Recently a friend of mine shared some angst about wedding photography -
"the part that I HATE!"- "Formal Portraits".
The photographer described how an unexpected request for a "quick" formal photograph had resulted in a less than great, to him anyway, image of his client. Time was limited, people were waiting on him, and the light was not great. He quickly set up an umbrella and fired off five or so frames. The client then rushed out the door, the photographer looked at his images and groaned as he realized that the angle of his lights had caused harsh and unflattering shadows on the subject. He wrote "I absolutely HATE this part of wedding photography! I am not a "studio" photographer, and really hate to use flash unless absolutely needed. Just wanted to vent and see if you have any thoughts".
My thoughts?
Okey dokey; my first reaction was something along the lines of; I feel your pain, been there, done that and believe me the t-shirt is well worn.
Years ago I heard from a reasonable source, please don't ask me who I simply cannot remember who it was however I considered the information valid then and still do today, that if there are going to be complaints about the wedding photos there is a 90% likelihood that the complaints will be about the portraits. Should we choose to accept this figure, or any figure close to it, simple "risk management" would suggest, strongly, that it behooves any photographer to take steps to improve his or her skills in this aspect of wedding photography.
I like to keep things simple, and things include the equipment I schlep around with me so my first suggestion to my friend was to loose the umbrellas and simplify his lighting set up. Yes umbrellas are good tools however they add time, to set them up properly and energy to carry them around.
If the existing, aka available, light is insufficient then do use a strobe, I carry one on my belt pretty much most of the day just for situations like this, it only takes a moment to pull it out and put it to use. I also have a wired remote which for me is simplest, it lets me get the flash off-camera and gives me less to think (worry) about. Maybe that's not the simplest as there's always on-camera flash :) however that's my preferred method when I have no other options.
My next suggestion was to remember that attitude is crucial and to STOP hating the portraits. Requests for them are not going to stop anytime soon.
A little anecdote for you about attitude that has a huge effect upon me for many years.
A lifetime ago I was repaying a favor for a friend and shooting a wedding with him;
The "formals", both families, the wedding party and the bride and groom had been done outside an old Philadelphia church, everyone was on the bus ready to go to the reception. My friend and I were walking to our cars. My friend stopped, turned, went to the driver of the bus and asked "How are we doing for time?" Upon receiving his answer my friend turned to the bride and groom saying "You know I just had an idea for a couple more images, would you please come with me for a moment?" Now the couple were "chuffed" and gladly stepped outside for a few more photographs, and it was only a few more. It took maybe three minutes. As we returned to our cars my friend said to me;
"The first set of images were ok, not bad just ok and I knew that I could do better."
"The "OLD" me would have let it go".
The "NEW" me won't allow that".
That little lesson is one I remember at every wedding or event that I photograph.
The lack of light may be the main consideration, sometimes it's something else; time, space or lack thereof or even a person's mobilty as in the above image. My "idiot sheet" saved me on this one; "Idiot sheet"? - it's the single page of notes that I make prior to each wedding, a pause to review it a few minutes after we had finished all the combinations of both familes etc. reminded me that someone had mentioned something about wanting a photograph of "Three generations". It would have been so easy to say something dismissive like "doesn't matter, they've forgotten about it" "They only suggested it - they aren't really fussed about having lots of portraits anyway" and I could have so easily gone on my merry photojournalistic way to find more images of the type I love.
"The "OLD" me would have let it go".
The "NEW" me won't allow that".
So I repeat: STOP hating the portraits.
Once one has stopped hating the formal portraits one can begin to enjoy shooting them and bring to them a sense of one's own style, (see top image) The image above was not one that was requested, nor was it on a list. I was shooting a few images of the couple on the sofa and I saw it in my mind and called mum and dad over to join their only daughter and new son.
When one stops hating and begins enjoying the resultant portraits reflect this.
