Sunday 26 June 2011

Weddings have been photographed since the earliest days of photography, more than 160 years ago. Early wedding pictures were often stiffly posed and depicted the bride and groom only, but then group pictures were introduced. By 1900 some superbly arranged family wedding groups were being photographed with every person individually posed and every face in focus. The photographs were rather expressionless- because of the need to remain still for long time. exposures.

In the 1960s the introduction of colour to wedding photographs led to a more relaxed style of photography. But it was not untill the end of the twentieth century that the photojournalistic style of photography joined the more traditional posed pictures. This brought along with it a demand for black and white images in addition to colour, attractive new ways, of displaying photographs and the creative opportunities made possible by digital imaging. With all of these developments, it is no wonder that many advertising and press photographers, who used to view wedding photography as a less creative field, are now joining the ranks of wedding photographers with growing enthusiasm.

An exciting responsibilty


There has never been a more exciting time to be a wedding photographer. No other photographic subject is more demanding because of the variety of types of photography required within a limited time period. At the same time, there is great responsibility on the photographer, partly because the couple getting married and their families have made a major financial investment, and also because it is a one off event and should anything go wrong with the photography, the situation is irretrievable. A modern wedding photographer therefore requires many different photographic skills, calm nerves, clear thinking and good organization.

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