Why you definitely should NOT hire a wedding photographer. (But why you might want to hire me!)
I recently had the funniest, best wedding inquiry ever. The initial message said, “We've been desperately searching for someone who happens to be a photographer to take photographs at our wedding -- but all we've been able to find are Wedding Photographers!” They went on, “We were on the verge of giving up…when we stumbled on your website. We love your work.”
Reading their inquiry made me incredibly happy because they get it! I always hope that the images on my website will speak louder than any words or descriptions I might use. Despite that, due to pesky things like marketing and promotion, I do have to give myself a label, and saying “I’m a photographer who also shoots weddings, documentary style” doesn’t really grab the algorithm. So Documentary Wedding Photographer it is. Isn’t this all just semantics, you might ask? What’s the big deal with saying you’re a wedding photographer?
And of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a wedding photographer, despite the headline of this post. But when you think of a wedding photographer, what springs to mind? I can only speak for myself, but the reason I didn’t shoot weddings for the first half of my career as a photographer was that I thought it meant I had to do shots of rings on pillows, dresses on hangers and endless posed iterations of family and wedding party. I thought it meant I had to spend hours with the couple, posing them in shots where the bride gently places her hand on the grooms cheek as they stare lovingly into each other’s eyes, or (and I shudder at this thought) weird double exposures with the couple floating above a skyline or between their rings - which are of course on a pillow.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some fantastic photographers out there who make those photos look great for the couples who are into it. And more power to them. But that’s not me. And those aren’t my couples. So if you’re on my website, you’re probably already looking for something that isn’t traditional wedding photography.
At this point in time, even the title of Documentary Wedding Photographer doesn’t really cut it, as there are many photographers who use this as a marketing tool, but who are actually traditional wedding photographers. The point of all of this is, how do you know who to hire? And specifically, how do you know if I’m the right photographer for you?
Here’s a quick checklist to see if we might be a good fit:
You’re not into posing, shots of rings on pillows or those featuring your dress on a hanger.
You’re down for “whatever the weather” (and dare I say, rain is optimal!).
You’re more interested in enjoying your wedding day than worrying about the photos.
Your sense of humor and sense of adventure are equally developed!
And on the flipside, we might not be a good fit if:
You love posed shots, and posing for them.
Bad weather will absolutely ruin your day.
You prefer structure over spontaneity.
The look is more important than the ‘feel’ of it.
I’m being slightly tongue in cheek, but only slightly. I love to have fun, capture the unplanned and the spontaneous and join you on the crazy, beautiful ride that is your wedding day! My very favorite images from any wedding are never the ones that are just technically perfect, and always the ones that have you reliving the emotion of the moment. I’m a photographer. I often shoot weddings. If you saw my website and something clicked, I’d love to shoot yours!