01/14/11

Anatomy Of A Wedding Day #13 – Kristel & Bernard

I photographed six weddings between 10th December and 10th January. My busiest Christmas period ever. Exhausting, but very satisfying as well.

One thing I would like to do here is give a big, public thank you to Mike Hutt of Aquarius Photography and Con Scanlon of Anvil Studios, both of whom loaned me cameras last month when my second body had to go for urgent repair.

Mike also loaned me his Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens. This lens generally gets a bad press.

Let me give you a mini-review based on my own experience:

O. M. G.

If I decide to stay with Canon as my main camera system I shall buy one.

Meanwhile, the busy Christmas period means lots of photographs to show and discuss.

Wedding photograph of a Groom getting ready in Co Cork, Ireland

I like a reflection, as regular readers already know. I also like to capture my subject in a splash of light. If I can get both: happy days! I set the exposure for the pool of light and waited for the groom to appear. Then it was down to luck. The groom appeared fixing his collar, which adds story to the photograph. Only afterwards did I really notice all the triangles and sharp corners in the frame, which I think really enhance it. I also like the shadow on the wall on the right. It adds a quirkiness. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of the father of the groom having a label cut off his suit

For the bride and her entourage, wedding day clothes are a big deal. Much less so for the guys. In fact, I went out and bought a new pair of shoes on the morning of my own wedding. So it's not uncommon for the lads to be putting on their suits on the day and only then notice various tags that need attention. Teeth, bread knives, scissors - anything will do, really. In addition, the clock gives us a time check that adds some a chronological anchor. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a bride tying a tie on the day of her wedding

Women are amazing. They know everything about clothes. Even men's clothes. More impressive still is that this is the bride. To me, this picture tells an awful lot about Kristel. She is calm, authoritative and has the respect of others. The kind of person you go to with a problem you need help with. She is cool when others might feel pressure and accommodating when others might not be (this is the morning of her wedding, don't forget). (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a Cork bride talking to one of her flower girls

What can I say? Flower girls just melt your heart every time. From a documentary photographer's point of view, they are the best invention ever. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a the best man at the church door

A fluke. He looks as if he is holding the door open. Yet if he were, he'd be about eight feet tall, or have arms of similar length. There is something Escheresque about this picture that appeals to me, though at the time I was merely concentrating on his gesture. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a wedding guests before the ceremony

Wedding guests often go off into their own little microcosms that are worth keeping an eye on. The father and his child are in a bubble of their own. A lovely moment amidst the bustle. I saw the interaction and decided to stand face-on to them, placing them at the edge of the frame, where your eye comes to rest. Then it was a case of waiting for the right moment. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a groom and a priest

The most story is often in the smallest gestures. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a a bride and groom kissing on their wedding day

You don't need to be standing right on top of the bride and groom to tell the best story. By stepping back, you give context and something for your eye to dwell on. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a bride and groom being congratulated

I find getting a good shot on the receiving line is either dead easy or absurdly hard. Ideally, I look for interaction between both the bride and groom and their guests. Sometimes, it just isn't working for me and I can't seem to get it. A cluttered line of sight is most often the problem. Here, though, there was plenty of space in which to move and free up my view. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a groom's mum laughing

A light shining above a group of talking people is always a promising situation. Especially if they are enjoying themselves. One of them is bound to throw their head back in laughter, illuminating their face. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a groom showing off his wedding ring

It is comparatively rare to see the groom discussing his ring with his friends. For a shot like this, in a crowded room, I like to get close. Often you blend in better by standing nearby, particularly in small spaces with lots of people. Groups talking amongst themselves rarely pay much heed to anything outside their circle. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a flower girl asleep

It's a long day for children. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a bride hugging a friend at her wedding reception

This is a very special photograph for me. Not only does it show a terrific moment, but it shows two brides whose weddings I've photographed embracing. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a guests reading the dinner seating plan

The area around seating plans is always a rich hunting ground for documentary photographers. I was able to get an elevated view on some stairs and then simply waited to see what happened. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Photograph of wedding guests going into dinner

I spent a lot of the time over the Christmas holiday period shooting at slow speeds at high ISO. Here, I was able to rest the camera on a railing, allowing a slowish shutter speed to get a hint of motion blur. The Canon 5DII autofocus is truly miserable so there was no hope of the camera locking on and holding focus as people walked towards me. Instead, I pre-focused and popped the shutter when someone walked into range. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photograph of a bride and groom sharing a laugh

Taken before the couple went into dinner, three things come together here: the reflection, the groom fiddling with his newly acquired ring and the bride's expression. It often happens on wedding days that the short time before the bride and groom go in to dinner is one of the few chances they have to chat to each other. I often hang back for a few minutes as these moments are usually full of photographs. I don't linger too long though. I don't want to intrude on this precious time together. (c) Roger Overall 2010

12/12/10

What Is The Point Of Wedding Photography? – Part 1: Crossing The Line

Something happened at two recent weddings that upset me greatly. Both involved videographers, which I’ll deal with in part 3 of this series of posts. For the time being, it’s the individual instances that concern me here, as they are indicative of a rot that is setting in among videographers and wedding photographers alike.

