November 2001"Your wedding is supposed to be one of the great historical events of your life, and should be photographed as such."
by Valerie Carino
...
If I had to name the top five tackiest wedding photos I have ever seen, they
would include the following:
- The bride, with her train spread out on a
studio floor, with bouquets placed at the edge
- A tight, close-up shot of
just the couple’s hands, showing off their rings
- The groomsmen, standing
back to back, wearing sunglasses, with their arms crossed
- The bride and
groom on the beach, decked out in their wedding attire, lounging on the
sand.
- Any picture that involves leaning on your chin or turning
your head to the side and looking off into the distance; horses; hot air
balloons; parasols; and teal or plaid bridesmaids dresses.
As if it isn’t obvious, I hate posed pictures. I hate them.
Imagine having to spend thousands on your wedding gown and being asked to
spread it out on a beach? And unless you’re having it at the beach, what
relevance would such a shot hold anyway? That is like taking a picture of a
homeless person eating dinner at a governor's mansion - it just wouldn't
happen.
Your wedding is supposed to be one of the great historical events of your
life, and should be photographed as such.
That’s why, when it came to selecting a photographer, the choice was
obvious. I asked my friend John, who just happens to be a shooter for the
Chicago Tribune. I wanted someone who appreciated the value of telling a
story, and not in the obvious ways common to traditional wedding
photographers.
For John, that won’t be a stretch at all. In all his years as a
photographer, he has captured everything from Michael Jordan going in for a
layup to the clean up efforts at Ground Zero. He is currently in Pakistan in
a new role as a war photographer.
My wedding seems miniscule compared to such challenging assignments, but
that is the type of friend he is. And his pictures - what soul. Subtle and
surprising, they offer me relief that I won’t be seeing a single shot of
intertwined hands or me sitting on the floor in my dress.
What I’d like to see:
- Some photos of Damien and the lads, dressed for the
ceremony and sharing a whiskey toast before the guests arrive
- My bridesmaids fanning my face with a newspaper, while my mother adjusts my
veil
- The guests standing in front of the church, anticipating the
arrival of the first Filipino family to ever set foot in Croom
I’ve been told that people who aren’t even invited stand out on the road to
wait for the bridal party’s arrival.
I think I'll need a shot of whiskey myself before I enter the church. That
is, if I don't sweat myself to death while wearing that gown.
That would be a lovely photo, wouldn't it? Val Carino, the sweaty bride.
Gorgeous.
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