“You don’t take a photograph, you make it”-Ansel Adams

Another reason why wedding photography excites me is that it is as varied as you want it to be. From documentary styles capturing spontaneous joy, to images that convey a brooding intensity of space there are so many angles as to how a special day can be captured. On my journey into researching the wedding photography industry, images like the one below captured by a wedding photographer called Fiona Walsh add an element of play and intrigue to the wedding album. A long exposure and a playful use of a bright continuous photography light create a piece of art as well as a beautiful capture of a momentous moment in a couples life. This really is a literal translation of Berenice Abbott’s quote about photography being ‘Painting with Light’.

Thinking outside the box does not just involve playful use of lights however, the photographer can position themselves outside of the confines of simply shooting the couple from the same level. For example, the creative use of a staircase to capture a couple by Iain Gomes shows how the photographer can capture both the beauty of a wedding venue and the couple at the same time. The elliptical staircase here is used as a frame within a frame which drives the viewers eye directly to the couple having an intimate moment at the piano.

Photography is one of those arts which is very easy to learn but difficult to master. Wedding photography also adds the fun challenge of creating a story that the couple can look back at through these beautifully created shots. The challenge of being artistic with my wedding photography whilst at the same time shooting in a documentary style is one that I am looking forward to. The images by the photographers mentioned above are a perfect illustration of the creative documentary style I wish to work with.