I’ve decided to start a new “regular feature” on the blog about photos from weddings that I’ve fallen in love with. I sometimes forget that you, nation, do not live and breathe photography like we do, and thus, may not understand why we fall in love with certain photos. (Please pardon the stupid Colbert reference, I couldn’t help myself!) Also, we’re privy to a ton more information that makes the photo richer than it is on the surface. Doesn’t mean it’s not beautiful and unable to be appreciated by a stranger, but it’s often the unexpected, unflashy photos that bring tears to my eyes.
Most of the time we fall in love with photos for the mere fact that we’ve fallen in love with our brides and grooms. By the time the wedding comes around, we’ve known you for at least 6 months (and sometimes more than a year) and have heard the backstory about how you two fell in love, how crazy/sweet/funny/excited your family is, how you have a twin brother who is nothing like you but is your best friend/your college roommate and maid-of-honor is better than any sister you could have had/you were raised by a single mom and your wedding is a huge event for her too (all true stories). In short, we and we are invested in who you are. (Other times we fall in love with a photo because it was crazy hard to capture or it’s technically awesome. But most of the time we’re completely guided by our emotions!)
What I love about photography is that even if you don’t know the backstory, the photo can still touch you. That’s why we have a blog and website: Because you and your stories are beautiful to people who don’t even know you. Your unique personalities are able to suck people into your lives through one quick photo. Photojournalism especially (re: “candids”) can really show who you are in one quick photo.
But what is really amazing about the privilege Jesse and I have in being at your wedding is that we get a deeper story, and fall in love with the photos even more. And this now brings me full circle to my new feature: Why I love this Photo.
In my first post in this new feature, I’m already going to break the rules. I’m showing two photos.
The perk of having two photographers is that during the “getting ready” time, I go with the girls and Jesse goes with the guys. Most of the time, we photograph what one is doing independently of the other in preparation to a marriage that will unite them both. With Andrea and Joe, who got ready at the Biltmore Hotel in Providence, Jesse documented Joe writing out a card to Andrea, and I documented Andrea’s reaction to the card. It was magnificent to have record of how Joe looked so diligent in writing out his thoughts and feelings, and how whatever he said hit Andrea to the core.
by admin
show hide 4 comments
link to this post email a friend