Wedding Photography From An Alternate Perspective

Occasionally, I received compliments from my clients appreciating the magic I created for their wedding photos. However, as much as their words give me confidence, I am not a magician.

Photographers are not Magicians

I do attract a number of clients who do not mind a missed shot or two of themselves as they would love me to prioritize the wedding guests. Covid has made us understand how difficult it would be to have gatherings with our loved ones. So, it is true that weddings are not just about the couple, but the people they love, who made great efforts to be present on their special day. That’s the best wedding present.

I do not capture every single moment at a wedding. I simply cannot. The best thing I could do for them is to be present in the moments, to observe and capture them faithfully. And I hope my presence at a wedding helps do good by capturing meaningful and genuine moments for the people. To quote Sidney Poitier, “If I’m remembered for having done a few good things and if my presence here has sparked some good energy, that is plenty”

In my career of photographing people, I have made mistakes. Though rare, I missed important moments, so to speak. Such as the first kiss, the couple marching down the aisle, ring exchanges, etc. All these in an attempt to capture other unique moments that were happening at the same time. I am grateful that my clients appreciate the way I prioritise things and the layered moments that I capture for them. Photographs have a special way of engaging our memories- where we feel and remember a particular moment in time, not by remembering the exact thing that was happening, but by what was happening around it.

Emotions as the Main Course

In wedding photography, communication skills and connecting with people are as important, if not more than technical skills . And so it is important for the people to feel that I am there for them, and not just to photograph them.

Emotions are always centre stage in wedding photos. And I feel that the best emotions always come from unsuspecting situations. For example, when a cheeky guest throws rice or flower petals over the couple when they are marching out, two people giggle unknowingly over a shared joke. I make sure that I am always ready with my camera for that sudden burst of energy.

Weddings as Streets

I hope the photos are not only encapsulating what is memorable for the people involved, but it is also able to resonate with any viewers looking in from the outside.

The fun thing about wedding photography is the variety of elements you can experience in a day. I not only have the choice to document different moments, people, details, places, and weather; but also have the choice to create interesting photographs that evoke feelings and curiosity. People will not always pause to look at the photos of strangers, but one might pause when a photo intrigues them, triggering questions. That is where my photography lies- at the crossroads of street photography and wedding documentaries. After all, street photography is all about telling stories of strangers!

If weddings are a construct of multiple moments, like putting pieces to a puzzle. Piecing different moments and details together is a way of storytelling. Like how I approach street photography, I see through the chaos of a wedding day, through the randomness and unstructured elements in a way that helps form my compositions. Street photography celebrates the decisive or mundane moments of the everyday and adds a touch of mystery and intrigue of life. That aligns with my philosophy in photographing weddings and from there, I learn how to layer visually and metaphorically. Life itself is very much multi-layered.

Instead of labeling myself as a wedding photographer, I see myself as more of a lifestyle photographer. A wedding is only a day in one's life, so, beyond the wedding day, I photograph couples not only before, but also after their wedding, exploring their relationship and telling their life story. Generally speaking, there is no big difference in the way I approach weddings and lifestyle photography.

Master of Nothing

Having an architecturally trained background, I always had an appreciation for lines, light, and shadows. Through the process of finding my niche as a photographer, I learnt that these had become the foundations of my photography.

I have come to terms with myself as being a master of nothing. As wedding photographers, there are many skill sets that are expected of us. From documentary photography, portraiture, landscape, and architectural photography, and not forgetting the little wedding details like flowers, invites, and decor.

Yet, I do not carry strobe lights as I love using ambient light as that is the light that describes the scene. I do not do portraiture in the vein of fashion photography as I love the creativity that the given environment sparks in me. I do not use studios as nothing beats the spontaneous elements that form storytelling images rooted in contextuality.

Being a master of nothing, I have learnt to be versatile. Different times, weather, locations, and the personality of the people I photograph, contribute to different inspirations and outcomes.

