The concept of authenticity over perfection has been something I have been contemplating for a long time now. To me, it’s more of a question than a statement: as a photographer, am I willing to sacrifice “perfection” to remain authentic to my style as a documentary wedding photographer, or should I focus on getting the perfect shot at any cost?
Like any wedding photographer, I look forward to the couple’s session to capture the happy couple looking spectacular together. In these moments, I focus more on staging and posing, rather than strictly capturing moments that happen naturally; that couple’s session might be the only time we get slow down a bit and be more intentional. However, as a Documentary Wedding Photographer, my process is to capture the day exactly as it happened, as true to the emotion and the vibe as I possibly can, so it’s difficult for me to strictly take photos that were planned out. Trust me, I have a clear understanding of what is expected of me: to capture beautiful photos, and at the end of the day, that is exactly what you’re going to get. Fortunately, I find that couples already do most of the work by putting together a beautiful ceremony, in a beautiful place, with beautiful and loving people; So finding authentic moments to capture is a matter of time, experience, and intuition. This is where I live as a photographer, and where my specialty lies. I am always looking for those special imperfectly perfect moments that set your wedding apart from any other wedding I have shot before.
One of the biggest challenges couples face when searching for their wedding photographer is trusting a photographer to capture their hard work and their unique story in the most genuine way possible. At every wedding, there is a multitude of smiles and intimate moments ready to be captured. These are the moments that are impossible for couples to witness because they are the center of attention. It’s my job as your wedding photographer to make sure you don’t miss these moments, because you are so busy enjoying your day, by committing these photos to film so that you may witness these moments for years and years to come.
My clients invest so much time, effort, and money into creating the perfect vibe for their wedding, so I understand the importance of capturing the minute details that you have worked so hard on. But I see more than just the static shot. When I take a detail photo, I try to see more than just the “things” themselves, but rather the thought and the significance BEHIND that “thing”, so the end result is a static shot that captures the essence of you as a couple through the selections you made for one of the most important days of your life. For example, when I’m looking at your tablescape, I’m not seeing blue napkins. I’m seeing your “something blue”, your grandmother’s embroidered napkins handed down from generation to generation. It is always my goal, no matter the subject, to capture the love and the meaning that exists in that moment.
When I say authenticity over perfection, I mean it in the overall sense of your gallery when your photos have been compiled. Your wedding is always going to be perfect, because you designed it and you’ll be surrounded by those you love the most. It is my job, as your wedding photographer, to capture that perfection that already exists in the most authentic and candid way possible, letting the day be captured as it happened, not as it was staged to look. I want you and your loved ones to be able to be a part of the day because that’s when I can capture the real moments that happen when you get to interact with one another with as little interference from me as possible. Most importantly, you should be able to look back at those photos with real nostalgia and honesty, because you chose authenticity over perfection.