I am in awe at what you did here. Amazing talent and sensitivity.

swampcat wrote:
First of all great pictures...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The couple and there family are used to her as she is. So don't hide it.
Personally I would add some more close ups or crops in the album to complete the set.
You did a great job making het wedding day a fairytale.


I took plenty of close-ups.

And she'll have final say as to what goes in the album.

I don't think the call to hide or not hide something can be made by anyone other than the subject. I'm excited to see which images she chooses for her book... that's probably when I'll know for sure what her hopes were for the images.

Melanie you inspire me. Your ability to take a situation that most photographers would put less than 50% effort in and produce images like this well it's refreshing as well as inspiring.

unblinkable wrote:
mrpeepers wrote:
how did you light the last 2?

Off camera flash.

umbrella? or just straight up flash?

unblinkable wrote:
europedreamer wrote:
Melanie,

As always, you did an amazing job capturing the couple. You composition and toning are spot on.

Maybe it's because I'm taking a course in disabilities now, but for whatever reason, your post stuck with me. I understand you saying that you would have liked a heads up on what to expect from the bride, however, it shouldn't be like that. Kudos to the bride for being comfortable enough with herself to not even mention anything to you. We, as photographers and as people, shouldn't be uncomfortable with the way anyone looks. You get there, you start shooting. There should be not elephant in the room just a joyful bride and an eager photographer.

I'm not saying you did anything wrong, I'm merely getting on my soap box to say that we shouldn't expect anyone to reveal exceptionalities. You wouldn't expect a bride to say, "oh, by the way, I'm blonde, 5'10" and a knock-out." Why should the girl whose not be expected to do the same thing?

I really hope this makes sense.

You know, I totally understand what you're saying... and maybe it's because of having a disabled sister that I see things from a different view. I can't imagine Maureen NOT having told someone that she was wheelchair bound... or that she lost her leg to cancer... it's part of who she WAS, yes... but it's not the norm... and it's understandable that someone coming in to do something as intimate as photography be more in the know to the whole picture. I think everyone might come at these things from a myriad of different angles... and more than a few of them can be spot on, depending on who you are and what you're trying to do.


As an active individual who has spent the last 32 years permanently in a wheelchair, perhaps I can comment . . . The more active a disabled person is, the more people they will meet (in work, in play, etc, etc). If one follows the principle of introducing yourself as being disabled you could end up doing it multiple times each and every day (in interviews, business meetings, restaurant bookings, theatre bookings, etc). It gets to be a bit crazy after a while. Think about it, imagine feeling the need to introduce yourself “hi I’m Hilton, I’m disabled”. It has an AA ring about it, except that you’re not in rehab, you’re just you.

Yes, I am disabled, no escaping that! . . . but I am not ashamed of my disability, and more importantly I am also not defined by it. I don’t want people to build up pre-conceived ideas about me, based on a possible telephone comment. Your bride probably feels that way.

Exceptionally tall people don’t introduce themselves as being tall. Obese people don’t introduce themselves as being overweight. Old people don’t introduce themselves as being elderly. Negroid people don’t introduce themselves as being black. (all of these could impact on a wedding photogs plans)

Don’t rule out the possibility that you were being tested, to judge your reaction, and how you were going to work out. I would say you passed with flying colours, despite your being uncomfortable with it.

HiltonP wrote:


As an active individual who has spent the last 32 years permanently in a wheelchair, perhaps I can comment . . . The more active a disabled person is, the more people they will meet (in work, in play, etc, etc). If one follows the principle of introducing yourself as being disabled you could end up doing it multiple times each and every day (in interviews, business meetings, restaurant bookings, theatre bookings, etc). It gets to be a bit crazy after a while. Think about it, imagine feeling the need to introduce yourself “hi I’m Hilton, I’m disabled”. It has an AA ring about it, except that you’re not in rehab, you’re just you.

Yes, I am disabled, no escaping that! . . . but I am not ashamed of my disability, and more importantly I am also not defined by it. I don’t want people to build up pre-conceived ideas about me, based on a possible telephone comment. Your bride probably feels that way.

Exceptionally tall people don’t introduce themselves as being tall. Obese people don’t introduce themselves as being overweight. Old people don’t introduce themselves as being elderly. Negroid people don’t introduce themselves as being black. (all of these could impact on a wedding photogs plans)

Don’t rule out the possibility that you were being tested, to judge your reaction, and how you were going to work out. I would say you passed with flying colours, despite your being uncomfortable with it.



Thanks, Hilton! I totally get it. But I know that I do have brides who interview and say, "My fiancé is REALLY tall"... and have had one tell me that she was anorexic and would need extra time for the photo shoot so that she could get comfortable with the idea of being photographed. Like I said, each person will handle things differently. I'd NEVER expect someone to constantly introduce themselves as having this or that different about them... a business meeting isn't going to be affected one way or the other by someone being in a wheelchair (unless you need to make sure you can get to where it is)... but I felt that photographing a person is completely different. I'm totally happy with how things turned out... but I probably could have done even better if I could have thought through a few things ahead of time... or just have known her personal take on the situation.

But really... I do understand what you're saying! Lord knows Maureen didn't constantly tell people she was wheelchair bound... but she DID have to let people know her ride side was paralyzed anytime a handshake was necessary.

ksmahgrts wrote:
bonniebruno wrote:
Mel, you handled this beautifully.
I have to admit, I bristled at a term used by the first poster ("figmented"):

"well, shes got some really rad shots that dont show her badside.. tho her portraits arent gonna be a looker..."

My 5 1/2-year-old granddaughter is severely disabled, born with a rare syndrome. We've learned to ignore the stares and the insensitive comments, but it boggles my mind as to why mature adults miss the message--"There but for the grace of God go I."

This bride does not have a "badside". It's a beautiful thing when we witness a person like her groom, who sees deeper than surface beauty. He is exceptional, and I expect they'll have an exceptional marriage because of it. Your work is exceptional, too, Mel. Congratulations on a fabulous collection of wedding photos!

this entire post bears repeating.

thank you bonnie.


and again. Well said.To me, this shows the true meaning of love. This is something that takes great skill and understanding of more than just photography, but an understanding of human emotion.

Thank you for posting and reminding us of what our job truly is.

Jonathan Consiglio

Mel, I do not think you are off in wishing you had known ahead of time, and being a little surprised you weren't. My niece is a wheelchair bound teen with CP, and I know her mother or her would inform a prospective photographer of the fact.
But I believe by not bringing the matter up, the lovely Rachael was telegraphing the message that she's just another beautiful bride in love, and wasn't wishing any "special" treatment.
Now, we all know as shooters that EVERYBODY receives "special" treatment, in the sense that the angles and poses are specifically to bring out their best, so you could have been better prepared had you known the specifics.
I hope this thread doesn't veer off into the semantics of the rights and politically correct ways of viewing those who are different from the norm in any way, that would be so unecessary and not to the point.
Any girl would be thrilled with these photos.

3 words



You

Nailed

It







Congrats!!!

I think she'll love them. I find when I photograph someone that doesn't fit my idea of photogenic, I do my best and treat them no differently. Afterward, I might even feel a little disappointed that I didn't get the results I was hoping for. Even considering this, in the past I have had those same people tell me they never knew they could look that good. So even though you'll sometimes walk away thinking you did not get the results you hoped for, they can still walk away thinking you did an amazing job.

Great job!

I think you did an amazing and beautiful job. Very well done. Both thumbs up from me.