Instance 1:

Imagine this: you are the father of the bride. You will only get one opportunity to see your daughter in her wedding dress for the first time – that moment on her wedding day that she appears in front of you, utterly magnificent, before you set off for the ceremony.

Imagine what must go through your head. Your little girl, whom you most likely cradled in your arms straight after she entered the world. You have seen her grow and flourish. Now, you are on the cusp of giving her away. Here she is, an adult and more beautiful and confident and vulnerable and amazing than ever. This is what she will look like as you walk her up the aisle. And you are seeing it for the first time.

This is a very special moment.

Recently, I saw that moment ruined before it had even happened. The father was waiting at the bottom of the stairs and the videographer jumped in the instant the bride’s foot appeared at the top. I can still hear his voice: “Come down to him now. Step towards your daughter. Give her a kiss. Tell her she looks beautiful. Look at the camera.”

I think that is very disturbing.

A moment of that significance obliterated so that he could record a fake, staged, utterly meaningless version. Worse still, he deprived the father and his daughter of the genuine experience of the moment.

Instance 2:

The most important part of a wedding day is the marriage rite. It is the fulcrum of the entire occasion. It is the couple’s single most significant act.

It deserves the utmost respect.

I don’t think that recording the rite a foot away from the bride and groom is respectful:

The wedding videographer. (c) Roger Overall 2010

I’d like to be blunt and tell you what I think about the particular videographer in the photo above, but upon reading what I’d written, my legal department (ie. my wife) informed me that I should delete the text and burn the computer the words were written on.

Instead, I’ll merely say I think it is disappointing that the videographer decided to film the marriage rite from the viewpoint he did. By doing so, he encroached upon the congregation’s view of ceremony, hiding it from many of them. Certainly, the groom’s parents’ view was blocked – their memory of the instant of their son and daughter-in-law’s marriage is the videographer’s rear end. Some of the guests will have traveled great distances to see his behind.

Sadly, both of these instances are also indicative of how some wedding photographers approach their task. You can see it in the photographs they take.

They too choose to be right up with the couple on the altar, climbing all over the scene like an altar monkey, either blocking (part of) the congregation’s view or forming a considerable distraction.

Or they’re producing photographs of meaningless moments that they stage-manage to the detriment of real moments: the groomsmen dragging the groom into the church, the lads all looking at their watches as if the bride is late, the Reservoir Dogs walk up to the church (sunglasses and all), the list is endless.

I think these photographers have lost the run of themselves. I think too many wedding photographers place their photography above the occasion and the genuine memories.

My own opinion is that this is awful and that the altar monkeys should all [REMOVED AT THE BEHEST OF OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE]. We hear a lot about how the business of wedding photography is in crisis and I think a lot of it is due to the behaviour of wedding photographers themselves.

I’ll explain why in part 2 of this series of posts.

***NOTE*** So, why didn’t I move from my position at the back of the church (my favoured spot for the marriage rite)? Firstly, I initially thought the videographer was just going to pop in for a quick shot and then back off again. By the time I realized he intended to stay put, I didn’t have time to go round the side and up to the front to join the pack on the altar. Even if I had, I would have been a major distraction. Lastly, while I would have had a better view of the rite, I would also have been on top of the couple.

11/25/10

Anatomy Of A Wedding Day #12 – Carina & Julian

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The weather this year in Ireland has been exceptionally good. Even the autumn days have often been crisp and dry, with lots of sun. Usually it just rains.

I’m often asked about the best light for photography at weddings. There is no right answer really, just preferences.

On the one hand, overcast days provide nice, even light. No harsh shadows and for the most part easy exposures. Simply watch for the moments and you’re in business.

On the other hand, bright sunny days give you hard light, with very little in the way of transition between light and shadow areas. This is more difficult light, but it is much more exciting to work with as a documentary photographer. It gives you pools of light, it gives you back light, it gives you light reflecting off surfaces – plenty to play with.

