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Natural, Comfortable, Fun: My Recipe for a Successful Wedding Shoot
By Mike Colon
A wedding is a celebration of life that is distinctive to every culture, religion, and person. It's my job to capture its beauty
in a natural, comfortable, and fun way that ensures a successful, unique outcome every time. Here are some things I focus on:
1. A Natural Look - I strive to preserve the natural flow of the wedding day by shooting in an unobtrusive, documentary style. I
show up at every wedding with the attitude that every wedding is perfect in its own way. It's not my job to force it into what my
idea of beautiful is. It is my job to capture the day's most flattering light, finding all the best moments and angles. The result
is a beautiful story that the couple will be proud to show off in their album for the rest of their life together.
This method works for me because it ensures that every wedding I photograph delivers a unique outcome. I am shooting something new and
different at every event, so no matter how many weddings I shoot, I never get bored. I am always looking to capture that once-in-a-lifetime
moment that I can publish in a magazine editorial, use in an ad, or put in a future book I may write. It keeps my job exciting!
I often find myself sacrificing perfection in order to keep my images looking natural. I opt for higher ISO settings (even up to 6400) in low
light as an alternative to mounting a flash in order to preserve the mood lighting. When the light source is poor, (e.g. extreme tungsten or
gelled up lighting) I will shoot black and white when photographing people to avoid distracting skin tones. For color images, I will set up my
Nikon SB800s as wireless remote strobes to light my subjects and adjust my shutter to capture a nice blend of available light. Even with strobes,
I will shoot at higher ISO settings (800-3200) to minimize recycle times and include some available light for a natural look.
2. Creating Comfort - It is essential for subjects to feel comfortable at all times. Here are some tips on how to maintain a comfortable atmosphere
and vibe during a wedding shoot:
- Get to know the bride and groom before the wedding day, if possible. Engagement sessions are great for this because you not only give your clients
some experience in front of your lens, but you will get to know them personally. Take them to dinner after the shoot (your treat) and become genuinely
interested in them. Find out their story and what makes them happy in life; allow them to warm up to you. They should feel accepted, liked, confident,
and comfortable when they are around you.
- When you meet them again on the wedding day, greet them with a smile and a hug, like an old friend would. Compliment them and tell them how great they
look. Tell them how excited you are about the wedding and that it's going to be a great day with so much to capture. Tell them (often) how easy they are
making your job.
- I like to give positive verbal feedback, and if I like something, I'll say so. However, if something is not going right, I will never express frustration
or say anything negative. Sometimes, the couple is not doing anything to frustrate me; it might be that my white balance is off, or the lighting is not quite
right. Even in those cases, I never show my dissatisfaction. They may sense that something is wrong and tense up. The whole point is to build up their
confidence and keep them relaxed. One thing that I do is take what I call "courtesy clicks," where I keep shooting even if something doesn't look right,
in order to maintain the flow.
- When you shoot the bride and groom alone together, try moving back with a telephoto lens and give them a chance to focus on each other. Don't micromanage
their pose or interject too much, just move around from a distance and capture different angles. Give them time to loosen up and grab some real moments once
they've forgotten about you.
3. Have Fun - I think the best way to ensure a successful outcome from a wedding shoot is to relax, be creative, and have fun!
- Know your equipment so well that the technical part of your mind is working in autopilot allowing your creative mind to drive your photography.
- Try something new at every event. Break the rules. Let emotion and impact trump perfection in your work.
- Don't be afraid to interact with the guests and make some friends. People are more likely to loosen up in front of a camera when they know the person
behind it.
- Shoot fast to capture people in their element before they notice the camera being turned on them. Always be looking for great moments unfolding. Anticipate
them and position yourself accordingly so you are in the right place at the right time.
Mike Colon Bio
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