Photo Prose: At the Wedding Part III
Unobtrusive? Everyone wants a photographer to be unobtrusive. I love when people say, “I did not even realize you were there!” That is part of a photographer’s talent. There are different methods of unobtrusiveness. Some photographers, work far back at a distance. While it might seem to be the perfect approach, it is not.
You cannot see into a manhole, to see the crew working in the street, until you get close.
Likewise, a photographer who stays very far back will not get the right angle on faces. Other considerations are involved.
But, there is another way of being unobtrusive. That is conducting oneself, in a way, and having a manner, which does not call attention to oneself. So you are aware of the photographer, but you just ignore it. There are many things that a trained photographer can do, and I am not sure I am ready to give away such valuable secrets on this subject.
However, one of those things definitely does not involve waving to the crowd, trying to get their attention, and having the Bride and her Mom, look up at the camera during the dancing! Nope. That is not how it is done.
I know you are laughing at this moment. But you must have seen this at many events. More importantly, you may have seen the faces of persons in photos nicely looking up. You can look up occasionally, and a good photographer will get those shots when possible. But if you do not, or do not think to do so, or do not feel comfortable distracting yourself constantly… the point I want to make, is that this is not the only way, and in my opinion it is certainly not a good way.
So we want a photographer to be unobtrusive, right? Well if we ask the Bride and Mom to look up, then too, we need the Groom’s Mom, the sisters, the sister in-laws, the Grand Mothers, the Grand Aunts, and of course, the best friends. Whew! I am tired already.
A good photographer, should be seeking the right moment. An enthusiastic and friendly Kollah, could look up at times. She knows there is a crowd. Sure she could look up. But if she looks up and poses, stops and poses, waits for the flash, makes sure it is the photographer’s flash, not a guest… when does it end??? I have seen weddings, where past photographers so well trained the crowd, that it was not possible to shoot real candids. Besides, how does it look in the video? What affect does it have on the joy and celebration of dancing? True there are some persons, who dance always as if they are on stage. It is a manner. It is theatrical. For those, such looking up is more natural. It is part of them. They do not stop. But this is not so much what I am referring to. I am referring to what in some communities has become an expected practice that the very same photographer, you want to be unobtrusive, is expected later have had you looking up constantly, posing to the camera. To me that is a contradiction.
The point of this article and the next one, is not to say that you should not look up, nor do I say you should. I say that this is one of many situations that defy logic sound judgement. Constant awareness, cheapens the whole experience. But what is important is to understand that if you want a photographer to be a real photographer, not just a button pusher, the photographer must get into a rhythym. A good photographer is watching a lot of things, and aware of many things that you can’t imagine. The photographer is working with many remote lights that must be controlled for the moment. The photographer is changing camera settings.
Actually there are certain techniques that the best photographers use, which vary depending on if you are looking at the camera, or not. So it is important to know that if you have a photographer, who believes in getting natural, un posed, real candids, and you start looking up and posing for a lot of shots, the result will be that the photographer will quickly change gears, and wait for you to look up. Again, every wedding is different. Depending on room shape, size, and lighting possibilities, it is possible that little difference will exist. But there definitely have been times, that my camera settings, needed to be different, or that simply, in covering the possible three circles, I needed to keep scanning the floor. With frequent look ups, this would truly cripple what could be of the dance, and of good photography
You could have a collection of photos, where every shot on the woman’s side has people looking up. Then you will ask, where are the candid shots? You actually would be missing the dance at your own wedding. You will be missing it when you view the album and missing it at the time.
There are photographers who rely heavily on that approach. It is a way of not missing what some clients will later expect. But that is why you hire a better pro. One with serious timing and technical skills, It is easy to have everyone looking up. It is insurance on the part of the photographer, and it will make you happy if you just want to see a blank, or fake face. Certainly you can tell your photographer to do that. Anyone can do that.
More importantly when the photographer does work hard to get real candids, in this age of emphasizing photojournalism, and unobtrusiveness, it is important to understand how tremendously more difficult such real candids are. It is important to know that for many, the posed shots are offensive, meaningless, and the very opposite of unobtrusive candids. It is important to know that later, you could be seeing some great exciting shots, as well as some shots of important persons that may not be as “perfect” as you would like. There are always trade offs. My view is for the Bride and her Mom, and Mother – in – Law, to look up on their own. And for the photographer to do the best to get persons faces while still not affecting the wedding, and certainly not having a disappointed client later.
Communication, that is the goal. What criteria do you apply in selecting your photographer and videographer. We have not really spoken about video. But video is photography. Thirty pictures per second with sound. I refer to both equally, in my use of the word photography. Many have questions and comments on how video can be more enjoyable, and less predictable, and we will discuss those things shortly.
Meanwhile, I hope caterers, florists, party planners, and venue management, can be more on the same page as to helping the client get the photography they will value most later, and which while actually representing all venders’ joint efforts, still rely on the photographer’s, skill, talent and opportunity to preserve for ever and everyone.
To the reader: If you ever seen an uncle, friend, or staff member, keep nudging the Bride to look up constantly, or if you as the Groom’s Mother expected just such a result from a photographer who was trying to do a more meaningful set of photos, then you will understand what I mean to say.
Originally published in Photo Prose by Gary Rabenko during 2005-2009,
in 5 Towns Jewish Times http://5tjt.com/