Photographer Vojta Hurych

Why do I photograph weddings?

9/7/2015

10 minutes of reading

I have been living my dream already for two years. It's because I am extraordinarily lucky - I can narrate wedding stories! I simply enjoy making others happy with my pictures. I believe that it does not matter what one does but what motivation one has - i.e. how useful one can be for others. The biggest reward therefore is the photographs about which I know already when taking them that they will please those (and not only) for whom they are taken for.

Fujifilm X100S with the set up wide angle converter WCL-X100 (equivalent 28 mm f/2). Miracles can happen outside the own comfort zone. When taking this picture, all three of us stepped out of the comfort zone. And apart from that, several necessary conditions met up - such as early evening sun and finding a perfect spot.

Why do I photograph weddings? It is actually very specific field and one has exactly specified time frame for being able to depict the situation which very often makes the photographer to step out of his own comfort zone towards his development. This can be also a way to meaningfully spend your own life - to do your best.

Fujifilm X100S (equivalent 35 mm f/2). Seek unusual places. I do not make too familiar with the environment where we are going to photograph portraits. I prefer improvising and recognizing interesting places or light. You always manage to find some. When you, for example, find a bus wrecking yard, you are the winner!

When you photograph a reportage, which the wedding undoubtedly belongs to, you are not only the observer of one of the usually most significant days in the newlyweds' lives. For this reason the wedding photographer should be able to narrate stories through a set of photographs.

Fujifilm X-T1 + XF 56mm f/1.2 R. Be patient and take a risk every now and then. If you succeed the reward for you will be an awesome picture. I had to actually wait for this picture for some time. I had in my mind that the little missy would definitely put the dress over her head but before she did so, I turned back to the newlyweds who were about to take marriage pledge. That was the adrenalin worth it.

I always wonder how comes that there are so few wedding portfolios in our country which comprise reportage of the whole wedding day. It is in abroad a very regular thing. A photographer presenting in his/her portfolio only a selection of just several successful pictures from various weddings can distort the resulting work which the photographer presents to the newlyweds. The easiest way to narrate the whole wedding day story is to be present from dawn to dusk (or late night :) and then, among others, hand over a selection of photographs which describes the whole wedding day in the best possible way. Even though it is more time-consuming, you have more chance to depict all the important moments.

Fujifilm X-T1 + XF 56mm f/1.2 R. Combine the reportage photographs with the portraits ones. Don't be afraid of asking the newlyweds to sit or even lie down. Most importantly let them be natural. Look at the zoom lens would harm this photograph but this one depicts the relation of the people in it.

If I could give a piece of advice to those who would like to photograph weddings, I would summarize it in the following way: do it because it is your passion and you feel like a fish in the water among people, listen to others and be always where people laugh, do not persuade the newlyweds to make artificial postures which are not natural and, on the other hand, every now and then be their guide and guide them to step out of their imaginary comfort zone where actually miracles can happen. If you have a feeling for experimenting, go ahead because it is worth it. You can regret only the ideas you would not realize in actions, not those that would not be realized as you wish. Moreover, concentrate on children - they are the imaginary "spice of the weddings" because adults, not sure why, do not like being photographed. Focus on the totality as well as details. Be patient - unique moments usually happen when you expect them least and you are least prepared. If your snapshot is not composed properly or it is even over-focused, do not feel disappointed, if you have depicted the right emotion. Improvise but don't be afraid of repeating your ideas. Wedding guests want nice pictures; they are not interested in the fact that you have similar pictures already in your portfolio. Moreover you can move the meaning of a motif that is already so-called cliché. Apart from that, don't be afraid to photograph in black and white.

Fujifilm X-T1 + XF 56mm f/1.2 R. Concentrate on children. They should not be actually missing at the wedding. Adults in general do not like being photographed. Therefore they should not notice you and in this way they will look more natural. This, however, does not concern children. They are able to look at your zoom lens without any problems because as it is said - their eyes are like windows to their soul.

You need to "photograph through your way" and at the beginning you will be in the wedding budget even the cheaper item than a two-tiered wedding cake. Don't do it, however, for money. If you photograph simply because you enjoy it, the money will eventually come anyway. And most importantly - don't forget to enjoy yourself when photographing! You would not believe how contagious it is for the wedding guests!

Fujifilm X-T1 + XF 56mm f/1.2 R. Sometimes you simply need to be lucky. This picture was taken strongly overexposed. I had set full manual in a very dark church and when leaving the church fast, I did not realize that outside there is the noon sunshine. Fortunately, the wireless format (at Fujifilm it is RAF) managed to save everything - as already many times.

Fujifilm X-T1 + XF 56mm f/1.2 R. Don't be afraid of making jokes in your photographs. During portrait photographing that took place already before the wedding ceremony (highly recommended), we were accompanied by a bridesmaid. She wanted to be photographed with the bride and peeped in the shot a couple of times. So I asked this little princess for a smile and it eventually ended up even better - simply a defect changed into an effect!

Fujifilm X100S with the set up wide angle converter WCL-X100 (equivalent 28 mm f/2). A brilliant closing picture of the wedding reportage can be an evening portrait. I frequently take use of the perhaps rather kitsch sunset with the reddish clouds combined with the system flashlight as the backlighting. It is not difficult to set the camera as well as flashlight in this way; the trick is in finding an interesting composition and use of the environment. In this case when the wedding took place close to the Prague Castle, a vintage car as a prop at the regular parking lot served its purpose.