THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING A WEDDING PARTY

I AM PHOTOGRAPHING STRANGERS: LITERALLY

IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW THE WEDDING PARY WILL BE ON THE DAY OF THE WEDDING! EVERYONE ON EARTH HAS DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES AND I, AS THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, AM MEETING SEVERAL OF THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME ON THE SAME DAY! SO, I TRY TO GET TO KNOW THEM A LITTLE BEFORE THAT DAY AND HERE IS HOW! 

​#1. PLANNING 

I TALK WITH MY BRIDE AND GROOM AHEAD OF TIME. I ASK THEM ALL THE QUESTIONS. HOW MANY ARE IN THE WEDDING PARTY? HOW MANY ARE SHY? HOW MANY ARE OUTGOING? (THOSE QUESTIONS BELIEVE IT OR NOT ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY DETERMINE RATHER THESE PEOPLE ENJOY THE CAMERA OR NOT.) WILL THERE BE ALCOHOL? (THIS IS ANOTHER QUESTION THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE IT DETERMINES A TON OF THINGS. ALCOHOL CAN LOOSEN UP THE SHY AND MAKE THE WILD MORE LESS TAMED. I ALSO USE ALCOHOL TO MY ADVANTAGE WITH PICTURES FOR TOASTING, LIPSTICK AROUND THE RIM OF A CHAMPAIGN GLASS, ETC. SO I LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS A DRY WEDDING OR NOT.) I MAKE A PLAN IN MY HEAD WITH THE LITTLE INFORMATION I KNOW BEFORE GOING TO THE WEDDING.

#2. TAKING AS MANY DIFFERENT PICTURES AS POSSIBLE 

THE WAY SOMEONE BEHAVES NORMALLY IS NOT ALWAYS THE WAY SOMEONE WANTS TO BE SEEN.
READ THAT SENTENCE AGAIN!  
YES, SOMEONE WHO IS THE "CLASS CLOWN" MAY NOT WANT TO ALWAYS BE THAT IN PICTURES. SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ME AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER TO TRY MY BEST TO AIM FOR EVERY PERSONALITY OUT THERE. THE TIP I HAVE FOUND TO WORK FOR THIS IS TO TAKE BOTH TYPES OF PICTURES. IF I HAVE A WILD AND CRAZY BUNCH (WHICH I LOVE BY THE WAY) THEN OF COURSE I TAKE THOSE KIND OF PICTURES WITH THOSE PEOPLE. I LET THOSE PERSONALITIES SHINE THROUGH. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE A OUTGOING FUN BRIDAL PARTY, THE BRIDE AND GROOM FIT THE NARRATIVE. SO THEY AS WELL WANT THEIR DAY TO BE FUN AND LAID BACK.
MOST OF THE TIME BUT NOT ALWAYS. SO TO PREVENT ANY MISHAPS WHEN THEY RECEIVE THEIR GALLERY FROM ME, I MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A MIXTURE OF BOTH FORMAL AND FUN PICTURES. WE WILL TAKE THOSE GOOFY FUN NATURAL LAUGH PICTURES BUT WE WILL ALSO GET SERIOUS FOR A MINUTE AND TAKE THOSE BEAUTIFUL MATURE PICTURES SO THE COUPLE HAS BOTH TO CHOOSE FROM. 

#3. TRYING TO AVOID AWKWARD PAIRING.

I TRY MY VERY BEST TO AVOID PUTTING EXES TOGETHER OR THE MOTHER WITH THE NEW STEPMOTHER ETC. BUT LETS BE HONEST. I DON'T KNOW ANYONE AT THIS WEDDING. SO I USUALLY ASK MY BRIDES TO WRITE ME A LIST OF ALL NAMES OF THE BRIDAL PARTY AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS THEY WANT PHOTOS OF. I HAVE ALSO STARTED ASKING THE QUESTIONS "ARE THERE ANY DIVORCES OR DEATHS I SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO AND AWARE OF IN YOUR WEDDING PARTY OR FAMILY?"  "ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE HERE THAT DO NOT NEED TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED TOGETHER?"  
I TRULY BELIEVE IN WEDDINGS, I TRULY BELIEVE IN TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF A PHOTO FOR LITERALLY 30 SECONDS, BUT NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES THE SAME THINGS.  IT MAKES THE WEDDING, THE PICTURES, THE CEREMONY, EVERYTHING GO SO MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY IF I KNOW IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE WEDDING PARTY OR ELSEWHERE THAT JUST DO NOT NEED TO BE NEAR EACH OTHER FOR A PICTURE. WE WILL AVOID THAT AT ALL COSTS. 

GENUINE LAUGHS AND FLATTERING POSES ARE EXACTLY WHAT I AIM TO CATCH. I WILL PLAY AROUND WITH A FEW IDEAS FOR THE PARTY TO GIVE ME JUST THAT. ONCE I GET MY FEEL OF THEM AND WHAT WORKS, WE EASILY CONQUER THE DAY. THEY WILL FEEL SILLY AT FIRST BUT ONCE THEY GET THE HANG OF MY PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE, THEY USUALLY JUMP ON BOARD. BY THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE MADE FRIENDS AND ARE HANDING OUT CARDS WHICH IS EVERYTHING THE BRIDE AND GROOM ASKS FOR! 

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LETS GET SOCIAL! 

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AUTHOR: STEPHANIE TAYLOR 
OWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER MARILYN RAY PHOTOGRAPHY