You consider yourself a photojournalist; one who records things as they happen rather than manipulating the scene. So when a guest turns to you and asks, "Why haven't we started the cake cutting yet?" you have to suppress a sarcastic, "I don't know, why haven't we?" with a friendly, "I don't know, I'm just the photographer." But are you really just the photographer?
Whatever your style of photography, there is an element of coordinating that goes along with your job that the client either expects or needs. Learning to come to terms with this and have a plan of action early on will make your job not only easier, but more professional without actually interfering with your artistic methods. Here's how: a) become a wedding guru and, b) know when to do what. Let's face it; you are probably the only vendor that will be there through the entire day, (unless you are actually a wedding coordinator). Chances are there isn't one, so you're it!
So do you really need to be a wedding guru? Think about how many times the bridesmaids gather around the bride giggling as she pulls out her garter. As she starts to slip it on, she takes it off with uncertainty and then everyone turns to you and asks, "Which leg does it go on?" It might be a good idea to brush up on your wedding etiquette and be an authority on all those customs such as the father putting a penny in the shoe and wearing something old, new, borrowed, and blue. Not only does it help the bride out, but it will help you remember to photograph details the bride might have put a lot of thought into that you might have otherwise missed. Maybe a used handkerchief isn't something you'd normally photograph, but when you realize it's something borrowed from her great grandmother, it suddenly becomes a big deal. Knowledge is half the battle as they say and this can give you a one up on your photo opportunities if you know the significance of a custom.
Going hand in hand is the knowledge of how to do various wedding tasks such as pinning on a boutonniere (yes, some people really don't know how as I've been asked countless times) or how to cut a cake (yes, I've also been asked that more than once). Usually when people ask questions like this, they are concerned with the visual outcome and are looking to you as an expert to get to their most photogenic state. Speaking of photogenic, the bride is highly concerned that you get great pictures of her. Even if you prefer to be a fly on the wall, it would really be poor service on your part if you fail to let her know she has a noticeably large piece of lettuce between her teeth. The bride expects you to make sure she looks her best right along with her bridesmaids. Just be careful not to unintentionally offend. Remember, your job is not to tell her that her purple lipstick is hideous, only that something looks out of place and to get things into the state you perceive she expects them to be. This extends to the surroundings as well. During your consultation (yes, you should have one) you might want to discuss how to beautify the surroundings while she gets ready such as hanging her dress on an elegant hanger instead of leaving it in the dry cleaning bag. Also discuss any potential lighting challenges that could be changed such as choosing the indoor reception hall with the beige walls instead of the facility with black walls. Assisting her in the planning stages now can make for more ideal photos later.
The Wedding Party and guests aren't the only ones who might be looking to you for direction. Here's where we get into the timing issue. In some cases, even other vendors could expect you to hold the reins. I once had a DJ/emcee who never announced the first dance when he was supposed to. In fact, he was 45 minutes late and the bride and groom had a schedule they wanted to follow. I finally took it upon myself to tell the DJ to go ahead and make announcements. It was much appreciated by the happy couple who were too busy mingling to notice the time. It turns out the DJ didn't even know they expected him to announce this because of improper planning. It would be wise to know when and why the bride would like certain events to happen for two reasons: 1. In order to give a little "push" to passive or inexperienced vendors and 2. Having an advantage on where to be and when so as not to miss out on crucial photo opportunities (let's face it-as cliché as you think it is to get a garter toss photo, your reminiscent couple will want it and that's partly what they're paying you for). Don't assume everyone else has everything covered. At the end of the day, you will be the one responsible to have something to show for, and you don't want the bride asking you why you didn't get pictures of the father daughter dance. Even if you expected the DJ to for the announcement, she might have assumed you were responsible for "directing" those moments.
Speaking of expectations, let's take a look at this scenario: It's after the ceremony and the bride has a never ending list of group shots she wants in the church; including 17 rambunctious (although adorable) children. If we hurry, we can get them all done in about an hour. You think things are going well halfway through when the bride informs you that there are only 5 minutes left to finish before the party has to vacate and make way for the 7:00 mass. The best solution to these kinds of road blocks is to be pro-active. Make sure you discuss with the couple beforehand on how long it would take to cover post ceremony photos to avoid frustrations. You could even cut back on this time by getting requested formals pre-ceremony; such as, the bride and her family and bridesmaids and then the groom' side, etc. In fact, having the bride fill out an approximate timeline guide would help her coordinate her day better. It encourages her to communicate with other vendors (if you don't do this yourself). As a result, the wedding day would run smoother with everyone working together. Knowing what to expect can also reduce tension. For example, the bride can have cocktails served while impatient guests wait on the photos. How would they have known to do this if you didn't have a game plan? Include in your guideline other details such as people not to picture together (to avoid embarrassing situations) and whether or not photographers are provided a meal.
Although this might appear to "cramp your style" on the surface, making preparations actually frees up your time to concentrate on more sporadic photo opportunities. You can never go wrong with making a more organized, efficient use of your time. So go ahead and brush up on your wedding know-how and get to work on wedding planning. Next time that guest asks you when the cake is being cut; your retort won't be so "tart".
About Wedding Photographer - Amanda Galloway, IN
Amanda grew up in Southern California and had a camera in her hands ever since she was five. She started off with 110 mm film and surprised her family unawares as she pretended she was a photojournalist. Little did she know that she would actually be doing that professionally over 20 years later. Today she owns and operates Silver Linings Photography. You may access Amanda's Wedding Photo Portfolio, Photographer Bio, and the Indiana (IN) Wedding Photographers Index.
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