Weddings - what do you stage?

sunnyside_up

sunnyside_up

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Bethy
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Probably a loaded question, but curious from you wedding photographers out there what images throughout the day do you 'stage' or set up? Obviously the bride groom photos and the family groups etc, but I'm more talking about the preparation shots ie. makeup, putting on the dress/doing it up, you know, the shots that look like they were just 'snapped', were they actually set up? And the confetti shot - do you set this up?

Thanks in advance!
 
Apart from formals and generally signing the register I try not to stage anything .... there'll be a fair bit of look this way type direction during the bridal walk, but that aside i',m there to record the day not intrude on it

Confetti shots are always going to be contrived to an extent, but its not a set up per se as you generally only get one chance
 
theurbanclown said:
Portraits and group shots aside, the confetti shot is probably the only other shot I set up and even that is usually just a case of making them create a tunnel or just to gather them around the couple.

Everything else is just shot as I see it.
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Same, and the only reason for really having a little control over the confetti is that it can be a bit hit and miss otherwise, aunty brenda does it as they stand outside the church whilst cousin irene waits until they are about to get in the car.
 
sunnyside_up said:
... you know, the shots that look like they were just 'snapped', were they actually set up?
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Those shots probably look like that because they are "just snapped". Curious to know why you might think they were set up ...

Yv said:
Same, and the only reason for really having a little control over the confetti is that it can be a bit hit and miss otherwise, aunty brenda does it as they stand outside the church whilst cousin irene waits until they are about to get in the car.
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Same again. And besides, both Auntie Brenda and Cousin Irene do the same as the other guests always do if you don't instruct them, which is throw thow bloody stuff at them rather than over them :rolleyes:
 
Indeed, I suppose if we are really getting into nitty gritty, you could as Pete said earlier, count the signing of the register, but even in civil cermonies, I will try and get a few low angle, natural, as it happens type shots, basically in such a way that the registrar can see I am not getting their precious register in the shot. This is much easier during church ceremonies as vicars are generally not precious about the book and you can actually snap the proper signing, as it happens. Then just grab a quick posed one for grandmas sake. Cake cutting, I usually show them roughly where to stand because they nearly all ask anyway and some will ask how to hold the knife [I am very good, I usually refrain from telling her that somewhere near his neck is the best place :whistle: ] but after that, if they want to pose great, if not just let them get on with it and snap what happens. I tend to think of the signing and cake cutting as part of the formals anyway
 
Serendipitous Sid said:
Those shots probably look like that because they are "just snapped". Curious to know why you might think they were set up ...



Same again. And besides, both Auntie Brenda and Cousin Irene do the same as the other guests always do if you don't instruct them, which is throw thow bloody stuff at them rather than over them :rolleyes:
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I watched this DVD once, and the guy actually went back and had the bride and bridesmaids re-create the getting ready... which I thought was really odd. I suppose what I'm really saying is say for example when they're tying the dress up (if that's the case) at the back, would you and how much would you direct the shot? ie - you stand here, you stand there, you look here... etc...

I hope I haven't offended anyone by asking the question. I won't tell you that I have a wedding in April that I'm doing...!! ;)
 
Generally with prep I just try not to intrude and take what i need as early as possible so i can get away and get to the church in time to do grooms men - I once had a bride who had startingly pretty eyes and i did stage a few shots with the MUA to show case them ( It would be a bit intrusive for the MUA to be shoving the lens in close while she was doing the eye make up otherwise )

With lacing up the dress , so long as the light is okay no direction should really be needed - if the light is crap you might need to ask if she can stand with her back to the window , or deploy a couple ofreflectors but in my (admittedly limited as the majority of my jobs have start with arival) experience its not a big deal.

I once had a couple who wanted shots of the groom suggestively unlacing the dress in the bridal suite... we did definitely stage those as I had no intention of hanging arroundf to capture the action au naturel :LOL:
 
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sunnyside_up said:
I watched this DVD once, and the guy actually went back and had the bride and bridesmaids re-create the getting ready... which I thought was really odd.
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Not only is that bizarre, but it's worrying to think that there's a DVD out there of some muppet doing that.

sunnyside_up said:
I suppose what I'm really saying is say for example when they're tying the dress up (if that's the case) at the back, would you and how much would you direct the shot?
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If you're photographing the tying up of the frock, you just take pictures of them tying up the frock! I don't think it'd go down well with many brides if their snapper started trying to choreograph the event. BTW, no offence taken here - I'm just intrigued by your assumption that it's normal to set up fake documentary/Reportidge™ pictures :)
 
Serendipitous Sid said:
Not only is that bizarre, but it's worrying to think that there's a DVD out there of some muppet doing that.
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Its probably one of those "anyone can be a wedding photographer, follow 5 easy steps" DVDs :LOL:
 
Fair point, well presented ;)
 
I will direct if required. Its ok saying I shoot what I see but if the bridesmaid is doing up the dress in bad light with crap in the background then I would step in. I shoot three types of photos on the day, the formal, the reportage and editorial which for me means photographs that look natural but have had some direction from me. Often couples mention they love my reportage work. When I ask them which one's they are often editorial photographs that they like. We all work differently and how dull would it be if we were all the same.
 
