Article: 50 Brides Reveal What Their Photographers Could Have Done Better

I read this article with much amusement. I understand that brides want their day to be captured perfectly (in the way they think it should be shot), but sometimes they don't share or understand the vision the photographer has. I recall, a few years back, a friend was showing me her wedding photo album, which was really well done. As we were flipping through the pages, she stopped on one particular page to complain about a particular black and white image the photographer chose to use instead of the same in colour. I recall looking at the page in its totality and thought the photographer made the right choice, BUT my friend wasn't happy with the choice. At the end of the day, it was a beautiful product, but my friend was not happy.

A couple years later, I was watching a course on CreativeLive, and remember the instructor mentioning that sometimes the client (and she was talking about brides), will have a particular image in mind that they want and it isn't necessarily aligned with what the photographer would suggest. The instructor reminded those of us watching that in the end, it may be in your best interest to let go of your creative vision, to keep the client happy.

Both of these things came to mind when reading this article... Photography, particularly wedding photography, is really about managing a personal relationship. Yes, a bride has come to you because they like your work, but they think that you can capture the magic of the day. For me personally, the only way to do that is to have a great relationship with the subject of my photos... I tell them what I want to do/have in mind, and ask for their suggestions, and hopefully everyone is happy with the final product.

What Brides wish their photographer did differently

Day 246 - What is the focus?

I've been taking some online photography classes, and any opportunity I get, I try to implement what I learn.  So, at my friend's brother's wedding, I tried a few different shots, including this one.  I really liked how it turned out. The focus of this picture is the cake, but framed to show the couple.

Day 235 - Peeking through the crystal curtain

Working on photos from my friend's brother's wedding, and I really liked this one.  I took a lot of atypical pov photos that day.  I had to try this one a couple times before I was happy with it.  First, there were too many of the crystals in the shot, and then the focus was not to my liking, etc.  I would have loved this one more if the bride was visible, and looking over her shoulder towards me... that would have been the shot!

Day 220 - Happiness of being with those you love

Taken at a friend's brother's wedding.  I love these girls!  They have been the best of friends for ages, and whenever they are together, you can feel there is something special about their friendship.  I was mourning the fact that I would soon have to return my brother's camera to him, and so they humoured me with taking photos... or allowing me to capture some images at the wedding.

Doesn't this just scream happiness to you?

Day 160 - Wedding bouquet

Ever take a picture that you take and feel that it's nice, but not the greatest, but everyone else loves it?  This is one such picture.  This was from the friend's wedding from a few years ago.  I love the bouquet, but not in love with the photo.  I guess, at the end of the day, when you are taking pictures for a friend, it's about what they like and not your vision.

Day 159 - Colourful make-up

This is from a few years ago when a friend was getting married.  She asked me to come along for a make-up trial, and while the artists worked away, I took random pictures for my friend.  Although I think there are way too many colours of various make-up products out there, I love colour! So, I took pictures of the eye shadows.

Day 40 - Ceremony

I figure this is a safe image to post.  This is the ceremony... I think I really would have liked the image if it was straight on, and not take from the side.  Straight on, I would have had all the horizontal lines, but not the vertical ones, which is what I don't like.  I would have stood in the aisle to take pictures, but I felt a little self conscious moving around, since I didn't actually know the couple, or anyone at the wedding, except the person who invited me.  

I really do love the black and white.  I have a few pictures in colour at the church, but really don't like the way the colours looked in them.

Day 39 - Thirsty?

So, I was taking a picture of the head table, and, the bride turned away, and apparently I was focussed on the glasses on the table... I guess, I was thirsty!.

Yes, you can see that I blurred it out, since I didn't get permission to post their images online, but you get the idea... the glasses were in focus, and the people were fuzzy, albeit not this much.  I don't know where those other weird lines came from... they are not on the original. 

Day 38 - Table 15 in the dark

At the reception, I had to fiddle with the camera a little to familiarize myself with the settings on the camera.  I realized that I really like photos in black and white, so a lot of the pictures I took at the wedding were in black and white.  I also loved having complete control over the shutter speed and the aperture size... I'm not used to it, so I think it might take me some time to learn the right settings to use in each situation.

Didn't bother editing this photo.. it's as I shot it.  I know it's a little dark.

Day 37 - DSLR Fun!

So, I borrowed a friend's DSLR for a week.  I'm working on a project, for which I really just wanted the DSLR.  I have to tell you, I just love it.  I have to admit, I have forgotten how heavy a DSLR can be, but it's worth it.

Just a picture of a friend's purse, as we got ready for a wedding.