pulling it all together

I’ve started writing this sentence nearly 14 times. Do I start with a story? My reason for this post? A joke? Well, we all know the joke wouldn’t go over well so how about I’ll just save us all from that. Basically, this post is just a helpful tidbit to photographers, brides or anyone who will listen. Taking what you know, what’s around you and combining what you have to create the best photographs possible. Let’s face it… sometimes ‘real weddings’ don’t take place in vineyards with perfect sunlight, $250 place settings & a donut cart. Sometimes, real weddings actually take places in home churches where the couple met or on a rainy windy day with less than comfortable temperatures. I know I know, hard to believe.

So how do we as photographers take what we are given and turn it into something magical? Do we compare our wedding with the whoop-dee-doo wedding recently featured? NO. we don’t. because that is bad and unhealthy. We use our brains that are creative and we challenge ourselves to use what we have around us. We get to know the bride and the things she loves & treasures. We take initiative and think outside of the box. We sometimes have to make something from nothing in hopes of capturing something that otherwise would have been unnoticed or forgotten.

As I was preparing for this post, I was hit with a taste of my own message. I couldn’t find a white dress, so I used a gold one that was super fun. It was FREEZING cold on picture day and later that evening, it actually snowed a few inches. It was incredibly windy…seeing that we were in open fields most of the time. Not to mention it was very very muddy and it rained the entire time. But, keeping my own advice in mind, I went with it and created the best images humanly possible. I’m done chattering, here’s some tips. Also, I think in small phrases so that’s how these paragraphs are put together. sorry if you think better in complete thoughts & sentences!

1. Focus on the details

this first tip comes with a little bit of prep work. bring a few things to work with in case you are faced with less than ideal territory. a nice hanger for hanging the brides dress on (brides here lately are having these made but bring a pretty one, just in case). There’s nothing like a gaudy purple plastic hanger to ruin a graceful wedding dress photograph. I’m guilty of this, too…sometimes I forget! Bring a piece of fabric that you know will coordinate with the brides color pallet for photographing the details. It will leave your work feeling unified and consistent.

2. Move things around

Don’t feel confined to the area around you. Show up 35 minutes early and scope out the entire area before you get started so that you are always ahead of the game. If you’re in a church and your bride is getting ready in a sunday school room with noah’s ark painted on the wall, suggest she slip into her gown in a simple spot with good lighting you found earlier. If she hired you, she trusts you and will be thankful for your guidance. Let’s face it, she’s got other things on her mind than an elephant or blue monkey being in her photos.

You noticed a blue chair with clean lines in the lobby of the church when you walked in. Use that for some photos of the brides shoes and photograph her bouquet on it as well. GAH only one problem..the brides colors are yellow and black. No problem! Balance it out by using other complimentary colors and textures. Look for a few other things that are blue to use in your details photos. Maybe even borrow the blue chair for a few of their portraits. It’s just a simple effort that will again unify your images. YOU are the boss here, there are no rules. (I’m not the best at asking permission before I do things…like borrowing chairs from church lobbies. You may way to do that!)

3. pull it all together

I’ve said this a few times, but just be consistent in your work. If you start your detail photos outdoors, try to finish them outdoors. Keep the same vibe in all of your photographs. We all know how tempting it is to photograph those gold glitter pumps in 7 different scenarios but for all of our sake, leave it to 1 or 2 spots. If you’re shooting with assistant photographers, communicate with them thoroughly throughout the day to make sure everything is covered and that they are keeping the general flow of the photographs in mind. Make sure they are familiar with your work and are keeping your ‘flavor’ in mind.

That’s all I got. I hope you found this remotely helpful. If you skipped all that jibber jabber and went straight to the photos, that’s my hottie sister!

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{ a H U G E thanks to my little sister, kara. she braved the frigid temperatures all for me and I’m so very thankful to have such a beautiful, sweet & smelly sister. and yes gentlemen, she’s single. }

!DISCLAIMER!

apparently, Katelyn James & I recently had similar ideas in our blogging. I didn’t copy you KJ, swear it!