|
I will be with the two of you most of the day. Not in your face. but close by, observing and taking discreet and candid photographs of your natural smiles and interactions between the two of you and with your family and guests. There's nothing forced, nothing un-natural. I won't be stopping the natural flow of the day, and I'll make sure that all the details photographs so beloved of brides, the favours, the tables, the flowers , the cake details, the rings, the dress details, the hats and the gifts are all captured before the end of the day. Once the service is over at the church, the plan is to get you outside and meet and greet with your guests - lots of nice natural images of your smiles and happiness rather than static images of lines of people. Then, if you or your family want some images at the church, that's fine, we can do that in 5 minutes flat and then head off to your reception venue, so you can relax and chill out and start to enjoy your day! Parents and grandparents EXPECT the photographer to start organising groups and such like straight after a ceremony ..... that's not the best way to do things. We have all been to the weddings from hell, where the photographer takes over, barking orders, while his assistant marshalls the troops and, with the help of all the groomsmen and best man, give everyone their orders for a ll the formal photography - the dreaded groups! Unless YOU REALLY WANT TO ... the best course of events is to relax .. meet and greet outside your church and then head off to your chosen reception venue. Once you are there .. do we start doing loads of group shots and marshall your guests ... err, no. You have a glass or two of champagne, you mingle, you chat and talk and laugh and cry and talk ..... it all makes for great natural wedding photographs. Often, when we arrive at the hotel or venue for the wedding breakfast, the staff have already set aside an hour or two for photographs ..... why? All my best photographs will come from you all having a great celebration - the laughter, the fun, the ambiance .... once you have had 45 minutes or an hour of that, then I will suggest, or we will sort out between us, a few close family groups .. that's mums and dads and grandads and grandmas ... and bridesmaids and best man sort of thing. They will take about 10 minutes, max. I will sort them, nobody needs to be bothered, there will be no shouting, only fun and laughter. If we get the opportunity, I will siggest that we do one big group photo, to make sure we get a shot of everyone who attends, andf that's it. No bother, no hassle, no stress, just relaxed and chilled out and fun! You will NEVER be late for your wedding breakfast because of me. Head chefs and wedding co-ordinators love me, because I'm no bother, no problem and actually helpful and liase with them, rather than fight with them or be awkward. They have important jobs to do - and so do I, but, together with the two of you, we can sort it easily and stress free. Once you are in the wedding breakfast and in among the speeches, everything will flow nice and easy (have you considered having the speeches first ?). Once the formals are over, EVERYONE will want fresh air, more alcohol, they will want to sit down to relax and get ready for the evening fun and frolics! This is a great time for you to freshen up, for me to laise with your mums and dads and get some of those less important fam ily shots that we didn't get before sitting down, and wh nyou re-appear, I will take you way for 10 or 15 minutes and get some photographs of you on your own - at last! As soon as I'm done, you have time to prepare for the evening celebrations - and I will be there too if you want me. By your side, discreet and a friend close-by to help if you need it!
DIRK VAN DER WERFF 2010
|
|
|