A wedding photographer taking a picture of the bride and her new husband with his familyA newlywed couple standing in front of a church and their wedding photographer, Westmount, Montreal, 1945
Wedding photography is a specialty in photography that is primarily focused on the photography of events and activities relating to weddings. It may include other types of portrait photography of the couple before the official wedding day, such as a pre-wedding engagement session, in which the photographs are later used for the couple's wedding invitations. On the wedding day, the photographer(s) will provide portrait photography as well as documentary photography to document the different wedding events and rituals throughout the day(s).
The practice of wedding photography has evolved and grown since the invention of the photographic art form. However, in the early days of photography, most couples did not hire a photographer to record the actual wedding itself. Rather, they might have posed for a formal photo in their best clothes before or after a wedding.[citation needed] In the late 1860s, more couples started posing in their wedding clothes or sometimes hired a photographer to come to the wedding venue.[citation needed]
Due to the nature of the bulky equipment and lighting issues, wedding photography was largely a studio practice for most of the late 19th century. Wedding albums started becoming more commonplace in the 1880s, and the photographer would sometimes include the wedding party in the photographs.[citation needed]
At the beginning of the 20th century, color photography became available, but was still unreliable and expensive, so most wedding photography was still practiced in black and white. The concept of capturing the wedding "event" came about after the Second World War.[citation needed] Using film roll technology and improved lighting techniques available with the invention of the compact flash bulb, photographers would often show up at a wedding and try to sell the photos later. Despite the initial low-quality photographs that often resulted, the competition forced the studio photographers to start working on location.[citation needed]
Initially, professional studio photographers might bring a lot of bulky equipment, thus limiting their ability to record the entire event. Even "candid" photos were more often staged after the ceremony. In the 1970s, the more modern approach to recording the entire wedding event started evolving into the practice as we know it today, including a more "documentary photography" style of photography.[citation needed]
During the film era, photographers favored colour negative film and medium-format cameras, especially Hasselblad. Today, many more weddings are photographed with digital SLR cameras as the digital convenience provides quick detection of lighting mistakes and allows creative approaches to be reviewed immediately.
In spite of this trend, some photographers continue to shoot with film as they prefer the film aesthetic, and others are of the opinion that negative film captures more information than digital technology, and has less margin for exposure error. Certainly true in some cases, exposure latitude inherent in a camera's native Raw image format (which allows for more under- and over- exposure than JPEG) varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. All forms of RAW have a degree of exposure latitude that exceeds slide film - to which digital capture is commonly compared.
The introduction of ILC (interchangeable lens cameras) mirrorless cameras such as the Fuji XT-2 and the Sony A7 series in 2015 / 2016 was significant for PJ wedding photographers.
Approaches
Wedding couple portrait circa 1926. In the early days of wedding photography, usually only several posed portraits of the couple were photographed.Wedding photography with a photojournalistic approach.
Traditional wedding photography provides for more classically posed images and a great deal of photographer control during the ceremony.
A photojournalistic style of wedding photography takes its cue from editorial reporting styles and focuses more on candid images with little photographer interaction; a wedding photojournalist typically shoots images quickly using available light or on-camera flash rather than using traditional, formal posing techniques and studio lights.
A third style is a fashion-based approach. In contemporary/fashion-based wedding photography, a photographer will combine candid images of the events of the day with posed images that are inspired by editorial fashion photography This style often involves more dramatic post-processing of images.
A fourth style that is popular in Asian countries, especially in China, is wedding studio photography (Chinese: 婚纱摄影; pinyin: hūn shā shè yǐng). Typically, couples will make an appointment with a studio for an in-studio or location shoot, with support from a hairstylist and make-up artist in addition to the photographer and the couple. The couple will go through many changes of clothing and backgrounds in a similar manner to the fashion-based approach.
The term contemporary wedding photography is used to describe wedding photography that is not of a traditional nature. The emphasis in contemporary photography is to capture the atmosphere of the day.
Services
Photograph of a page boy participating as a ringbearer.
The range of deliverables that a wedding photographer presents is varied. There is no standard as to what is included in a wedding coverage or package, so products vary regionally and from across photographers, as do the number of images provided.
Most photographers provide a set of proofs (usually unretouched, edited images) for the clients to view. Photographers may provide hard copy proofs in the form of small prints, a "magazine" of images with thumbnail-sized pictures on multiple pages. Alternatively, they will provide an online proofing gallery.
There are a wide variety of albums and manufacturers available, and photographers may provide traditional matted albums, digitally designed "coffee table" albums, contemporary flush mount albums, hardbound books, scrapbook style albums, or a combination of any of the above. Albums may be included as part of a pre-purchased package, or they may be added as an after-wedding purchase. Not all photographers provide albums; some may prefer to provide prints and/or files and let clients make their own albums.
Most photographers allow clients to purchase additional prints for themselves or their families. Many photographers now provide online sales either through galleries located on their own websites or through partnerships with other vendors.
The owner of the pictures' copyright is often explicitly stated in the contract for photographic services.[1] Without such an explicit statement, the owner of the pictures' copyright will depend on the country involved as copyright laws vary from country to country.
