Soon-to-be brides and grooms want the best imagery of their wedding. They want the unscripted moments to be captured and are willing to go the extra mile by donning their D-day finery and descending into caves, wading through streams and running on the shore. JFW talks to wedding photographers and finds out how the concept has changed over the years.
A wedding, no matter how well-planned and grand, lasts for one day. It’s the memories that last a lifetime, who better to do it than a wedding photographer? There was a time when wedding photographers were looked down upon by editorial, fashion and commercial photographers. Today, the wedding photography industry has gotten fierce. More and more photographers are entering what has become a very lucrative and growing market. This pool of talented photographers commands a whole new level of respect—for the work that they do differently and creatively. They have redefined the age-old concept of wedding photography and breathed new life into it.
Candid camera
Candid style of photography is increasingly becoming popular in the world of weddings. When these photographs are put together with the formal ones, they make a wonderful blend of pictures that tells the complete story. Gayatri Nair, a wedding photographer based in Chennai says, “Candid photography is not a new concept, it was always there. However, such photographs got rejected and never made it to the wedding album as the bride or the groom did not look directly at the camera.” Soon-to-be couples want every moment of their wedding captured. Joshua Komanapalli, founder of The Photography Co. from Hyderabad says, “Couples nowadays want honest and truthful photographs as opposed to the static and staged ones. They prefer candid photographs as they are filled with raw emotions; years later when they go through their wedding album, a particular image may remind them of a happy moment.”
Pre-wedding photo-shoot
Earlier, a photographer figured last on a wedding checklist. Today, he not only stands first but is also highlighted, circled and what not! A photographer walks through the entire journey with the couple, from the pre-wedding functions, behind the stage happenings to the wedding and reception. But today, a pre-wedding photo-shoot is also catching up as a trend. The soon to be couple announce their wedding through a save-the-date card with one of these pictures. It is a fun way for the couple to get to know each other and also build a rapport with the wedding photographer. V. Mahendran, owner of Athini Photos, Coimbatore says, “A pre-wedding photo-shoot helps the photographer in getting to know the couple, what works for them, how affectionate they are with each other, how relaxed they are and whether they are laid back or more formal in character. That really helps in deciding the best angle to shoot from and choosing the lighting.”