Ever since digital cameras came onto the market, and they've become more accessible and more affordable, anyone can pick up a camera and take a picture. Quite frequently, in the quest to save money, more couples are opting to have Uncle Harry or friend Mary take their important wedding pictures. Sadly, sometimes it doesn't go well when friends or family take your wedding pictures.
The problem is just because you can see the picture in the back of the screen doesn't mean you have a good picture. Digital photography and proper exposure has to be more precise and more finite than ever before. Digital cameras are way more unforgiving than film ever was,
not to mention the fact that being able to get the technical side right is one thing, but to actually be able to see a composition or a picture, that's an entirely different thing.
You can study photography all you want to get the technical side right, creativity cannot be taught. Creative photography is more innate than taught. Even though through technology more people can create pictures, true creative craftsmanship technically and creatively still remains the same. You need a craftsman and an artist to create professional still images.
In wedding photography, not only do you need a professional who can balance the technical side of photography, and the creative imagery, but you also need a strong and capable leader who can think fast under pressure.
For example scenario # 1 . The make-up artist is an hour late. The bride is fuming. We need nice bridal portraits and now the sun is setting. Given that time is of the essence, your technical ability has to be exact, and your ability to see great compositions has to be exact. The shots have to come out. There's no room for mistakes. You don't have time to fiddle with your exposures and your compositions. And, if your equipment fails on you, you need to be able to problem solve on a dime. In this scenario, I used available light (see prior post on available light) as I had already scoped the facility for the best shots at the best times.
Scenario # 2.
The groom forgets the ring. I, the photographer, have to send my assistant to go get the ring. Meanwhile, the bride and the groom want pictures of them taken ahead of time. A member of the wedding party assists me by holding the light. The light starts to smoke. What happens now? No assistant. No light. I used reflectors and dedicated flashes to solve the problem. These things really happen. You need a professional that doesn't get flustered and can work calmly through the issues.
90% of photography is problem solving.
So, you see, just owning a digital camera does not mean you will take great photographs. And, that's especially important on your wedding day.
Whysall Photography has a studio in Bluemont, Virginia. Steve Whysall was trained by National Geographic and The Corcoran Gallery of Art. He is a wedding photographer, portrait photographer, commercial photographer, and travel photographer.
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