No. I Won’t Pose You…
Ok… If you really have no idea what to do, I’ll do my best to help. But I really prefer to catch a real moment. At a wedding, recently, I was doing what I do – and just weaving in and out of the crowds, taking dozens of photos for anything I can catch as quickly as I can. One of the groomsmen started directing people for photos – saying, “Ok! Bride and Groom center here!” I took their photo. He then said, “Ok! Bride and the Bridesmaids – everyone else clear back! Line up – stand here…” I took their photo. This went on for another 20-ish “groups.”
Someone looked at me and said, “Better watch out – he’s looking to take YOUR job!” I laughed – I knew what he meant, but I responded, “I don’t pose people. I just do things a little different.”
…if you want the standard line, please ask – because my inclination is to just search for ‘the real’ in the moment.
So look – I’m not against it – I know sometimes this is a gathering of friends and family that aren’t always together, so people feel like those photos need to be there. I have them from my wedding, because the photographer insisted. This may just be my own preference – and I’m not trying to make “my preference,” your preference. But… These are my least favorite photos of the day. I love the photo of one of my friends, frantically trying to fix our cake display. I love the photo where someone stopped to hug me and whisper some advice to me. I love the photo where my mom cracked a joke and we were sitting on a bench and laughing. The day was a total blur, so I don’t have a clear memory of those very real moments.
If people are gathering together, or others are arranging people, I’ll be right there to take those shots for you! If you have no idea what to do, and really want me to pose you – I can! But if you’re anything like me at all, when the day is over, it will be one big blur – and a double or triple line of people all saying “cheese” at the same time won’t bring you as much joy as the photo nobody knew was being taken, and there’s a flash of real life that is on someone’s face, and it’s now frozen in time.
Let me adjust your direction so you’re in good light, but aside from that, if you want the standard line, please ask – because my inclination is to just search for ‘the real’ in the moment.
Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.
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