Falling under the broader category of photographers, most often work on location taking photographs of wedding events on a contractual basis. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 64% of photographers were self-employed as of 2018. Photographers earned a median salary of $34,000 per year as of May 2018. The number of employed photographers was expected to decline by 6% between 2018 and 2028.[2]
Professional organizations
Organizations such as the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP), International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP), Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC), Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP),Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) and Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) support the art and business of wedding photography. WPJA awards an annual Photographer of the Year Award to recognize the best in wedding photojournalism.
In the UK there are many organizations including the Master Photographers Association (MPA) and the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP).
Standards and requirements for professional organizations vary, but membership often indicates a photographer is insured.[citation needed] Professional organizations offer training, professional competition, and support to members, as well as directory services to help with marketing and organise conventions.[3][4]
South Asia
Bride and groom conducting worship together. Indoor flash photography, with the couple in focus
South Asian wedding photography refers to wedding photography of celebrations relating to Indian, Pakistani[5] and other South Asian weddings.
Indian weddings are a Rs. 800 billion industry, which is expected to grow by 25% per annum,[6] with a significant part dedicated to photography.
There are various rituals like the Seven Promises of Indian Marriage which are called as 'Saat Pheras[7]' and are performed on the day of wedding. An Indian marriage is traditionally a public affair, with the bridegroom taken in a procession through the town. Even a modest Indian wedding can have several hundred participants, who are all thought to be "relatives and close family friends".[8] By convention, a photographer is required to include each guest in at least one photograph which includes the bride and the groom. Generally, Indian wedding proceedings do not pause for photographs, requiring the photographers to anticipate the next event and be ready with the right angle. These factors make photographing an Indian wedding significantly different from western weddings.
Bride and groom as a royal couple under the mandap, day-time photography with fill-in flash
Wedding photography is now a major commercial endeavor in India that supports the bulk of the efforts for many photographers. There are photographers outside of India that specialize in Indian weddings.
Bright colors such as red and orange are considered appropriate,[9] and the photographs often use saturated colors.[10]
In India, a number of weddings take place in the "wedding season". For example, in early October, the city of Delhi can have up about 25,000 weddings a night.[12] That can make it hard to locate wedding photographers for those who have not planned sufficiently in advance.[13]Wedding planning in India is now a $10 billion market. The market in 2022 is to exceed $50 billion as per Business Insider India [14]
Technical and cultural challenges
Indian wedding photographers need to be aware of the cultural aspects of Indian wedding photography. They may need to understand the symbolism of specific religious rituals and traditional photo compositions are desired.[15]
A "destination wedding" is defined[according to whom?] as marrying 100 or more miles from where the marrying couple currently live. The term can also refer to any wedding in which the engaged couple and/or a majority of their guests travel to attend the wedding ceremony. Destination wedding photographers may run into challenges not typically associated with their normal weddings, ranging from location familiarity to client familiarity. Photographers may be familiar with venues if they are shooting locally, but less so elsewhere.
Elopement photography
Elopement Wedding Ceremony near Mt. Hood, Oregon
Another form of destination wedding photography is photographing elopements. While the popularity of elopements has been rising for at least the last decade, the emergence of COVID-19 has cemented elopements and micro-weddings as a first choice rather than a quick, forced decision.[16][17] Elopements are no longer a trend but have been entrenched as a socially acceptable alternative to a larger, traditional wedding.[18] Having an elopement allows couples to get married in ways that are meaningful to them, an opportunity that can be hard to come by with a traditional ceremony.[19]
Photographers who specialize in elopements take on the role of scouting scenic locations, coordinating and planning timelines, and recommending what to wear and what to pack.[20]
A photographer is a person who uses a camera to make photographs.
Photojournalism is journalism that uses images to tell a news story. It usually only refers to still images, but can also refer to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography by having a rigid ethical framework which demands an honest and impartial approach that tells a story in strictly journalistic terms. Photojournalists contribute to the news media, and help communities connect with one other. They must be well-informed and knowledgeable, and are able to deliver news in a creative manner that is both informative and entertaining.
Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez, better known as Alberto Korda or simply Korda, was a Cuban photographer, remembered for his famous image Guerrillero Heroico of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara.
James Augustus Van Der Zee was an American photographer best known for his portraits of black New Yorkers. He was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Aside from the artistic merits of his work, Van Der Zee produced the most comprehensive documentation of the period. Among his most famous subjects during this time were Marcus Garvey, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Countee Cullen.
Street photography is photography conducted for art or inquiry that features unmediated chance encounters and random incidents within public places. It usually has the aim of capturing images at a decisive or poignant moment by careful framing and timing. Street photography overlaps widely with candid photography, although the latter can also be used in other settings, such as portrait photography and event photography.
Erotic photography is a style of art photography of an erotic, sexually suggestive or sexually provocative nature. It is a type of erotic art.
Taiwanese photography is deeply rooted in the country's unique and rapidly changing history. Its early photography is often divided into two periods: Pre-Japanese from approximately 1858 to 1895, and an Era of Japanese Influence, from 1895 to 1945, the year the Japanese rule of Taiwan ended. Many photographs from the period during which Taiwan was under Japanese rule have been preserved as postcards. Much of the pre-Japanese era photography was conducted by foreign missionaries and merchants.
