If a wedding were a movie, the bride and groom would be starring in the leading roles. They’ll get most of the closeups and the camera will linger on them throughout the day. We’ll also see other supporting members of the cast as they interact the couple or react to the unfolding events. Then there are some people in the movie we’ll barely see at all, but they play important visual role of populating the universe of the film. Without them, the feature film wedding would merely be an short subject elopement. That’s why I often go out of my way to create photos that include wedding guests as part of the composition.

As wedding photographers, we all shoot the guests. We often try to get a shot of as many guests’ faces as possible for the bride and groom. Those shots are important but they’re not quite what I’m getting at now. And to be clear, I’m not also talking about shots like this:

Almost every set of wedding photos has establishing shots like the one above, and they often include guests. Overviews like this have their role to play in setting the scene, but they’re not particularly compelling. I want to include guests in the action, without detracting from the stars. I’m talking more of a shot like the one below:

Although you don’t see a single face, the guests are active participants in this scene and amplify the emotion of the best man’s toast. See how much less interesting the shot would be if it were just the cleanly framed shot of the toast-giver:

There is nothing terribly wrong with the shot of the best man alone and I’ll probably take shots with similar framing, but it’s not very cinematic. During the wedding I look for opportunities I can exploit to bring guests into the action. One of the most common times I find these opportunities is during the ceremony.

Getting these guest shots can be a little counter-intuitive as many of us are trained to look for unobstructed angles on the couple at the alter. Invariably, this means we are in the aisle. Let’s face it, the aisle is great for a couple of reasons: it serves up the action perfectly centered, and we’re not blocking anyone’s view. The shot below is a perfect example.

But what if we leave the comfort of the aisle, move a little to the left, and break out the telephoto? We can often get shots like this:

This angle has the same content as the aisle shot but the feeling is different. From this more voyeuristic angle we see the couple as they’re being watched by the guests. For most people, it’s both rare and uncomfortable to do anything front of an audience and this angle make us more aware of that undertone. Shooting just over the top of the guests’ heads mimics the perspective of a guest in the 4th row, giving the viewer the visceral sense that they too are there in the moment. Is there anything better than having a viewer connect with your photography?

And if you can capture the moment of peak action at an angle which puts the viewer into the scene as a guest, then you may just be rewarded with a shot worthy of your portfolio.

Try incorporating the guests into the action in a few shots at your next wedding!

PS: Share your best guest shot over on ShootStyle’s Facebook page. I’d love to see it!

She photographed me in angles I’ve never seen of myself, that are so similar to old images of my grandmother. She made special care to capture every detail that we spent so much time and energy on, collecting in antique shops and having custom made. She forever froze moments of my daughter and I that I know she will absolutely cherish and pass down to her own children. She photographed my handsome husband in the way I want to remember him when we’re old and gray.

The most important thing that she did was capture the day the way that I truly remember it, and beautifully. She took her time with us during the portraits and made us feel at ease. We would have held our breath and stood on our heads, had she asked.

What was reinforced to me as photographer, by being the bride on my wedding day, was that we really need to remember to photograph what’s important. Don’t skimp the details just because you’re a photojournalist, they are part of the story. Your couples have worked very hard to get everything in place, sometimes shopping and DIYing for a year or more. (Ask them what’s important – in my pre-wedding questionnaire, I ask my couples to tell me if any jewelry, etc has been passed down and anything out of the ordinary that I may not know about.) And if you’re an editorial photographer, don’t go nuts on details and portraits alone, you’re not shooting for the inspiration blogs, you’re shooting for the couple, for their family and for historical posterity.

Your goals as a photographer should to make the couple cry when they see the photos, out of happiness. To allow them to relive their day over and over. To see themselves just as beautiful as they were.

Here we are, the ShootStylers and our friend Kristin, taken by New York photographer Angelica Glass at my wedding. I love them. To see many many more amazing photos from my wedding day, go to Angelica’s blog here : Zofia and Mark’s Wedding

Enjoy!
Zofia

Sarah had her hair and makeup in the beautiful light of one of the elegant mezzanine rooms that the Boston Harbor Hotel has available.

Meanwhile, Meghan and her friends hung out in her hotel room and prepared for the wedding in their own way.

Having gotten ready with others, they then privately shared a first meeting. Meghan waited downstairs for Sarah to arrive. Sarah walked the length of the wharf, coming up behind Meghan. When Meghan turned they saw each other for the first time they fell into each other’s arms.

I love shooting with my good friends and working with the fabulous Rhode Island Wedding Photographer Stacey Doyle is a special treat. This amazing portrait of the couple is just one of the magnificent images Stacey captured.

Then it was off to the ceremony.

The ceremony was a touching and beautiful affair that took place in the round under a gorgeous cascade of flowers and crystals created by Winston Flowers. Sarah and Meghan read vows they had each written, exchanged rings, and were married.

While the guests left to enjoy cocktails, the room was transformed though the talent of the BHH staff, Suzanne B. Lowell Lighting Design, and Winston Flowers all coordinated through their amazing their event consultant, Michele Mottola.

From the first dance until the end of the evening, the reception was an energetic party.

And if folks wanted to relax they could go outside and enjoy s’mores by the fire pits.

Congratulations Sarah & Meghan!

This past Fourth of July Weekend, Earl had the pleasure of shooting the wedding of Cara and Matt, a truly fun, warm Boston couple. The shoot was going to be logistically a little complicated, as the guys were getting ready in the North End, the gals were getting ready at the Boston Harbor Hotel, the ceremony was going to be at the Glavin Chapel at Babson College in Wellesley, and the reception was back at the Boston Harbor again. Wow!

Photography was important to Cara and Matt, who wanted simultaneous coverage in multiple locations so Earl definitely needed a second photographer. As luck would have it, Jamie was available to help him out. Any day shooting with Jamie is guaranteed to be full of surprises, but this day held an extra special surprise. While Jamie was shooting the fellas getting ready, he thought that one of the guys in the wedding party looked familiar; it was Scott, whose Cape Cod wedding Jamie was about to shoot in a couple of weeks!

So Cara and Matt were lucky to have Jamie as a second photographer, and Jamie’s couple, Deanna and Scott, got a preview of the talented Mr. Wexler in action! Here are a few of our favorite photos from the day: