Next week, I've been hired to shoot a wedding, but it is not a traditional wedding. It will be at a court house with the justice of the peace. She will not be wearing a wedding dress, or have any flowers...and i will be the only "guest".
They hired me to follow them around and make sure i capture their special day....BUT....
I'm having difficulty thinking of ways to capture that "wedding" style, when there are little to no wedding-like indicators. I got the idea last night to review some "Engagement Photos"...and definitely moved me in the right direction, but i'm looking for any creative suggestions that would help me pull this off.
Thanks for your assistance!
Equipment:
5dMK2
17-40mm f/4
50mm 1.2
70-200 2.8L IS
It seems to me that this couple may not be into the whole "beautiful romantic" wedding type shots but if they are, create something on the steps of the courthouse, or in a hall way. Or simply document their day at it unfolds.
Just keep clicking through out the process of them signing papers etc.
And then once they're done take engagement style portraits around or in the courthouse. The couple can't blame you for not creating a wedding environment.. you're the photographer. Not a magician.
With a no-frills scenario like this just do your best to capture the day as it unfolds. Be sure to document as much as possible and try to be creative with your compositions. They may not be dressed in formal wedding attire but that doesn't mean that the day is any less special for them.
I agree w/ JColman - use the building if you can (if photography is allowed inside), and just get some nice shots of them together. Good luck!
The one nice thing is that i dont have to compensate for the Whites and Blacks of traditional weddings
Thanks for your help guys. I was actually thinking that i could give it a wedding feel with the Album...more than the photos themselves. For instance, i could write: "For Better..." and take a happy picture...then write "or for worse....and have her choking him.
Might be a little cheesy...ok, A LOT cheesy...but maybe if i only use it once, it might give it a little extra
You could approach this with a purely "photojournalistic" style meaning just shoot the day and get what you get and not try to make it the artistic posing you are used to doing. Could turn out really cool and you will have captured the "true" day and not something you helped script. Good luck.
I shot a civil ceremony before and had the same concerns.. I simply approached it as it be like an engagement session. I also told the bride to wear a white dress.. not necessary a bridal gown but more like a cocktail dress then some flowers out from the street.. it worked beautifully..
I think you are on the right track. If they are a fun couple, then you will have an easy time getting good pics of them. More than anything just try to find interesting spots for pics and make suggestions to them if need be and I am sure you will do well. I had a wedding sort of like this, there were flowers, but no wedding dress, there was a priest, but very small intimate wedding. We spent time doing pictures and they told me they were very happy with what we ended up with. I agree with finding out what the policies are with taking pictures at the location, it should be fine, but you might find some great spots to do pictures in the area after you leave, that would be ideal.