Carina and Julian’s wedding day in Co. Kerry was one of those superb autumnal days with lots of magic light. Magic people too.

Here are some faves, with the occasional anecdote or caption.

Scene-setting photographs are important for wedding coverage. This is all about the autumnal colours of the reflective leaves. In addition, the rocks are integral to the location, as you'll see below. (c) Roger Overall 2010

White tie - you can't get classier. And hand-tied too. (c) Roger Overall 2010

The reaction from the guest on the far right is great and adds immensely to the photograph. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Bride sharing a joke with her friends on her wedding day

Groom and best man talking at a wedding in Sheen Falls

Two worlds. My favourite kind of photograph. (c) Roger Overall 2010

The groom standing tall at his wedding in Co. Kerry, Ireland, Europe

There is something heroic about the groom in this photograph. I was too close to include the top of his head and all of his hands, but that only adds to giving him a sense of being a man of substance - someone bigger than the frame. (c) Roger Overall 2010

An almost perfect photograph, foiled by the sloth of my 5DII. I anticipated the kiss, saw it coming, fired the shutter in advance to make up for its ridiculous shutter lag - but got there a nanosecond too early. Nevertheless, it still works as a photograph. Terrific light, story and cute flower girls. What more do you want? (c) Roger Overall 2010

This is my favourite photograph of the year so far. It has everything for me. The bride caught in the light as she walks down the aisle. Her husband-to-be watching her. The radiant smile on her face. This is why sunny days can be so thrilling for documentary wedding photographers. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Church interior during a wedding in Co. Kerry, Ireland

Wedding ceremonies are still predominantly religious affairs in Ireland. The story here is in the gesture of the Christ figure, blessing and watching over the couple. Leaving the photograph in colour accentuates the statue as your eye is drawn to the red robe. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Groom laughing with a guest at his wedding in Co. Kerry, Ireland

The hug at a wedding in Co Kerry, Ireland

Groom and a friend at a wedding in Co. Kerry, Ireland

Bride enjoying a laugh with guests at her wedding in Ireland

Bride and groom laughing at a wedding in Co. Kerry Ireland Europe

Documentary reportage wedding photography by Roger Overall

Wedding guests and the bride laughing at a wedding in Ireland

This kiss I did get. And it's the important one. And a reflection into the bargain. Lordy, I'm predictable. (c) Roger Overall 2010

If you’d like to hear what goes through a wedding photographer’s mind on a wedding day, I recorded a series of AudioBoos throughout the day. If you do listen to them, you’ll hear how Butter-Fingers had a scare early on in the day.

11/16/10

Anatomy Of A Wedding Day #11 – Katie & Kevin

I’ve been shooting a long-term documentary project behind the scenes at Fota Island Resort in Co. Cork – a great project to be doing. In the process, I’ve photographed three weddings from the hotel’s point of view.

A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding from the bride and groom’s perspective at the resort.

Wonderful couple with a great group of guests. Lots of smiles and emotion. And a great rehearsed first dance.

Preparations before a wedding Co. Cork, Ireland

A guest laughs with the groom on his wedding day in Co. Cork Ireland

A Cork bride gets ready outside the church on her wedding day

Bride and groom greet their guests at a wedding in Co. Cork, Ireland

The bride wipes away a tear at a wedding in Co. Cork, Ireland

Wedding guest photographer in Co Cork, Ireland

Bride and groom wedding cake decorations

Bride in front of a window at Fota Island Resort

Guests celebrating at a wedding in Co Cork

Bride and groom dancing at their wedding in Cork

11/9/10

Anatomy Of A Wedding Day #10 – Susie & David

I’m principally a black-and-white sorta guy.

B/W suits the documentary approach. It’s practically part of the photojournalistic DNA.

And I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve explained to couples how colour can be a pretty distraction, whereas B/W makes you look at what is going on in a photograph.

That’s all good and well. To a point.

There is another thing about colour, though – something less often referred to.

It makes documentary work harder. For me at least. I can barely manage to juggle story, composition and light, let alone add in colour.

That said, and although I love B/W to bits, I do want to develop my colour eye.

I have a number of reasons for doing so.

1) We see the world in colour, so colour documentary photographs are that bit closer to the human experience of reality than B/W photographs.

2) If I want to grow as a documentary photographer, colour is a challenge that I will have to master.

So for this Anatomy Of A Wedding, I’ve selected colour photographs only.

