Weddings and movies have much in common. In the same way that a film delivers a narrative with a beginning, middle, some tears, some cheers, and an ending, wedding photographs tell and celebrate the story of bride and groom. Couples are looking to document their special day and share it with their friends and families for years to come, and it’s the privileged responsibility of the wedding photographer to immortalize the bride and groom’s romance.
We spoke with Jen Huang and Alina Schessler, wedding photographers and Adobe Stock Premium contributors, about how they incorporate storytelling into their work, and their tips for creating lasting memories for the couples on their special day.
Understand Your Client.
Control What You Can.
Of course it’s impossible to control every moment of the wedding, but there are certain elements you can maneuver to ensure you get the right shot. Jen styles, directs, and controls the lights, backdrop, and props as much as possible, and allows candid moments to happen within those controlled environments. “When I arrive at a bride’s getting ready room,” Jen shares, “I ‘redecorate’ and place the bride and her maids in a clean, open, light filled space. They can continue having hair and makeup done, getting dressed and helping each other, but the scene looks finished and polished.”
Know When to Blend in.
When it comes to photographing ambiance and guests, it can be helpful to blend in with the crowd. Alina finds that people can often tense up when they see that she is the designated photographer, which can lead to posed and stiff shots. For that reason, sometimes she chooses to work with smaller cameras: “People aren’t looking at me all the time thinking that I’m the photographer, so they act more naturally, and I can get more natural photos.”
Submitting Wedding Images to Stock.
When submitting wedding photographs to sell on your stock portfolio, be sure to get a release for any recognizable people or places. You can find legal guidelines on our HelpX page, and now you can send model and property releases directly from the Contributor Portal thanks to the Adobe Sign integration.
