I do Wedding Photography?

Something a little different from me today…

While travel and landscape photography is my ‘thing,’ I have also dabbled in other areas of photography, especially while transitioning and forming my career path from graphic designer to photographer. Over the summer I was presented with the opportunity to shoot the wedding of two good friends of mine after their photographer of choice couldn’t make it at the last minute. I had never shot a wedding before, but one of my mentors is a wedding photographer and through him I had picked up some great tips. He also shot my wedding back in September 2007! After doing a lot of research with some of my favorite wedding photographers out there, I put together my game plan and ultimately applied my style of shooting to the event, one that had a very ‘documentary/journalistic’ feel to it, rather than posing the couple. That’s just the way I prefer to shoot people, trying my best to become invisible while shooting their special day.

The wedding itself was a beautiful event. It was a hybrid between a traditional Indian Wedding and a traditional American Wedding and keeping with Indian traditions, there was a Mehndi party the night before. Well, I guess it was a cross between a traditional Mehndi party and American party. The ceremony was held at bride’s place that included food, drink, Bollywood movies, and my wife and friend become henna designers, applying mehndi to the bride’s hands.

Unfortunately I didn’t get chance to do an “engagement” shoot with the couple, but we may try and get together soon to do one…

Again, this was my first ever wedding shoot and while I do not plan on adding it to my services offered, I had a lot of fun and have since had a few more offers to do others weddings in the future. But ultimately, I love photographing people and I love telling stories with my photographs. This was just a new adventure and a new way for me to try and tell a story.

If you have some feedback I would love to hear it! Constructive criticism is how we all grow.

So here is a quick sample (picked at random) from the final photos delivered to the couple.

Toby and Jen before the big day

Jen and Toby joking around

The walkway that the bride would walk down during the ceremony

Mehndi Party

Mehndi Party Traditions

Applying Henna

Dannie Snyder (my wife) applying Henna to a bridesmaid

Imani, a bridesmaid getting ready

Putting on a necklace, a gift from the bride

Bride Getting Ready

Accessories

Bride almost ready

Jen almost ready

Bridesmaid during family photos

Toby getting ready

Applying the boutineer

During the vows

During the ceremony

Watching the guests arrive outside

After the ceremony, taking a break before the first dance

Toasting the happy couple

Toby dancing with his Mother

Jen dancing with her Father

Andrew and Kim dancing

Wedding Cake

Dannie (my wife) and Kim perform a traditional Indian dance

Dancing away the night

The Colorado River