p.1 #1 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
There's been some talk recently about the nature of photojournalism and what it means to shoot in photojournalistic way so I thought it might be a good time to share some of my experience. In brief, I was studying photography and photojournalism in college when I was recruited by an editor and began working as a freelance photographer for the local newspaper. After nine months as a freelancer I was offered a staff position where I remained until leaving to open my wedding and lifestyle photography studio.
The best thing about being a photojournalist is that you never know what you will be shooting from one day to the next. My assignments included the Los Angeles Lakers, the Anaheim Ducks, and NCAA football but also everything from live events to police standoffs to portraits of all kinds to actual breaking news. The biggest advantage to this kind of shooting is that you have to be ready for anything. And I mean anything. You also have to be able to work under pressure and get the job done under deadline without fail. The stress level can be extraordinarily high but I can think of no better training ground for a young photographer.
The most important thing that separates true photojournalism from shooting in a "photojournalistic style" is an absolute and unwavering dedication to the truth. There can be absolutely no faking, fudging, "kind of", or "almost". It is either 100% real or you can look for another job. This is clearly not the standard today in what people call "wedding photojournalism" but it is and always has been MY standard.
The field of wedding photography is filled today with photographers who call themselves "photojournalists" but who have in fact never worked for a news agency. And much of what is being presented as authentic documentary photography is apparently staged. Brides who are looking for true documentary photography of their day are left with the very difficult task of finding an authentic photojournalist among the ever growing sea of photographers eager to represent themselves as photojournalists.
My best advice to any bride is to do your homework. If you are looking for a true documentary experience for your wedding day insist on an experienced photojournalist. And check the credentials of anyone representing themselves as a photojournalist before you hire them. This is by far the best way to ensure that those special moments that you want to capture and remember for generations are real.
Here are a few of my favorite images from my days as a freelancer and staff photographer. Some made it to the front page, most didn't. Some won awards, most didn't. I believe an image succeeds when it tells a story, when it creates an emotional response, when it causes the viewer to linger and maybe even to question. Thanks for the look...
p.1 #3 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
RichardLavigne wrote:
Great work... but I'd argue that several of those are not "PJ" which is funny, given you're need to soapbox for us.
Apparently Richard you don't get the point. The job of a working photojournalist requires a fair amount of portraiture and I have included some in this post. What makes photojournalism different from the people "faking it" in their wedding posts on this board is that in the world of a working photojournalist "faking" a real moment gets you fired. All of the real moments, i.e. non-portraits, in this post are just that, real. And I have always approached my wedding photojournalism the same way.
p.1 #4 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
I think Richard got it. The issue is, whether or not photojournalism includes portraiture , your post insinuates that you take "real" pictures as opposed to boardmembers that "fake" PJ, but your post includes only a few images that are clearly not staged, while the rest easily could be. Who are you to say that images on boardmembers posts are fake? Please provide an example (or better yet, several) image(s) that are CLEARLY "faked", and maybe a description of why you think that.
Keep in mind that not every wedding tog claims to be a photojournalist.
p.1 #5 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
No.. I do get the point.
However it seems to me that as a 'working photojournalist'.. you were hired to cover the story. In some situations that means working from a pure journalist perspective.. i.e. capturing what happens with no direction and interaction and then there are times when you are required to create a portrait to tell the story. This is no different than what many of the people here do.. and I thinks its disrespectful to attempt to put others down and insinuate that they are 'faking' it.
p.1 #6 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
perhaps you take issue with the term 'photo-journalist' and its use in the wedding world.. I agree that term is perhaps a little grey and not entirely accurate. I would argue that it is possible (although not common) for someone to shoot an entire wedding from a "PJ" perespective... and perhaps the couple has requested this and instructed the photographer to give no direction... at all. I believe that Tony had a shoot like this back in the fall... but is this even true "PJ" if the couple has hired the photographer to be there? I don't know.
To be honest, its irrelevant... this argument is tired and it silly to assume you are either better or worse than anyone for 'faking' it or not 'faking' it. Simply do the job you're hired to do... capture amazing images that reflect the emotions of your couple.
p.1 #7 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
If a board member admits to faking it then I trust that they are being sincere. Short of that, it is very difficult to be sure wether or not an image is genuine. My wedding photojournalism is real. Other board members can speak for themselves. I am not accusing anyone of faking their images only acknowledging that some have already admitted doing so.
It's obvious that not every wedding photographer ("tog" is just ridiculous btw) is claiming to be a photojournalist - I never said that was the case. How in the world did you come up with that after reading my post?
