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Monday, September 15, 2008Interview with Photographer Karen Watson, Part Two: Best Wedding Tips for Great Photography
     I am a freelance photographer based in Sydney, Australia. I shoot predominantly for the entertainment industry (music/film - album covers, publicity stills, live concerts, music video stills) and publishing (cookbooks etc) but have attracted private clients for portraiture and weddings. My style is relaxed and unobtrusive – capturing candid moments. Contact details: karen_watson@bigpond.com. My new website will be launched in Oct! Melissa's Addendum: I added the wrong pictures - thought the ones I had were Karen's but they weren't. Blame it on an overseas move at the time. These above are Karen's. The Interview, Continued: Discuss weather and seasons. How do they affect the bride’s choices and your suggestions? Weather, seasons and also time of day obviously impacts wedding photography. That's not to say that you can't get married in winter or in the rain, just be prepared accordingly. Don't count on the weather being co-operative, even in Summer. Always have a back-up plan in case it rains. I generally suggest a few different locations for wedding photos - both for variety of shots but also just in case the weather is unpredictable or you lose light. In summer, aim to time your wedding portraits for later in the day - it's cooler and the light isn't as harsh so you won't end up with photos with strong shadows and you'll be more comfortable. If you like beach portraits remember SAND gets everywhere. I generally bring towels and water so the bridal party can wash their feet afterwards - check your photographer will supply these items and if not then make arrangements yourself. Also try for a beach with white sand as there is less likelihood of dirtying your dress. Remember that beaches in the afternoon / evening can get cold so be prepared. If it's likely to rain and you still want some outdoor shots then I suggest investing in some cheap black umbrellas (some photographers like myself supply them so worth checking). Black umbrellas in the rain look great in wedding photos. If the rain is heavy and you have a large bridal party, you may want to limit these types of shots to bride and groom only - it's faster and easier to co-ordinate two people in the rain rather than 8 or more. If you want late afternoon shots or sunset shots timing is critical. The window of opportunity for good light is small so plan these shots with your photographer in advance and take their direction on the day. Once the light is gone, it's gone so if everyone is playing around the photographer will miss the shot. Also remember that on the actual day - especially weekends - some locations at certain times of the year are VERY POPULAR. I have turned up to locations where there were 8 other bridal parties all vying for the same spot for photos! Consider your locations carefully - a secluded beach in winter can be overcrowded in summer. 10.What is one thing you wished all brides knew about your job? Have realistic expectations - photographers can only capture what is there on the day and can't be in all places at once. They also don't control the weather! And Don't forget that time is money to you as well as the photographer too - they are there to do a job. The wedding party should listen to the photographer's directions to ensure that the photos are done well and within a reasonable time frame for all. For large group shots or family shots, your MC should be ensuring that everyone that should be in photos is gathered and ready for the photo when the photographer needs them. This will ensure that group photos run smoothly and your photographer is not wasting valuable time. 11. Is there anything you wish brides would NOT ask you to do? Photographers take the wedding photos - they are not substitute wedding planners, ushers or waiters. Don't ask your photographer to serve your guests food or drink, or to round up your guests for dinner or photographs. Your MC should coordinate all this. 12. Please share a favorite tip or two. I always tell my bridal parties the following tips: 1. Remember to smile! It's your wedding day - you should look happy!! And it's OK to cry - even if you are the groom! But glum and vacant expressions don't make the best wedding photos! 2. Remember your posture, stand up straight - nothing is more unattractive in a wedding photo than the bride or groom slumping their shoulders etc. 3. Don't rush during the ceremony. It's your day so enjoy it. It's OK to take your time. When you exchange rings or kiss after the ceremony, do it slowly, linger so that your photographer can capture the moment. You'll get better photos! 4. Don't forget to tell your photographer if there are any special requirements. These could be items in your ceremony that have significance to you - such as lighting candles for deceased relatives, special readings or musical performances. If your photographer doesn't know about these then more than likely they may be in the wrong place to capture these properly. Ditto if a member of the wedding party has special needs (such as being wheelchair-bound). I recently photographed a wedding for a bride who wanted shots of the wedding party on the beach - we visited the beach together, discussed how we would pose etc. She just neglected to mention that the best man was a quadriplegic and we couldn't get his electric wheelchair near the beach without causing him great discomfort. If I had known this in advance I would have made alternative suggestions for locations. Thankfully some quick thinking and knowledge of the area saved the day and I managed to get some lovely shots of the wedding party - just not on the beach!! 5. RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR DAY! Karen Watson, photographer extraordinaire What are some of the differences between taking photos of weddings and of other events? The major difference is that you only get one chance to get it right on the day - no second chances if you miss the shot in the ceremony for example. Also depending on the denomination of the ceremony, there are particular types of etiquette that you may need to follow, particularly during a ceremony. Weddings in general tend to be more emotional than other events too - trying to settle everyone's nerves and emotions on the day can be challenging and you don't generally have to contend with this when shooting other events. Describe some of your favorite backgrounds for wedding shots. The ocean is always great or the bush. I try to find interesting textured backgrounds or architecture such as vines creeping up a wall, old gazebos, archways and so on. When money isn't an object (or not much of one), what is the most likely (or the best) scenario for preserving the bride and groom's memories of the day? Unlimited options really - you could get 2 photographers to shoot all day starting with bride and groom dressing through to end of reception. One photographer would focus on more formal shots and the second would focus on capturing candid moments through the day. You could get albums, parent packs, DVD slideshow, framed prints as well as miniature keepsake albums for the bridal party. It's endless really. What do you consider to be your greatest asset as a photographer? My personality, as clichéd as that sounds. My approach is relaxed, fun and easygoing and where possible I try to be as unobtrusive on the day when taking photos. I find people photograph the best when they are not even aware the camera is there. Any dream locations for taking photos for the future (as in, if the wealthiest and most influential person in the world called you up and told you that he had chosen you as the perfect photographer to immortalize his wedding day and was willing to fly you and the wedding party to as many locations that day as you wanted, where would you choose and what would you do to make the day special)? I think the Japanese blossom gardens in Kyoto would make an excellent location for wedding pics. Santorini for its beautiful light and architecture, a secluded beach in Thailand with white sands. What is the most difficult task for a wedding photographer? Getting everyone to follow your directions! Keeping everyone's emotions in check, especially before the ceremony. Rounding up everyone for group shots. Ensuring you capture everything that is important on the day. Any humorous moments that have occurred during the weddings you have photographed? I have had wedding cakes collapse before the bride and groom arrive, wedding limos crash before they even get the bride to church, I have had torrential downpours during a beach wedding - I have even had a guest slap a bride in front of all the guests just before she walked down the aisle! You see a bit of everything at weddings! 10. If you could photograph your own wedding (and location was no impediment), what would you choose to do? I'd have a small wedding with my closest friends and family in a beautiful secluded location. 11. What is the best advice you can give to couples contemplating how to record their wedding day? Don't feel you have to spend a fortune on the day - pay for what you need and spend the rest of the money on the party or your honeymoon or your new home! It's supposed to be a fun day - enjoy it. Karen
posted by Melissa James @ 12:00 AM
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