Dear Wedding Industry,
I am sorry to see that you’ve not heeded my words. You know no bounds. You tease me so. How is it that your well never dries? Things were so wonderful at first, but it would seem we’ve grown apart, and I am uncertain that we shall ever find true harmony. But if you would be so kind, I submit for consideration my most recent list of irksome occurrences. Perhaps last time I wrote of such, I was too unkind to vintage, as there is surely a broader base to select from. As always, I humbly concede that I have been guilty of some of these myself. I am apologetic for this.
P.S. No, I’m not retiring. This letter is written purely for melodramatic purposes. (Thanks for pointing this out, Andreas!)
Trends and clichés that are jumping the shark
Hands on necks and faces
This was romantic for awhile, but the hand on the face, the hand on the neck – take caution – it’s heading into dip territory.
Sequences
I love sequences, but come on. Three pictures to show a couple leaning in for a kiss? Good sequences should tell about what happens between the pictures. They’re not a stop motion substitute. Pick one people!
Posed shots of couples holding crap in front of their faces
Hands holding leaves, fans, decor, you name it. Anything to block their faces. It was cute at first. Or maybe not. Either way, it’s a gimmick now.
Sequences of posed shots of couples holding crap in front of their faces
Yes, we know, they’ll laugh then kiss once they put down their over-sized leaves. We get that.
Reservoir Dogs
Guys lining up to be cool. Who would have thought of that? I know. It won’t ever be put down. But Tarantino doesn’t copy Tarantino, so why should we?
Feet shots
Said it last time I wrote this, I’m saying it again.
Sexy shots of brides on couches
Wedding day too boring for ya? Let’s slip in an impromptu boudoir session into the middle of the day.
Silhouetted people in front of windows inside buildings
If the couch session wasn’t enough, let’s put someone in one of those circular windows inside a building, have them stretch out their arms, arch their back, and stare to their left glamorously.
Poses for hipsters on people who aren’t hipsters
Respect your client. Find something that fits who they are.
SEO Keywords in titles
I shot a New York City engagement session at The Highline for City Weddings and Couples Who Are Engaged the other day.
f/1.2
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Bland make-up pictures
I love getting ready. So it’s all the more painful that so much is becoming a cliche. But that semi-tight shot of a half smile in soft light with the eye make-up being applied? Not good enough.
Silly faces and bizarre occurrences being passed off as insightful
You know, it’s really not that hard to capture a silly face or a veil flying straight in the air. In fact, it’s hard not to shoot it. But that doesn’t mean you need to stick it in your portfolio. There’s a difference between introspective and weird.
Making people small to mask bad poses
Getting tired of small people in portraits? Then how about small people with bad poses?
Finding great light to mask bad poses
Getting tired of flare? How about flare with bad poses?
Flare
Getting tired of flare. Flare, you have officially crossed the line.
Loving gazes
There are so many more ways to show love than people staring at one another.
Kisses
There are so many more ways to show love than people kissing one another.
Frolicking
There are so many more ways to show love than people frolicking.
Perkiness
I know. It’s the wedding industry. We’re all supposed to perky. But how can everyone be this caffeinated?
Being the brand
We have brands. We are not brands. Keep. Away. From. The. Kool-Aid.
So in other words don’t shoot anything. Crap article.
I don’t think it’s crap, Jeff Ascough is one of the best wedding photographers in the world and and his work has nothing to do with this list ^^^^
Many thanks, Barbu.
Scottie, do you then also think vegetarians have nothing to eat?
Who says Jeff is the best? Him? His work is okay – his processing and fake film look is too contrived and looks nothing like actual film work. And, his writing is the most pretentious crap out there. Basically, wedding photographers are insecure.
I do, and google hahaha try to google his name…. his work is OK? You are joking, right?
Processing is another thing and have nothing to do with this discussion, I think Spencer is more in content here….
Thanks spencer, but your article is conceited. You know that, though, right?
You know that your clients actually want the cliche. That they might often want to look like somebody else, or at least a more fantastical version of themselves for the day. Sometimes you might hear something like “my friend had this photographer who shot …..” or, “we’re having a vintage themed wedding and we love the work of Jose villa” or, “Alexander Leaman can’t shoot our wedding, can you shoot in that style?!” etc etc….
