Arthur Chang

Let's think of all the weddings we have been to recently while I tell you about a few things I've noticed.  I'm at that age where all my siblings (blood related and not) are all getting married, and I've started noticing different roles photographers play.  Here are the two extreme characteristics of a modern day wedding photographer: ninja and dictator.

The dictator defines a wedding.  It might not be entirely their fault, but they are put into the position of defining what happens at a wedding and when.  They say when and where to have an engagement photo session, and how to feel during the session.  "Look like you two love each other and are having fun in this place that I think looks good."  Then they tell you when to get ready for your wedding, where to take your limo for photographs, who to bring into the photos, and when to have the reception.  Everything needs to be scheduled around the photographer's preference.  I've even seen photographers want the groom to see the bride in her dress for the first time in a photo session before the actual ceremony.

The couple might put the photographer in this situation of dictating.  If the plan isn't totally finalized, and the couple are still looking to plan their wedding fully, they will take whatever expert guidance they can get.  Sometimes they find this security blanket in a photographer.  The photographer then steps out of his element of photographer, and feels an awesome pride in the experience and know-how for weddings.  They give input on engagement sessions, then ceremony locations, and boom, before they know it they're snowballing into a full on wedding dictator.

There are a lot of good things about them though.  They are pretty much sure to get great photos.  They won't miss anything, the ring exchange, the kiss, nothing.  They'll also get all the photos the groom and bride want, leaving the couple confident and happy to enjoy the wedding.  And remember, this is just an extreme, no photographer is ever totally like this.

Now let's quickly talk about the ninja style wedding photographer.

OK so that was the ninja style.  What?  You didn't see anything written there?  Well that's the nature of ninja style anything.  You don't see it.  You don't notice it.  These photographers are either really freaking good at photography, or lazy and have missed out every important moment ever.  Kind of scary.  If they're never seen, they're probably all boozed up at the open bar and have dropped their cameras into the lake.  OK, but what about the freaking good ones?

Real ninjas are really freaking good at stuff.  Best of all, they let the moments happen as they are.  They catch people doing what they should be doing.  In a way, the ninja style guys don't get in your way but still get the pictures you want.  These guys are so damn good and confident that they just say: "look, I'll show up to your next outing at the park and take some test shots, then I'll come to look at all the venues you're looking at for the wedding and just be in touch with your planning.  I'll be there to scope out the final venue location, and even for the tasting of the food.  Maybe after you taste the food we can go around the grounds and hang out.  Then at the wedding, I'll be there whenever you're awake and leave as the last man standing.  I'll send you all your photos and you'll have a great wedding."

Little does the couple know, all this hanging out before the wedding is them accomplishing a million things.  A few I will name that are important in the following paragraphs.  

First they are really getting to know the couple.  How that helps is they know the most beautiful and handsome sides of the people.  Inside and out.  They notice what angles they look great in, and what angles to REALLY avoid.  When they are at their finest, and ugliest.  Along the way they've just taken the engagement photos from the couple's usual routines of hanging out together, and then they become now accustom and comfortable with a photographer being around taking photos.  

Scoping out the venue locations is great too, because he now knows all the spots, angles, and more.  The day of the wedding, he knows where to go, gets pretty awesome shots, doesn't get in the way, and most importantly lets everyone enjoy the wedding and save their own memories.  

The scary part is the couple doesn't know if the pictures are coming out well or not.  If the couple is worried and concerned, this would probably be crazy.  The photographer might also miss a lot of pictures, people, and moments that just can't be taken without some kind of direction.

Regardless of the type of photographer, just remember that photographs should come second, memories always comes first.  

What good is it if the photographer got to see and take photos of that magical moment the groom first sees the bride in her dress if NOBODY ELSE DOES?  Yes, you get great photos of that moment because you couldn't pose them correctly in the first place so you rely on stealing this magical moment away from all the other friends and family.  That's selfish in my opinion.  Making sure the family pays to see that magical moment is lame.  I want the family to experience it.  Photos will always tell a story, but you will never be able to relive it fully if you didn't even see it.  There's so much more than just an image.

Signs of a dictating photographer:

1. Groom sees bride in dress for the first time before the ceremony for photoshoot
2. Awkward and prolonged photoshoot at any time during the wedding day
3. Rushed preparation times because of scheduled photoshoots
4. And simply telling you how to plan any part of your wedding day for his photos
5. Helps set up good shots when there is no direction
6. Gets a photo of everyone important, family, friends, wedding party, and doesn't miss anyone
7. Helps the couple plan if they need the help

Signs of a ninja style photographer:

1. Asks a lot of questions
2. Allows you to plan everything, but would like to know about the schedules
3. Asks about favorite places to go with significant other, daily activities
4. Hangs out at favorite places for an engagement photoshoot, doesn't tell you what to do, gives suggestions when needed
5. Works his way through your wedding, at the preparations because they're happening, at the wedding ceremony when it happens, at the reception when it happens, grabbing photos of everyone while everyone is congratulating, hugging, and enjoying the wedding
6. Becoming friends with everyone at the wedding.  Like genuinely friends, not just for show.

You can see my agenda here, my own thoughts about a photographer's wedding.  But all this being said, no matter what happens with the photographer, the wedding will be beautiful and you will be happy.  Plan it and enjoy it as you will, but remember to enjoy and live the moments. 

ps. The photograph posted at the top was one I took at An and Brian's wedding (Issa's cousin).  Their hired photographer was great.  I was there as a guest and took a few photos and posted some on my Flickr stream.  You can find them here: http://flickr.com/gp/kinetic/820959  (teasers below)