There are a LOT of photographers claiming to be truth-tellers. The sentences ‘honestly telling your story’ and ‘let you be you’ are on 9/10 websites.
How can a bride or groom with little knowledge about a brand know if this is really true? What will it take to get a real perspective on the intentions of a stranger? What is it that you can look for in their work that will back up what they’re saying?
We live out the SW tag line “documenting your truth by way of timeless artful imagery.” Here is one concrete examples of how we stay true to this vision, wedding in and wedding out. This information will be helpful to future clients and for photographers.
SEEING THE DIFFERENCES
One key in searching for documentary-style photography is SEEING THE DIFFERENCES. While consistency is key for things like email response times, editing style, delivery and timeliness — we believe it should not be so between wedding stories.
Often times on the phone with potential clients, I will ask they if they took time to peruse though our full galleries. I ask them if there is anything they noticed between the various sets. More times than not someone will say “well, we aren’t really models like so and so…” or “I really liked x album because the couple looked more natural”. Etc, etc. There lies the point.
They just observed a fundamental part of the truth-telling portfolio: people’s differing personalities and ways of relating are reflected in the photos. Seems painfully simple but is often absent from “documentary” photographer websites. It’s a red flag if you notice the same body language, same emotions and same actions throughout an entire body of work. It is usually then that the photographer is controlling far too many interactions.
Again, it is in the DIFFERENCES that you will see truth be told!
It means that at a certain point the truth-valuing photographer just LET THEM BE.
We let our clients be themselves, even if that means a few awkward moments. We don’t force interactions, we wait and create space until they do. We observe and let go of expectations. That is when the real magic happens.
Determined photographers, just let go! Control is simply an illusion, anyway. Let the personalities of the subject shine in his/her own way. You can keep consistency in other areas but let their story be their own.