Wedding photography in Cork of church windows Ireland

Colour is easier when you have time to think about it, or when there aren't any people in the shot. That's why it's simple to shoot details in colour. You mustn't overdo it, though. Detail shots on their own rarely amount to genuine documentary photography. (c) Roger Overall 2010

This is where the groom was staying on the eve of the wedding. I could have just done a straight photograph of the house, but this struck me as more interesting. The photograph is anchored by the red of the front door, which gives your eyes somewhere to rest while your brain processes the image. (c) Roger Overall 2010

A mother looks at her daughter in the mirror on her wedding day

This is a very subtle image but it has loads of story. Firstly, there is the introspective look of the mother in the mirror as she watches her daughter get ready for her wedding. The second layer of story is that of generations - the older looking on, but also in life children are a reflection of their parents. What I wanted to convey here is the family link: daughter and mother are one. (c) Roger Overall 2010

A bride smiling on her wedding day in Co Cork, Ireland

I don't do many posed shots on a wedding day. Really I don't need to. This is just as much a portrait of the bride as a posed shot would have been. Here she's chatting while getting ready. (c) Roger Overall

Bestman and groom at a wedding in Co Cork, Ireland

Another quiet, contemplative photograph. If you didn't know better you'd think it was the best man looking at the groom and wondering how he'll handle himself when the big moment arrives. Actually, that's the groom looking on. Not a hint of nerves. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Groom being hugged by his mum on his wedding day, Co. Cork

Here the red skin tones help draw your eye to the smiles and the hug. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Bride arriving at her wedding in Co Cork, Ireland

This photograph is especially moody in B/W. However, in colour you get a sense of the season thanks to the foliage on the trees. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Bride laughing with her father on her wedding day in Co Cork, Ireland

Hmm. The skin tones are a bit red here - something you don't have to worry about in B/W. While artistic interpretation of a scene gives you some leeway, this wouldn't qualify. Were this selected for the final album, I'd reduce the red a smidge. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Bridal couple lighting candles during wedding ceremony in Co Cork, Ireland

Colour photography is about compromise when you're faced with different light sources in the same shot. Here I've decided to give the couple's skin tones the preference, resulting in the daylight at the back of the church adding some blue to the yellow tungsten lights. It's not unpleasant. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Bride on the receiving line at her wedding in Co Cork, Ireland

Bride and groom, and father of the bride, on the receiving line, Co Cork

Using a wide-angle lens allows you to include several stories at once. If you split the frame in half, you'd have two perfectly serviceable photographs. But included in the same frame, they add so much to each other, making for a true tableau photograph rich in story and context. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Groom talks to his bride as they walk through a door, Co Cork, Ireland

Guests at a wedding talking over coffee at the reception

This doesn't work in B/W. You need the colour to show the warm tones from the lamp on the faces. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Laughter at a wedding reception at Ballyseede Castle, Co Kerry, Ireland

A bride and groom laughing at Ballyseede Castle, Co Kerry, Ireland

Ballyseede castle wedding by Cork wedding photographer Roger Overall

Rainbow over a field in Co Kerry, Ireland

And this just wouldn't have worked in B/W at all. (c) Roger Overall

10/21/10

Anatomy Of A Wedding Day #9

Wedding photography of a flowergirl, Co Kerry, Ireland

Wedding photography of a flowergirl and shoes at Ballyseede Castle, Co Kerry, Ireland

Wedding photography of a guest hugging the groom, Fossa, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Wedding photography at Fossa church, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Wedding photograph of a bride approaching Fossa chruch, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Flowergirl at a wedding ceremony in Fossa, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Photography of a wedding ceremony at Fossa, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Wedding photograph of Fossa church, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Photography of wedding guests at Ballyseede Castle, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Guests laughing at Ballyseede Castle, Co. Kerry, Ireland by wedding photographer Roger Overall

Wedding photograph of a guest at Ballyseede Castle, Co. Kerry, Ireland

10/20/10

Anatomy Of A Wedding Day #8

Wedding photography of a Cork bride on her wedding day

Cork wedding photographer Roger Overall photograph of a groom on his wedding day

Colour wedding photography, Midleton, Cork, Ireland

Wedding photography of a bride in Midleton, Co Cork, Ireland

Photography of bridesmaids at a wedding in Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland

Photograph of a bridesmaid at a wedding in Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland

Wedding photograph of a bride and guest, Co. Cork, Ireland

Wedding photograph of guests at a wedding in Garryvoe, Ireland

09/1/10

Anatomy Of A Wedding #6

This is an interesting set of images for me personally for several reason. These will become clear as you read the commentary with each photograph.

