“Manufactured” or staged photography does not concern me. And if I make a judgement it can only be on a psychological or sociological level. There are those that take photographs arranged beforehand and those who go out to discover the image and seize it. For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously. In order to “give a meaning” to the world, one has to feel oneself involved in what one frames through the viewfinder. This attitude requires concentration, a discipline of mind, and a sense of geometry.
– Henry Cartier-Bresson
The quote above from the late, great Cartier-Bresson perfectly encapsulates my mentality and approach to wedding photography. The key principle behind my way of working is to be as unobtrusive as possible. My goal when photographing your big day is to let the individual personality of each couple and the uniqueness of their wedding shine through. As such, I tend to favour a hands-off approach to the day’s events instead of focusing on staging elaborate poses and lighting set-ups. The aim is to capture the true spirit and emotion of your wedding day by documenting its unique moments rather than have it conform to a narrow concept of what the ideals wedding should look like through cookie-cutter poses and shot lists. Essentially, it’s all about telling your story for you, not me dictating mine for me.
Building on the theme of unobtrusiveness, I challenge myself to use available light as much as possible. I find this approach allows me to work quicker and faster and not have a load of intimidating lighting equipment with me that stands out and shouts “photographer!” in everyone’s faces. The end result is that I get to work closer to my subjects without being noticed, which in turn means I can shoot the defining moments of your wedding as they unfold without people suddenly stopping what they are doing and playing to the camera. The dynamic of your day is left as uncompromised as possible, which leads to more powerful and emotionally authentic images for you to look back on.
Investing in a wedding photographer is a decision that I recommend putting a lot of thought into. Each photographer has their own unique approach and style. Look at their pictures and ask yourself which ones you think could reflect you as you really are. When you are looking through your wedding album with your children and grandchildren in the years to come, you’ll be pleased you took the time and effort to seek out the right wedding photographer to tell your story.
I would be truly honoured to document your wedding day for you. Please feel free to drop me a line to check availability and to set up a time to work out a package for your specific needs and budget.
Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers,
Joe