The carte de visite was a format of small photograph which was patented in Paris by photographer André Adolphe Eugène Disdéri in 1854, although first used by Louis Dodero.
Candid photography is photography captured without creating a posed appearance. This style is also called spontaneous photography or snap shooting. Candid photography captures natural expressions and moments that might not be possible to reproduce in a studio or posed photo shoot. This style of photography is most often used to capture people in their natural state without them noticing the camera. The main focus is on capturing the candid expressions and moments of life. Candid photography is often seen as a more honest representation of the subject than posed photography.
A snapshot is a photograph that is "shot" spontaneously and quickly, most often without artistic or journalistic intent and usually made with a relatively cheap and compact camera.
Portrait photography, or portraiture, is a type of photography aimed toward capturing the personality of a person or group of people by using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses. A portrait photograph may be artistic or clinical. Frequently, portraits are commissioned for special occasions, such as weddings, school events, or commercial purposes. Portraits can serve many purposes, ranging from usage on a personal web site to display in the lobby of a business.
A film still is a photograph, taken on or off the set of a movie or television program during production. These photographs are also taken in formal studio settings and venues of opportunity such as film stars' homes, film debut events, and commercial settings. The photos were taken by studio photographers for promotional purposes. Such stills consisted of posed portraits, used for public display or free fan handouts, which are sometimes autographed. They can also consist of posed or candid images taken on the set during production, and may include stars, crew members or directors at work.
A photo shoot is the process taken by creatives and models that results in a visual objective being obtained. An example is a model posing for a photographer at a studio or an outdoor location.
The pioneers of photography in the Philippines were Western photographers, mostly from Europe. The practice of taking photographs and the opening of the first photo studios in Spanish Philippines, from the 1840s to the 1890s, were driven by the following reasons: photographs were used as a medium of news and information about the colony, as a tool for tourism, as an fork anthropology, as a means for asserting social status, as an implement for historical documentation, as a team for communication, as materials for propaganda, and as a source of ideas for illustrations and engravings. The practice of photography in the Philippines was not without the influence and influx of Western-art concepts into the colonized archipelago.
Architectural photography is the subgenre of the photography discipline where the primary emphasis is made to capturing photographs of buildings and similar architectural structures that are both aesthetically pleasing and accurate in terms of representations of their subjects. Architectural photographers are usually skilled in the use of specialized techniques and cameras for producing such specialized photography.
Nude photography is the creation of any photograph which contains an image of a nude or semi-nude person, or an image suggestive of nudity. Nude photography is undertaken for a variety of purposes, including educational uses, commercial applications and artistic creations.
Monte Zucker M.Photog.Cr., Hon.M.Photog., API, F-ASP was an American photographer. He specialized in wedding photography, entering it as a profession in 1947. In the 1970s he operated a studio in Silver Spring, Maryland. Later he lived in Florida.
Ernest Brooks was a British photographer, best known for his war photography from the First World War. He was the first official photographer to be appointed by the British military, and produced several thousand images between 1915 and 1918, more than a tenth of all British official photographs taken during the war. His work was often posed and formal, but several of his less conventional images are marked by a distinctive use of silhouette. Before and immediately after the war he worked as an official photographer to the Royal Family, but was dismissed from this appointment and stripped of his official honours in 1925, for reasons that were not officially made public.
Glamour photography is a genre of photography in which the subjects are portrayed in attractive poses ranging from fully clothed to nude, and often erotic. Photographers use a combination of cosmetics, lighting and airbrushing techniques to produce an appealing image of the subject. The focus lies in the beauty of the subject's body or portrait; as such, beauty standards are often a key determinant of glamour model trends. A popular subset of this type of photography is "pin-up", for women, and "beefcake", for men.
Min Ch'ung-Sik was a Korean documentary photographer and a forerunner of Korean Modern photography. Born in Seoul, most of his works were produced during the era of portrait photography. Min's unique art norm showcased the circumstances of the continuum of aesthetics of modern photography. He is best known for teaching portrait photography as a tool of recreation and expression. His strong influence led the trends of defining the developing genre of photography and its relationship with visual art culture. From the 1880s to the 1940s, Min Ch'ung-Sik experimented with artistic trends before liberation from Japan through portraits of family, landscapes, objects, and places.
↑ Lewis, Charles. (1999). "The Art World Of Wedding Photography: Professional Boundaries". In Griffin, Robert; Gibbs, William; Wiegmann, Beth (eds) Visual Literacy in an Information Age. International Visual Literacy Association. ISBN9780945829119. pp215–222.
↑ Kim, Kenny. (2010). Wedding Photographer's Planner, Wiley, Hoboken, NJ, USA. ISBN9780470872994. p249.
Cantrell, Bambi; Cohen, Skip (2000). The Art of Wedding Photography: Professional Techniques with Style. Amphoto Books. p.144. ISBN978-0-817433-25-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
MacDonald, Morag (2007). Wedding Photography: A Professional Guide. Aurum Press. p.128. ISBN978-1-902538-47-1.
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