Last October 8, 2017, I was given the chance to join a shoot for a wedding as a "saling-pusa photographer/assistant" 😂 I have been hearing a lot of stories about wedding shoots for about two years now. I know that a lot of people look at a photographer as someone who just takes your photo and that's it. They just click the shutter button on their cameras and voila you have a great photo. And I admit that before I may have looked at them the same way, that it's just an easy thing to do. But trust me, it's not.
When my sister had a date or an out of town trip back then, I would always be the third wheel and because of that I would be the one assigned to take their photos and for me it was just merely clicking the shutter button and that's it. Find a perfect background, let them have their pose and I'm done. I enjoyed taking photos but I did not look at it as something hard to do. But all of those changed when I got to learn more about what really happens behind the camera. It's more complex than what we think.
A wedding shoot doesn't just start at the ceremony itself, it starts earlier. Just like on the shoot we had, it's a 4pm wedding but the call time was 9:30 am. Of course we had to leave earlier to meet the call time.
The shoot would start by capturing all the preparations done for the wedding itself beginning with the makeup of the bride. Then it would be followed by the portraits of the bride before changing into her wedding dress. This one is complicated 'coz the photographer needs to think fast on what he wants to be done and where he wants it to be taken.
All the details in the wedding should also be captured; the rings, invites, jewelries, shoes, everything. There should be photos from the venue of the preparation to the venue of the wedding itself. Everything needs to be captured. From the smallest detail to the grandest you can think of.
Some of the "details" captured. 😊
Portraits❤️
The shoot would start by capturing all the preparations done for the wedding itself beginning with the makeup of the bride. Then it would be followed by the portraits of the bride before changing into her wedding dress. This one is complicated 'coz the photographer needs to think fast on what he wants to be done and where he wants it to be taken.
All the details in the wedding should also be captured; the rings, invites, jewelries, shoes, everything. There should be photos from the venue of the preparation to the venue of the wedding itself. Everything needs to be captured. From the smallest detail to the grandest you can think of.
Some of the "details" captured. 😊
Aside from that, candids should also be taken, they try to capture the smiles, laughs and even the tears of the people present in such a memorable event for the couple. After capturing all the details, they have to finish the portraits of the bride and groom. Then after, the bride should be photographed with her family and bridesmaids, while the groom is with his family as well and groomsmen. Again, photographers should be quick in thinking on how they want the picture to look like. They would really do everything to have that perfect shot.
Portraits❤️
They gave me the chance to take photos as well, but since I'm not a pro obviously, I just took candid photos. They'll be the one to direct the couple to pose and I just captured what I can from the angle I had.
Some photos I managed to take 🙈
Well for me I thought I already captured a great photo but when I looked at what they took, my gosh it was far from what I had. 🙈 Capturing a photo does not only entail to clicking that shutter button. They still have to change settings every now and then depending on the lighting. They still have to focus their lens, change the ISO and other stuff. I only managed to change the ISO 😂 What amazes me is how they change lenses, they know their lenses well 😁 They just state the number of the lens when they want it to be changed like "uy 24-70 naman". Astig guys 😂 They change lenses from time to time. While I just sticked to one type of lens since I don't know anything about lenses anyway. I just made use of what I had 'coz I might break the lens when changing plus the other lenses were heavier😅 Maybe in the next shoots I can try doing that, I still need to study shooting 😬🙈
After capturing all the preparations, the next big thing would be the ceremony itself. They have to take photos of the important parts of the wedding, from the moment the couple walks in separately up to the moment when they are officially declared as husband and wife.
Then they have to take the group shots which is a bit hard 'coz they have to make sure that everyone in the group could be seen in the photo, they still have to arrange the guests with the couple. After that, they still have a postnup to do. They have to take the first photos of the married couple then have their photo taken together with all the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
The Postnup ❤️
Then they have to take the group shots which is a bit hard 'coz they have to make sure that everyone in the group could be seen in the photo, they still have to arrange the guests with the couple. After that, they still have a postnup to do. They have to take the first photos of the married couple then have their photo taken together with all the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
The Postnup ❤️
But their tasks doesn't end there. They still have a reception to cover. Again, they have to capture important moments during the reception, like when the couple first enters, their first dance, the ceremonial toast, cutting of the cake, the speeches etcetera. Then again, the group shots per table. It's really a tiring work 'coz they were standing almost the whole day. My feet hurt even if I did not shoot that much and I got the chance to sit. Well imagine how much more their feet hurt and how tired they were. And sometimes they have shoots for consecutive days. How tiring!! That doesn't end there, they still have to process the photos they took. Even make an album (if it's included in the package hehe) for the couple.
The wedding we had finished at around 8:30pm and according to them that was already early 'coz most of the time it would end at around 10 or 11pm already. And imagine if the location is far from where they live, it will take them hours just to be home right? