I tend to describe my overall photography style as ‘natural wedding photography’ however if you asked me to be more specific, I would certainly say that I am a reportage wedding photographer.
But what does that mean?
Reportage wedding photography is essentially telling a true story through photographs. The aim is to disturb your wedding day as little as possible, allowing the natural events of the day to unfold and being there to capture the most beautiful moments.
Although reportage style wedding photography requires less intervention and communication than creative wedding photography, that doesn’t mean that there is less effort from the photographer. Reportage wedding photographers like myself will take time to scope out your wedding venue in advance, take note of lighting conditions, sizes etc of each space and have the camera and equipment prepared to achieve the best possible photographs as events unfold. Many of these events will be anticipated based on the photographer’s previous experience however every wedding and every person is unique, so we really have to be ready for anything!
Whilst reportage wedding photographers tend to spend less time arranging staged shots than some other photographers I still like to build a good rapport with my couples and their guests so that they feel comfortable in my presence. This also allows me to get right in the thick of things (often the dance floor) and capture incredible moments without people feeling uptight.
So why do I choose reportage style wedding photography?
Since I began as a press photographer at the age of 21, I would say that the majority of my work has been classed as editorial photography, which is essentially reportage photography used alongside copy, whether that be a magazine or a newspaper.
I have been fortunate enough to cover large news and sport events such as the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the funeral of Margaret Thatcher, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee backstage celebrations in 2012, Olympics in London, Rio de Janeiro and Pyeongchang, Champions League, FA Cup and UEFA Cup finals, boxing in Las Vegas, the Heavyweight championship of the World at Wembley Stadium, and many more things. All of these events create moments that, whilst you can plan for and hope to be in the right position, do not allow you to fully control the images or how they will happen. It was my job to react to the moments in a split second and this is a skill which serves me well during the rollercoaster of emotions and events of a wedding day.
So the question you must ask yourself now is this…
Is reportage wedding photography for me?
The best way to decide is to look at the work of different photographers who offer different photography styles and simply see which photos wow you. Every person is different, so whilst one person might be amazed by a photograph of a bridal party doing a pyramid another person might be really moved by a picture of the father of the bride discretely wiping away a happy tear.
If you do think that reportage wedding photography is right for you then why not book a pre-wedding shoot before you make your final decision. During the pre-wedding shoot the photographer will use the same techniques that will be used on your wedding day, so that you can experience it first hand before making a final decision. I include this shoot as a complimentary part of my package as I think they are an essential way to help each couple experience what it is like to have professional photographs taken ahead of their big day. They also help me see how a couple interact together and what makes them laugh!
If you would like to chat more about my reportage wedding photography services, then please feel free to get in touch! I’d love to hear more about what you have planned!