Sometimes your clients want the flare and the theatre, and the shoes, and the kissing. And the makeup. Sometimes the client doesn’t want to be educated by their uber ‘better than the cliche’ photographer.
Sure, photographers can and do rely on certain devices to ensure a professional end result and meet expectations, and this is especially true of wedding photography, but what specialism is any different? You can’t absolve yourself by simply saying “I too use these cliches (because I need to get the job), but know that I am better than other photographers because I have seen this truth”. It’s easy to point the finger even if you are hiding behind a humble tongue in cheek end of year style observation.
This kind of elite ‘in the club’ blog post does little to further the (slowly) evolving world of wedding Photography, especially as nothing truly alternative is offered.
If you’re upset by cliches give up on listening to music, stop reading the news, and put your camera down. And stop moaning about the way other photographers shoot the same way that you like shooting – its the biggest cliche of them all.
Excellent points
I replied to the rest, so I’ll let that go, and hopefully, it will properly address your concerns. You can see it on the blog a couple posts after this. But one thing that I actually don’t think it’s fair to assume our clients want the cliche. Says who? I’ve got plenty who don’t. I had a bride who didn’t want a prep, who didn’t care for any posing, and who only wanted fantastic partying shots. I like doing some portraits, so I missed not having that, but I like her take. I had another who liked serious shots, and not big smiles. In fact, these aren’t even the exceptions. Most of my clients did not ask for nor care about these items being capture in this fashion. If I’m not trying to go beyond copying myself or anyone else, I feel like I’m not giving them my all. We need to retire shots after a certain amount of time. It makes room for developing new shots. My clients come to me to provide best results that I am capable of. And that’s what I owe to them. But even in the face of clients who do want the items you mentioned, there are always ways to go beyond it, and there are plenty of pictures taken of people that are both beautiful and honest. You talk about it like you can’t have both. Why not?
And while it’s true we serve our clients, and sometimes someone won’t be a perfect match, I also don’t think we should try to get clients who aren’t a strong match. This isn’t an artistic opinion or ethical one either. It’s a business strategy one. If you have someone who is perfect and just wants a few shots you don’t care for, that’s one thing. But on the flip side, if you have someone who is absolutely not a fit, I think its a short term gain but a long term loss to take that client. That’s how you wind up building a portfolio you’re not passionate about, and getting more referrals for work that’s not work you love. If they say “Can you shoot the day like Jose Villa,” I need to turn it down. I don’t shoot that way, and though his work is lovely, if I accept that client, then I likely cannot provide what I need to. I can’t give them an amazing experience, because I’d spend my time trying to be someone else.
And, in regard to Jose Villa, while he was the person who may have popularized many of these trends, the flip side is he did just that. He never came from a place of duplication. He did it from a place of personal expression. His style was the result of his vision. Do I think people copying it has diminished the impact? Yes, to some extent, I do. But that’s not his fault, and his work is still anything but staid. And if he does someday fall into a position where he’s just repeating himself? Well, then I’d then say that he, too, should re-evaluate. Everyone should. No exceptions.
Just because it’s critical doesn’t mean it’s either done in jest or for condescension. A lot of people are using these items as crutches, and I don’t think they need to. My reply is posted at:
http://ground-glass.com/?p=1875
Pundits are praising Louis C.K. AFTER the fact…
Few of us would ante up over $200k (like he did) on a long-shot of a business model.
A long-shot that: flies in the face of conventional film distribution or pre-existing “market research”. Like Louie’s “big idea”, each item on your “kill list” was fresh, exploratory, innovative and soulful…once upon a time.
When genius becomes too “graspable” and widely accepted, it risks becoming stale and disembodied. It risks losing a reason for being (form and function). You could argue this is the challenge faced by most industries, relationships, couples and people: fear of innovation and change.
Thank you for heralding the need for innovation within the wedding + photography industry…time and time again.
Peace,
Parris
Thank you, Parris. Both concise and precise. I am humbled by your words. I absolutely agree.
Justr catching up on the last few blog posts. This one is a gem! Spencer, I love you and everything you stand for (although I am guilty of the odd foot shot.)
Thanks! I’m guilty of many, myself. I enjoyed looking at your work!