And if you think there is a question as to wether or not photojournalism includes portraiture I suggest you ask a working photojournalist how much of their work week is spent creating portraits.
p.1 #8 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
And I do believe that a real moment has value that a "staged" moment does not. The fact that a wedding photographer is hired to cover a wedding doesn't necessarily negate the possibility of covering the wedding truthfully any more than when a freelance photojournalist is "hired" to cover a news event. It is the photographer and his integrity that matters. Wether or not it is important to capture true moments is up to the bride and photographer she hires. If she is happy with moments being staged then the photographer should feel free to do so - just don't display them and claim the images are real. I have no interest in producing staged photos. Capturing real moments is infinitely more difficult and more rewarding.
p.1 #9 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
I can sympathize. It is annoying to see wedding photographers market themselves as "photojournalists when most have no actual experience in the field. And even fewer who claim to be "photojournalists" actually photograph in the documentary style.
p.1 #10 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
I dont think I really understand the point of this post. I guess I'm confused because I see VERY few people here on FM claiming to be strict photojournalists. Additionally, I've never seen someone post a 'fake' PJ shot.
It sounds like you want to call someone out. If that's not the case, I apologize. But it sounds like its on the tip of your tongue by your tone of this post.
I can say that for myself, I do not 'fake' my PJ. 99% of what I post here is in the moment.
p.1 #12 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
swoop wrote:
I can sympathize. It is annoying to see wedding photographers market themselves as "photojournalists when most have no actual experience in the field. And even fewer who claim to be "photojournalists" actually photograph in the documentary style.
p.1 #14 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
In looking over the images posted above a couple of stories stand out...
The image of the three clasped hands was from a story about adoption. The assignment was to create a portrait of and husband and wife and their adopted son. When I arrived I was told that the parents did not want any of their faces to appear because of the boy's age and the fact that the nature of their family was not public knowledge. I very quickly settled on hands as an alternative to faces and think the image was effective in suggesting the strong family bonds in a more general way than showing their faces would have. This image always makes me smile.
The image of the man in the checkered shirt holding the skull was another situation that required a quick adjustment but of a completely different kind. This gentleman is part of local company that creates Halloween displays of all kinds. I assumed that I would find some amazing things ready to photograph when I got to the studio only to discover that the studio was in fact completely empty. There was NOTHING ready to photograph just an enormous empty space! So we actually spent two hours constructing and lighting the set you see behind him in order to get the image. Still one of my favorites to this day
p.1 #16 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
canerino wrote:
now i am COMPLETELY confused by this thread.
Ditto. @OP: Can you PLEASE clarify what the point of your post is? I don't shoot weddings full time so I might not have a horse in this race, but the impression I have is you are simply calling everyone out. This is a wedding forum but you didn't post a single wedding related image. And as stated above, you have posted posed images above along with your spontaneous shots.
There are many, many working photographers who have a solid PJ background. I know of at least a couple Pulitzer prize winners who shoot weddings. Are you declaring that their photos are not PJ worthy? This could evolve way off track into a debate about just what PJ is and is not, what is ethical and what is not, what is manipulated and what is not. I hope it doesn't, but fear it will. Heck, on another forum I saw a suggestion go so far as to suggest that every image we take is manipulated to a certain degree.
So I will come back to the question: what is your point? Please state is clearly as to avoid confusion.
p.1 #17 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
canerino wrote:
now i am COMPLETELY confused by this thread.
Chuck... it's simple... if you've ever worked as a photojournalist, that means you can declare what is "PJ"... even if it involves setting up a shot. But if you haven't, then you're just faking it.
No seriously... I agree, but I've been confused since the beginning.
p.1 #18 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
RichardLavigne wrote:
Chuck... it's simple... if you've ever worked as a photojournalist, that means you can declare what is "PJ"... even if it involves setting up a shot. But if you haven't, then you're just faking it.
.
Now everything makes sense!
Seriously, it would be cool to have a discussion on the topic.
p.1 #19 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
I agree... IMO, I don't think that using "photo-journalistic" as a descriptor for wedding photography is 100% accurate. Even in the situation where a couple hires a photographer for 100% "PJ" coverage and NO POSING... the fact that they are hiring them, IMO, changes the course of events. But I don't know how else to describe or what terms would be correct. I do think it's fine if someone is described as "photo-journlistic" style.... because one isn't saying its 100% but rather a style that mimics or gives the idea of "PJ"
I also think its sort of silly to put wedding photography into 1 category... I think its the type of job that requires skills in all areas... During some aspects of the day, its all PJ, while others are posing, sometimes its product shots, sometimes its food photography.
p.1 #20 · What is a wedding photojournalist? What is real wedding photojournalism?
I notice a trend of photographers claiming "documentary" lately rather than PJ. Are there supposed to be differences in these approaches, or is documentary just the new, less overused way of saying "PJ"?
I'm asking if there are differences at the core of these 2 approaches, not whether or not certain photographers fake it or implement them incorrectly.
