Sometimes there is just way too much concern over things being well lit.Sometimes there is just way to much hoopla over smiles.
Sometimes Black and White is the ONLY correct choice.
IMHO
Maybe I'll think of some other stupid statements to add by the end of this blog that can totally be torn apart by other photogs, or possibly even me in a day or two, but for now, at this point in time, this is exactly how I'm feeling.
BTW - We're in the middle of our wedding season.
Shooting weddings is a very tiring, stressful job...but can also be extremely fun and exciting. Stressful because of the time frames and schedules and the 1-chance-to-get-the-1-shot-of-the-kiss, the cake-smashing-in-the-face, the garter-flying-through-the-air, etc., etc., etc., but fun and exciting because of the joy and laughter and happy tears that you get to see and experience over and over, reminiscing each time about your very own wedding and all the crazy emotions that you felt. Terror and Excitement all rolled into one.
So back to the well lit, shadows, B/W rant part of the blog. Weddings are a combo of all that's boring, exciting and interesting about photography. The formals are the boring, though very, very important part. They need to be well lit, smiling faces with light in their eyes. Yeah, you can do all sorts of jumping and running and face making group shots but you STILL have to have some of the all-standing-in-a-line-saying-cheese pics. The ones that the bride and groom gives to grandma and that stays on the wall or the dresser until the end of time.
The important but boring ones.
But invariably, the ones that the bride and groom usually choose as their favs are the ones that we also think are the coolest...the ones that are showing the true feelings...the chance looks, the real emotions, the shadows, the mood. What's truly amazing is that even if you set-up a shot with certain poses or in a certain venue, if you give it a little time, those true emotions and looks and feelings start coming out on their own...because they really ARE in love, they can't help it. Tell them to quit smiling and saying cheese and put them close together and BAM, there is twitterpation (to quote The Wise Old Owl from Bambi) in the air and it, wow, photographs extremely well!
The same is true with the bride and her bridesmaids and with the groom and his groomsman. They all like/love each other...they KNOW how to be crazy friends with each other, and if you just give them enough time, they'll forget you're there and give you the right photo ops completely on their own.
This last wedding with Luke and Mellisa was a prime example. When we first met a few months ago, Luke had said he really liked the whole gang of guys, "Brat Pack" type of vibe...the group of friends just hanging out in tuxes and looking cool in Black and White type of photos. So I decided that we should just meet uptown Athens at the courthouse with his 6 other guys...and just walk. Wander around town for 30 minutes or so. Just let them be friends and do what friends do.
The top shot and this one are from that little bit of time together. Them being them. True emotions with real faces, real shadows, and real mood.
Just the way I like it.
Jeffrey
