[dropcap]A[\/dropcap]s a Miami Wedding Photographer now going on seven years of shooting weddings full time, I have gotten to a point now where I can really take a step back and analyze the work I have done, the processes that I have been following, and truly now challenge myself to not just be “better”, but to be more specific and to act with more deliberate intentions to in turn achieve a more refined result, and offer a service that really, actually, is on another level then that of the “masses” out there, and hopefully is reflected in my work.<\/p>\n
So, I want to share a personal thought with you. \u00a0Its something I have kinda seacretly\u00a0joked around about for years, and would tell my assistants all the time, and now I am really starting to feel like I am on to something and making an effort to —slowly<\/em>— change what the expectation maybe in the future at weddings (well at least on this small topic). and that is..<\/p>\n DETAILS<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n [perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Before I say another word, I want you to know that I understand\u00a0I am speaking from both sides of my mouth when I say this.. LOL.. \u00a0so, try and keep up with my logic here…[\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n Photographers, all of them.. take these static detail shots at every wedding. \u00a0Myself included. \u00a0What I am referring to, are mainly things like.. the wedding dress, the shoes, the rings, the ear rings, the neckless, the bracelet, cufflinks, watches, perfume bottles, etc..etc..etc.. \u00a0objects that are of importance on the wedding day. \u00a0Now because they are of importance, and time, effort, and money has been spent on them.. they get photographed, and if you hire me they get photographed to a very high standard that would fit in well with a magazine ad for that static item! \u00a0You can surf through my own site to see many examples of this. \u00a0If I am being honest, I have to assume that all my clients expect this as a result in their wedding imagery, and there is nothing, NOTHING wrong with that, and every photographer does this, for the same reasons. \u00a0This will never “go away” (nor do I think it should, because it tells the story of the day…. well.. \u00a0almost.), but I DO challenge the manner in which this idea is executed photographically.<\/p>\n Ah! A new view point \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n [perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]I had this client, and she called me before the wedding about 2 years ago.. and said to me..[\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n “Travis, I don’t want to offend you, and I know you do great work, and are very passionate about what you do.. \u00a0but, ah.. I don’t want any silly photos of my shoes, or dress, or ear rings.. or anything like that in my wedding images. \u00a0I want you to focus on important things like interactions, and candid shots only.”<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Now, at first I was thinking in my head.. oh boy.. here we go.. but when I sat down, and thought about it I can totally understand where she was coming from, and to my surprise I started to agree with her! \u00a0 Now, I don’t want to go as far to say it’s “silly” but it did get me thinking about ways to showcase the detail items, and not be so “static”. \u00a0Thats the problem, and although my client did not have the words to articulate what she really meant, I knew that this was the disconnect.<\/p>\n I mean, how many images of the same –exact– wedding dress do you think I have in my image database over the past seven years? \u00a0Now how many images\u00a0of the –exact– same shoes do you think I have? \u00a0 The same ear rings, etc.. \u00a0hundreds. \u00a0I started to think.. \u00a0you know who loves “static” detail shots the most? \u00a0The designers, the manufactures, and everyone thats interested in BUYING that item. \u00a0You could in fact argue that shooting some of these items statically, is no different then shooting it for an advertisement. \u00a0Ironically, I get praised\u00a0on my ability to produce “commercial grade” images out in the field, and in a compressed amount of time, and when the subject is a static item.. it just becomes “eye candy” to the general viewer, and less, and less meaningful to the bride & groom. \u00a0Why? \u00a0Because.. a static image of any of these items (by themselves), regardless if they are “yours” or not, makes no connection to you, and this is not really what the wedding day is about. \u00a0Unless of course you own a store front, and are using the images to sell them after the wedding LOL. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n So, what am I saying?… no more detail shots at your weddings?? \u00a0LOL, No, of course not. \u00a0But, lets make it matter more. \u00a0Lets stop putting such a focus on shooting a “perfect” shot of the shoes, and rings, and dress just hanging in a hotel room by itself, and take those same items, and creatively capture them ON THE BRIDE!<\/p>\n You want a nice shot of your dress? \u00a0Me too! \u00a0So, lets do it with you IN IT. \u00a0Let me pose you to show off the dress, and have it matter more because your<\/em> in it. \u00a0 Want a nice image of those sexy wedding shoes? \u00a0Great, me too! \u00a0Lets capture you putting them on, and to a point posing your legs in a flattering way to “show off” the shoes, at the same time making them yours<\/em>. \u00a0Your wearing your grandmothers ear rings, and want to be sure to get a “nice shot of them”? \u00a0Yeah, lets do it! \u00a0But… you guessed it.. \u00a0on you<\/em>. \u00a0Lets get a styled shot of you putting them on, and a close up of the ear ring on you<\/em>!<\/p>\n THIS ^ is what will matter most to you when everything is all said and done. \u00a0My “static” shots of the same thing, regardless how impressive to the eye.. will never compare. \u00a0and.. \u00a0dare I say.. \u00a0dare I say.. \u00a0to some, maybe “silly”.<\/p>\n Think about this..<\/p>\n What generally is the end result, or “destination” for wedding images?…………….. an album. \u00a0So, thinking about an album, something tangible that is now printed, and will\u00a0occupy a physical space in your home, and in your life, you will need to select only some of the wedding day images to “recap” the day, and this truly is what becomes the lasting memory. \u00a0Its that handful of images that end up in an album, printed. \u00a0Not the some thousand digital files the photographer may have given you, and sits on your computer. \u00a0So, if this is the lasting memory for one of the most important days of your life it only makes sense to use the images that truly tell the story, and have the most meaning to you. \u00a0Opening an album to a first spread of cold, static, (yet pretty) detail shots in many ways, makes very little sense when you really think about it, and go deeper then just that simple mind of “but thats what everyone does”.<\/p>\n Anyway.. something to think about \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0 Whats my plan? \u00a0Well, its going to take some time.. but, I will continue to shoot the static items for all of my clients, because I know this is the expectation, and I have written the book on that topic! (see my video on that here<\/a>), BUT.. I am going to slowly post, less, and less of them to my site, and blog, and focus on posting only the detail shots that I take where I can show viewers\u00a0more meaning, as this is the style that I think is best, and will matter more in time. \u00a0Then, eventually I can show a new expectation and offer something different. \u00a0This way, no one gets disappointed and I can remain open and honest with\u00a0my feelings.<\/p>\n Now, on that note I have made a video below (iMAGE TALK) which is going to be part of an ongoing series where I select a few images from my weddings, shoots, projects and such and talk about them. \u00a0Giving more information than\u00a0what can be seen with the eye, so that the viewer (you) can not only see the end results, but understand how I got there, and what my mindset \/ vision really in fact was. \u00a0If you really want to understand what I do, and get the most from what I am able to offer.. then this is for you!<\/p>\n Enjoy!<\/p>\n TH<\/p>\n