capture the moments as they were happening. If crazy, fun, unique angles happened, then so what. It gives the photo more personality rather than a boring, straight, posed picture. So, since I was the photographer, I had the opportunity to show my full potential, or absolute failure, as a "professional wedding photographer". This is what I came up with:
So, this first photo is of their hands. Vic is putting the ring on Dee's finger. To me, this is an incredible photo. It's different, unique, and very up close and personal. (I was seriously under the Reverend's arm at one point). However, when I walked into Aunti's room while she was showing Dee and Vic the photos, all I heard from Dee was "Why is it like that?" Then, somehow, her comments proceeded to talk about the awkward angle and if it could "be fixed", as if there's something horrifically wrong with the picture.
I understand that she wants to put these photos into a beautiful wedding album. However, she doesn't think that it is fully possible to keep the picture straight up and down in the album when it's on such an awful angle. Personally, I think this photo is wonderful. The cause for the angle was my place. If she wants a straight, non-angled photo, why didn't she have the Reverend taking the pictures, then? I was off to the side, trying not to get the entire Bible in the photo. It turned out lovely, a wonderful wedding shot, unique, and it also captures the moment. I think I did a pretty damn good.
Of course, there are more photos. Not all of them have been edited. Another one, which is my favorite picture of the bride and groom, was unsatisfying as well.
Isn't it lovely? I mean, doesn't it truly capture the essence of their relationship? We have Vic, sweet old Vic, doing his stupid little tongue and hand thing while Dee is standing there, not joining in, but laughing at his awesomeness. Two different people, completely in love, right after the marriage happened. Dee HATES that this is the only photo I got of them posed, looking at the camera. This IS their wedding photo. This IS the one people will see when they ask "Who's wedding was it?" or "Who's wedding book is this?" or "What was your wedding like?" It screams fun, personality, love, and complete difference.
Her talking about the photos in a horrible, critical, mean way (or so it seemed to me) really upset me. I must admit, I did not think I did a good job at this whole wedding photos "capturing the moment" thing. It was extremely hard and I really did the best I could. I busted my ass all day the Fourth so that there would be so many pictures to choose from that there HAD to be amazing photos in there. These are the ones that I love. These are the ones that I am most proud of. Well, these are the ones of the bride and groom that I am most proud of. I got amazing pictures of the inanimate objects that have not yet been edited. Until that time comes, these are all of the photos you will get from me.
I know these are not typical wedding photos and I know that they want respectful, beautiful photos of their NONTRADITIONAL wedding. I thought these photos sufficed. To me, they show very little but everything all at the same time. I did my best. You cannot please everyone, which is now VERY apparent to me. All I can say is that I really tried and if Dee does not see the full artistic beauty behind her photos, if she does not fully appreciate that her wedding photos are in the moment and genuine, she can just... not ever ask me to do photos for her ever again.
And that's another thing, if you wanted boring, crappy, professional photos, why not hire someone who's a professional rather than trusting a unprofessional 15 year old girl to photograph your wedding? You have to expect some fault and imperfection. Hopefully it taught her a lesson.
Her talking about the photos in a horrible, critical, mean way (or so it seemed to me) really upset me. I must admit, I did not think I did a good job at this whole wedding photos "capturing the moment" thing. It was extremely hard and I really did the best I could. I busted my ass all day the Fourth so that there would be so many pictures to choose from that there HAD to be amazing photos in there. These are the ones that I love. These are the ones that I am most proud of. Well, these are the ones of the bride and groom that I am most proud of. I got amazing pictures of the inanimate objects that have not yet been edited. Until that time comes, these are all of the photos you will get from me.
I know these are not typical wedding photos and I know that they want respectful, beautiful photos of their NONTRADITIONAL wedding. I thought these photos sufficed. To me, they show very little but everything all at the same time. I did my best. You cannot please everyone, which is now VERY apparent to me. All I can say is that I really tried and if Dee does not see the full artistic beauty behind her photos, if she does not fully appreciate that her wedding photos are in the moment and genuine, she can just... not ever ask me to do photos for her ever again.
And that's another thing, if you wanted boring, crappy, professional photos, why not hire someone who's a professional rather than trusting a unprofessional 15 year old girl to photograph your wedding? You have to expect some fault and imperfection. Hopefully it taught her a lesson.
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