Nothing if I can help it, just let them get on with enjoying the day and getting married. There are some out there who think of their wedding day as a fashion shoot, which I just find bizarre, I can't understand the mentality. I'm much better at not having them book me now though.

Similarly, there are more than a few wedding videographers who like to think they are directing feature films.
 
Can I just ask for anyone who does not 'set up' any photos - do you not get any photos of the bride and groom on their own ?

Or do you just follow them everywhere hoping to catch something to remember or do you just photo everything and anything.

This is a not some kind of put down I really am interested. I do catch candid shots were I can as they are always the best but we find we still have to stage a few shots just so the couple have a few 'Wow' shots for the album. I have read many adverts for photographers saying they do not intrude at all and its all totally candid.... how does that work ?
 
John Young said:
Can I just ask for anyone who does not 'set up' any photos - do you not get any photos of the bride and groom on their own ?
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We always used to set up a traditional shot of the couple for the mothers to frame, and also did individual posed portraits of the bride and the groom upon request. Plus of course any group shots that the couple wanted (in our last four years, normally up to 6 of them including an everybody shot). We specifically targetted couples who hated set-up photos.
 
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John Young said:
Can I just ask for anyone who does not 'set up' any photos - do you not get any photos of the bride and groom on their own ?

Or do you just follow them everywhere hoping to catch something to remember or do you just photo everything and anything.

This is a not some kind of put down I really am interested. I do catch candid shots were I can as they are always the best but we find we still have to stage a few shots just so the couple have a few 'Wow' shots for the album. I have read many adverts for photographers saying they do not intrude at all and its all totally candid.... how does that work ?
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They're not 'staged' they're 'posed'.

Staged suggests the creation of an image to make it look like it was 'captured'.

The couple shots and group shots are 'posed'.

I'd say the cake cutting is 'staged', it's something which would just happen, but it's orchestrated for everyone to get a shot. We usually get a shot of the crowd of cameras shooting it.
 
John Young said:
So if I took photos of couple on their own it would be posed.... Is that right ?
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No. If they were spontaneously walking towards you holding hands and talking and you took a picture of them, that would be candid or documentary or PJ.

If you said to them "walk towards me holding hands and talk to each other. Ignore me." that would be staged or possibly Reportidge™

If you arranged them together facing you in the church porch, groom on your left, bride holding bouquet in the Approved Manner etc then asked them to smile for the camera, that would be posed.

But I'm curious about why you're asking ...
 
I am just curious that is all as I have seen many photographer describe their work on adverts as candid or they state

" We don't interfere with your wedding day"

"We shoot your wedding without anyone knowing we are there"

That kind of thing so just curious what that entails and how they get the photos they want/need
 
John Young said:
I am just curious that is all as I have seen many photographer describe their work on adverts as candid
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I've seen many describe their work as "stunning" and that's b****x too

John Young said:
... or they state "We don't interfere with your wedding day" ...
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and then on the day they do just that

John Young said:
... or "We shoot your wedding without anyone knowing we are there" ...
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I've actually shot a wedding with a guy who said that on his website, and the truth of the matter is that he was all over it like a one-armed paperhanger from start to finish. What he should have said was "we shoot your wedding and you wish we weren't there".
 
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Serendipitous Sid said:
I've seen many describe their work as "stunning" and that's b****x too



and then on the day they do just that



I've actually shot a wedding with a guy who said that on his website, and the truth of the matter is that he was all over it like a one-armed paperhanger from start to finish. What he should have said was "we shoot your wedding and you wish we weren't there".
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Ha...ha... brilliant !!! :D loved that last quote

Yeah I suppose a lot is just hype to try and be different and I do try and not get in the way and if a wedding lasted a week you could get EVERY candid photo you could wish for but in the few hours you have you have to direct a little to get people were you want them. I often find just going out with the bride & groom on their own you can get some great candid shots as well as the posed/staged ones
 
In my (very :) ) limited experience, bridal prep was as it happened except for the lacing up of the dress as I had to have them turn slightly to get a better angle and light.

Ceremony, very much as it happened including the signing of the register, then a posed signing of the register with witnesses, grandchildren, etc

Cutting the cake - posed, speeches until first dance as it happened.

Formal shots obviously posed.
 
theurbanclown said:
Portraits and group shots aside, the confetti shot is probably the only other shot I set up and even that is usually just a case of making guests create a tunnel or just to gather them around the couple.

Everything else is just shot as I see it.
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same, i dont even move bags and stuff out of the way.

Shot the last wedding with a black bin liner hanging off the bed post.......i might change that rule though!
 
gpc1 said:
same, i dont even move bags and stuff out of the way.

Shot the last wedding with a black bin liner hanging off the bed post.......i might change that rule though!
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Don't do it, Greg. Once you start moving bin bags, it won't be long before you start tidying the bride's bedroom then taking the fire extinguisher off the wall behind the top table before the speeches ...

:cool:
 
Serendipitous Sid said:
Don't do it, Greg. Once you start moving bin bags, it won't be long before you start tidying the bride's bedroom then taking the fire extinguisher off the wall behind the top table before the speeches ...

:cool:
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haha...yep, unscrewing fire exit signs, moving the cake table and choreographing the first dance....but in a documentary style lol!!!
 
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