Photography as a Tool of Mirrors and Extensions

What use are pictures if they are unable to reflect the character and personalities of the people being photographed? If I am detailed enough, I can show the couple's fashion sense and even the way they interact through the photos. My perception of photography is a collaboration between the people in front and behind the camera. As I am likely to amplify the subject's mood with how I might be feeling during the session, echoing the symbiotic relationships in people photography.

Content and Context

Many people may have observed that my wedding photography does not have a shallow depth of field that isolates the subject. My approach is more about layering the content with context in my pictures to tell a story. The moments, emotions, and characters are the contents; my compositions and photographic intent help to put the architecture or scenery in context to tell a story. So technically speaking, F8 (aperture) or more is an important storytelling mechanism for me.

Non-binary Approach

Although I love black and white photos, photographing people is not ones or zeroes, nor black or white to me. In my wedding day photography, I dont pre-determine the more worthy subjects to be captured. I make no hierarchy or prejudice on any of the following:

- subjects (can be adults or kids, can be people other than the wedding couple, can be shadow or reflections)

- places (yes, I can shoot somewhere outside a toilet, if the light is beautiful)

- moments (other than highlight moments such as the first-kiss, wedding march-in, and so on, I love observing the quieter or underrated moments).

Such an approach allows me to capture more in-between moments that can be interesting or humorous.

Story and Mood

I focus my photography on the celebration of love and relationships. I once photographed a couple who had to change their wedding plans and move forward with their wedding as the father was getting very ill.

Having experienced the passing of my mother, I understood how life can be unpredictable and transient. So, I asked the couple for their permission to visit them in the hospital where we had some photos of the couple and their father taken while they shared a moment together. Those pictures of the father‘s last moments became some of the most important memories to them, and to myself too as a reminder about the purpose and direction of my photography. It‘s not about technically perfect photos nor award-winning images, but about the stories of people, and being present for the people.

“ Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot

Other than the faces of the people, I actually love capturing stories, vibes and moods. I adored how Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai creates mood in his films, be it intentionally blur or artistically color-coordinated. Weather and light conditions are good elements to show mood in photography.

Live like an Experiment

Life is pretty much about experimenting, even finding a life partner. Experimenting does not mean that we are not serious. On the contrary, it can be seriously fun and rewarding because experimentation is geared by the spirit of innovation and relentless devotion to commit.

Sometime last year, I received a dream inquiry: “I would like to have the photographer use us as experimental subjects with light and angles and etc. ”

It made me realize that there are people out there who are willing to entrust me not only to photograph them but to experiment with the approach of how it should be done.

Then, why should I get less bold in doing the same in my life? So, I would love to think that we appeal to like-minded clients. Couples who dare to experiment, are open to ideas, are fun, and the possibilities that eventually bring more lively and genuine elements to their wedding celebration. If they are willing to take a leap of faith, believing that they can find the right fit to enjoy their celebration, then I am more than happy to help catalyze the process.

Underated Wedding Details

Weddings are not just about beautiful faces, magnificent venues, and styling. There are also some other details that tell the story about the relationships. For example, hands are powerful in conveying emotions. Displaying gestures of love, joy, and connection between people.

Photography as a Tool of the Imagination

Other than wedding documentaries, I love to include some room for the imagination in my work. Turning the focus towards interesting light or street elements in an artful manner can help to give viewers more space for imagination.

Photography as a Diary of Growth

What weddings and their people have taught me the most in this journey, is the continuous learning of relationships, and the process of bettering myself.

As we age, we tend to be afraid of failures and become more hesitant to try new things. It is a protective mechanism in all of us that tries to keep us safe. And it can get so safe that we become like everyone else, and eventually, we become nobody. That is when we lose ourselves (or styles).

Garry Winogrand once said, “Great photography is always on the edge of failure” . And I am always thankful to the couples who are willing to accept my failures. If there is something good about my photography, that might be that I am open to failures.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not reflect the opinions or views of Sony Digital Workshop