Hello and a very Happy New Year to all my readers!
If I found it difficult choosing my favourite 2017 Black & White images for my last blog, that was nothing compared with selecting the best colour images! In fact, for many of the photos I chose, there were at least 3 others I could have picked - and on a different day, probably would have!
After deliberating a while, I decided that I wanted this blog post to be fairly representative of my approach to wedding photography, with a mix of candid moments, gently directed couple photos and a few creative detail shots thrown in. I couldn't narrow it down to 50, so I've made it 75:) My images need to tell a story - I want the viewer to feel the atmosphere and get a real sense of the personalities of the people captured. For me, when I'm shooting, this often means including recognisable features of the venue or its surroundings in the photo. Those close-up expressions of raw personality lend themselves best to black & white, as showcased in my last blog post. Wide angle shots featuring landscapes, seascapes and sunsets generally work best in full colour, as do photos where the colour is an integral part of the story, or simply makes the image pop.
What makes a great photo is so subjective: some of my clients will choose the ones they perceive as the most flattering; others will chose the ones they think best captures their personalities; while competition judges are most interested in technical perfection of lighting, posing and composition. I'm also (understandably) very close to my images. I can't look at them dispassionately without reference to the bigger picture, what was going on when I released the shutter.
Many of the images may not be technically perfect but capturing personality and telling a story will always come first on my agenda. Where the lighting, posing and composition are also great, they may be competition winners. But my style is more creative and documentary than traditional, and my couples don't want to be standing around posing for hours! I like to keep things super relaxed and fun, which I hope you'll get a sense of through my chosen selection.
Missed my last blog? Click here to view my favourite black + white images from 2017.
And if you've secured a wedding venue for 2018 or 2019 and would like to check my availability and find out more about wedding photography, please do get in touch here - I'd love to hear all your wedding plans!
Jenny x
Please click on the links to find out more about the venues featured in this blog:
Worthing Pier Southern Pavilion
Cottesmore Golf & Country Club