Robin Usagani wrote:
I just dont want people to judge me when I shoot. Maybe I shouldnt care.
i felt this way for about a minute when i first started shooting. i quickly realized that i am an invited guest who happens to take really nice images.
Such a killer shot. Perfect composition too. Goes to show that photojournalism and wedding photography go hand-in-hand. This is a photo that can win awards.
Hey everyone. Thanks for the comments. Yeah, the bride. She was a bridesmaid in a wedding I shot my first real year of this and booked me so far in advance I was shocked at the time. I think that kind of leads to their comfort level with me and what they were willing to share. I was just hanging out where all the girls were getting dressed and she said she needed to feed her lil girl. It was a moment that I saw and I took 3 pics. One without the dress which didn't seem right, this one and then a portrait oriented.
I definitely appreciate these moments and wish that I saw them in every wedding. She will love this shot forever.
At G2 I was so embarrassed to talk about my photography, just shy I guess and the only person I talked to was Evan Baines when they were all doing portfolio reviews. The usual characters were busy so I waited in line for the one guy I wanted to hear from specifically. There was so much he said that made sense but it really came down to "why did you shoot this?" I had too many photos with too narrow a depth of field and he said to not fall in the trap. Shut'r down and raise my iso and get some story behind the pics. Noun-adjective...
Yeah, so basically they were comfortable with me and let me do my thing. It ended up being a great party too. Stopped shooting at 10 and then danced with the bride and her bridesmaid(bride from previous wedding) and all the guests until 1. It was pretty great and definitely what I want more of.
Very powerful image that tells a potent story, obviously. I like Chuck's approach of discussing potentially outside-the-lines moments before the wedding. I think I'll start doing this with my clients to break down some of those barriers and allow myself (and my clients) to be more at ease and in the moment when these situations/opportunities arise.
ShaneMD wrote:
I had too many photos with too narrow a depth of field and he said to not fall in the trap. Shut'r down and raise my iso and get some story behind the pics. Noun-adjective...
Wow. What a sentence. Made me think for a while.
Apart from that ... great image and thank's for sharing. I think, the discussion about showing or not showing / shooting or not shooting this picture is a result from the strange american prudery that evolved sometime ago in the 90ies. The german guy I am, I try to explain what I mean.
I recently watched a movie from the 80ies, "working girl" with Harrison Ford and Melanie Griffith. In one scene Ms. Griffith vacuums a house. Topless. It fit the scene and mood and was such a nice sequence to watch. Today, movie-couples sleep with L-shaped bed sheets and god forbid if you see a nipple (you remember that one live-event some time ago? the last of it's kind?)!
It feels, our brains got twisted so much in the last 20 years thanks to Hollywood and media, that we think too much. And for sure in the wrong directions! I for one, do too
Wonderful shot, thank you for sharing and thank you for opening an interesting discussion.
Shane, this is perfect! This is a perfect example of noun-adjective, and how thinking about a shot leads to a meaningful shot instead of just a pretty one...
ckhagen wrote:
I love this shot so much. There was a Fearless Award image this last round of a breastfeeding bride. The baby was significantly younger and I think the mom was Greek.
That said...
I don't know a mom who continued breastfeeding until the age of this bride's child who would not be proud of it, want, and absolutely treasure a shot like this. N-S-E-W doesn't matter... if she's put this much work into going this far, she's likely very much past the point of being shy about it. (my boys were nursed to age 2 and 3)
The added element of showcasing the fact that while she's a bride, getting ready for her big day, she's still a mom... it's not all about her. She still has a job to do.
And my personal opinion is we need to see more and more images of this. It's an enormous part of your life when you're in it, but there's not much reference to it in society, so it gets pushed off to the side and then left open to criticism because of the mystery....Show more →
canerino wrote:
not being a wiseass (for once)...what are the obvious reasons?
I'm guessing - Voyeurism.
Same if you caught some dude taking snaps of your breast-feeding wife at a park.
Some folks are ok with it. If it's me, I'd take the camera and smash it on his head.
I think if OP got the go-ahead from the breastfeeding mother, then click away.
sethphoto wrote:
Excellent photo, as for me, if it wasn't staged, it could be an award winning one
I have news for you....
IMO a good portion of award winning photos are 100% staged. Yes some are not and are caught 100% PJ and in the moment but we would be kidding ourselves if we thought that all award winning photos were 100% real moments without any staging.
Same if you caught some dude taking snaps of your breast-feeding wife at a park.
Some folks are ok with it. If it's me, I'd take the camera and smash it on his head.
I think if OP got the go-ahead from the breastfeeding mother, then click away.
Apples and Oranges...
I'm going to just leave it at that so I don't risk going waaaay off topic.
It's a great photo, and one I'm sure she will love and cherish.
Hey everyone. The bride knew I took the photo. It was a 3 shot sequence for me and I moved on so she could have her privacy, albeit with the door open. I've found that some of my friends are quite comfortable feeding their little ones in the open while others aren't. And to be honest the some of the moms who weren't open with feeding anytime and anywhere were not doing it because it made them uncomfortable, it was because it made other people uncomfortable.
By the way, it wasn't staged. That would be an odd conversation. "Excuse me, um, do you mind holding off getting your dress on and feed your baby instead?" Yeah, that would be messed up.
... there is this world around you that becomes visible. 