Being a member of the WPJA, I get an online magazine from them called WedPix. It has some really great articles in it pertaining to the Bride and Groom so I thought I would start putting some of them onto my Blog for you to read. I hope they prove to be of interest and of help to you :)
The following article is from the Feb 2007 issue of WedPix:
WEDDING PARTY ROLES
While wedding party stereotypes still exist, most people realize there’s more to being a bridesmaid than looking beautiful, more to being a groomsman than adding life and excitement to the reception party. But even the bride and groom might not fully understand just how helpful these roles can be, long after the train is bustled and the speeches given. With a little direction (and not that much effort), members of the wedding party can facilitate great wedding photojournalism—a favor that will elicit enduring gratitude every time you look at the wedding pictures.
WPJA award winners offer some insight on this matter:
INTRODUCE YOUR WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALIST
Don’t assume that everyone in your bridal party understands wedding photojournalism. And it’s not your wedding photojournalist’s job to spend the day educating everyone. You have picked (and paid) your wedding photojournalist for his documentary style and creative eye, so you don’t want him fielding too many special (cheesy and posed) requests from your wedding party—taking away time from the natural moments you hired him to capture.
WPJA award winner David Crane, who has had mostly positive experiences with wedding parties, attributes his good fortune to working closely with the bride and groom before the wedding day, so they understand how he works. “The bride and groom have paved the way for me to do my job,” says Crane. “They have briefed their family and friends as to how I will be working throughout the day and what to expect from me.”
Introducing your wedding photojournalist to your wedding party is key, says WPJA member Nate Kaiser, stressing the importance of the informational introduction. “Say something like ‘Hey everyone, this is Nate. He’s a wedding photojournalist, which means he takes candids.’ You need to preface the style. It’s pre-wedding instruction,” he says. A few of his bridal parties have actually circulated wedding day handbooks, including a line or two about the wedding photojournalist and how to act (or not act) for the camera. “It’s really important to let them know they don’t have to stop and smile and pose for the photographer,” he says.
WPJA member Kevin Kelley says it’s helpful when brides and grooms let their party know to go about their day naturally, as if the camera isn’t there. “Awareness of this general rule helps drastically,” says Kelley. “I’ve missed some beautiful shots as a result of someone stopping what they were doing because the camera was present, thinking I wanted them to smile.”
WHAT NOT TO DO
When you’re briefing your wedding party about the philosophy of wedding photojournalism, it’s crucial to include a list of things not to do, so your wedding photojournalist can get the best possible photos.
Kaiser offers a couple of examples of how your wedding party can be detrimental to good wedding photojournalism. First, there’s the quintessential frat party photo: “The group that won’t let you take a candid shot without stopping and grabbing their friends, who all throw their beer can at the camera.” Then, even more annoying (because the wedding photojournalist takes the brunt of the scorn) there’s the person who takes personal offense to the efforts: “The moment you train your lens, you get the look of death that says ‘What are you doing? Get away from me.’”
This is why it’s important to explain to your wedding party what kind of photos your wedding photojournalist will be taking.
“When a wedding party understands your style of shooting, they won’t freak out when they see you capturing an odd angle or photograph of detail, says Kelley. “A general understanding of your style by the party will also aid in producing a higher level of quality photos throughout the day. If your style is to capture everything naturally, the more people who know this, the more opportunities the photographer will have for great images.”
The wedding party should also understand when it’s appropriate—and even more often, when it’s not—to give your wedding photojournalist direction.
“The ‘direction’ that I don’t mind is when people alert me if there is action on the other side of the room or dance floor that I may not be noticing at the moment,” says Kelley. An overprotective bridesmaid who wants your wedding photojournalist to capture every perfect photo op is another story.
Kaiser agrees. He has experienced bridesmaids who want to stage situations that were photographed at their own weddings—like requesting he photograph the bride’s head going under the veil, and then insisting that she do it again and again to make sure he gets the right shot.
Help your wedding party understand the difference between direction and friendly forewarning—especially when a memorable and unplanned scene is unfolding across the room and the wedding photojournalist is immersed in another (maybe not as important) photo.
“I have gotten some fantastic shots because family and friends of the bride and groom have given me a heads up about a situation that they know is going to occur. With the popularity of wedding photojournalism growing, my ‘job’ has become much easier,” says Crane.
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
An obvious task for wedding party members is making sure everyone is where they should be for group photos. “When important people are missing from such shots, I have to spend much of my time during the rest of the day rounding up the missing people for the group shots, which the couple wanted, sometimes missing great "moments" to do so,” says Crane.
Kaiser recommends appointing a go-to person, like the maid-of-honor or a sibling, who knows all the family members and important guests. He usually asks the couple before the wedding to designate someone to find missing people, so the bride and groom don’t have to worry about it.
Last year Kaiser shot a 600-person Chinese wedding, and no matter how much he tried to negotiate, they wanted 45 formal group shots. An incredibly helpful and outgoing groomsman stood at the front of the church and barked orders to families, and they got through 45 formal groupings in 25 minutes. “He rocked,” says Kaiser. “And we’re actually shooting his wedding this year.”
Kevin Kelley
Kelley says the wedding party can also help make the wedding photojournalist’s job easier by trusting the photographer and heeding his/her suggestions, such as moving to a different location for portraits because of lighting. And, of course, staying focused and attentive during the portrait session helps with flow. If the bride and groom are nervous, their nervousness will show up on camera. Bridesmaids and groomsmen are the best people to help put them at ease, so their wedding photos reflect more genuine expressions.
As the night progresses, ask one or two members of your wedding party to check in on your photographer from time to time. Water, dinner, questions, administrative needs (like handing over any checks, or requesting additional time), so you’re free to enjoy your wedding. Often these gestures do something even more important than the obvious: they make your wedding photojournalist feel welcome. You might even want to encourage your wedding party to invite the photographer into semi-private moments or unique settings throughout the wedding and reception. It’s the little things. “I would go anyway, because that’s my job,” says Kaiser. “But it’s nice to know that you’re wanted.”
—by Meghan McEwen for the Wedding Photojournalist Association
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