Wedding Photographer Cork Father Of The Groom

I've said before that parents are often the forgotten people on their childrens' wedding days. Despite the unfortunate positioning of the clothes line, I love this picture. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photography of a groom and his father Cork Ireland

There was a strong smell of onions in the air. Hardly surprising when the groom had reversed a car over his father's freshly harvested onion crop. Here they survey the damage. A moment they'll both look back on with great humour in years to come. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photographer back stage at a wedding in Co Cork

A special photograph for so many reasons. It shows a small crisis involving some lost paperwork. It turned up in time, but this captures a little of the anxious moments. This is also a special photograph for a very personal reason. The priest you see here was at my father-in-law's side when he passed away and was of infinite comfort to my wife's family. He is also the man who christened my daughter. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding photography of a guest at a wedding in Cork, Ireland

Wedding photograph of a father of the bride in Cork Ireland

So you already know I'm the emotional sort and that I love my daughter (see previous post), so you imagine that I'm going to struggle a smidge on her wedding day. There is so much story here in the father of the bride's face as he watches the final preparations before he walks his daughter own the aisle. I see pride and I see love. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Bride and veil, Cork wedding photographer, Ireland

Bride Groom Glandore Wedding Photographer Cork

08/23/10

Anatomy Of A Wedding #5

Another selection of favourites from a recent wedding with commentary.

Bride and bridesmaid looking at a wedding dress, Co Cork, Ireland

I have two photographs of this exchange between the bride and the flower girl. This is my favourite. Just. The other was taken side on with a wide angle and shows more of the room. The light on the bride's face is more pleasing to me in this one, taken with a standard lens. There is great story here and you can almost write the dialogue yourself. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Smelling flowers at a wedding in Co Cork, Ireland

Men do love their flowers. I'll be honest, I was concentrating on the page boy. That was where the story was. I was aware that the groom's father had a bunch of flowers as well, but only noticed afterwards that he was examining them - mirroring the little boy's movement. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Page boy on the run during a wedding ceremony in Co Cork, Ireland

And he was the well-behaved one. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Bride and groom on their wedding day at a church ceremony in Co. Cork, Ireland

On an average wedding day, a couple gets to spend surprisingly little time together - or at least time when they can have a private exchange. Holy communion is usually the first chance they get, and often they take it. I always set myself so that I have a clear view of the couple, just in case. I love the echo of the couple's intimacy and the exchange between lads on the front bench. The bride's gesture is also wonderful to me. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Bride enjoying a laugh with her guest on her wedding day in Co Cork by Cork Wedding Photographer Roger Overall

Weddings are happy occasions. This says everything. (c) Roger Overall 2010

A wedding guest photographer takes a picture at wedding in Co Cork, Ireland

What caught my eye here initially was the light in the entrance, which lit up the bride. The guest, a very dapper man dressed in black tie, was also waiting for them to come in. He makes this picture. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Wedding guests on their way to dinner at a wedding in Co Cork by Wedding Photographer Roger Overall

Something different. I like the almost total blur of the first two people compared with the relative lack of it for the second pair. (c) Roger Overall 2010

Bride and groom on their way to dinner at their wedding in Co Cork, Ireland

A missed opportunity - sort of. I have a series of shots of the couple as they walked down this corridor. This is the best one in terms of the bride's reflection in the glass frames. I've chosen it because the reflection was what I was after. However, there is a picture a few paces earlier where the couple are smiling at each other. Unfortunately, they are too far back to be reflected. You win some, you lose some. This is still pleasing to me because the bride looks so contented. (c) Roger Overall 2010

08/4/10

Lost in Translation

Being a documentary photographer is all about capturing the truth.

Kinda.

Sometimes the truth can be a bit slippery.

Take this photograph from a recent wedding for instance.

The mother and father of the bride at a wedding in Glandore, Co Cork, Ireland

What is going on here? Is this a slap or a caress? A gesture of anger or one of affection?

You can’t really tell.

As a documentary photograph, it’s a bit of a dud. Had I been less trigger happy and had I pressed the shutter a fraction of a second later, the story would have been clear. It is, in fact, a gesture of affection between the bride’s parents.

I thought I had something special, caught in the light of a summer’s day. When the shutter clicked, my heart lifted. I felt a real sizzle of excitement. When I saw the image on screen, my heart sank at the missed opportunity.

It happens. It’s part of being a documentary photographer. Problem is, what I do is important. Not heart-surgery important for sure, but I am given the privilege to photograph important moments in people’s lives and record them for posterity. So it really, really bugs me when I miss one – even by the slimmest sliver of a second.

The Documentary Photographer

Putting Life In The Frame

Tag Archives: Wedding Photography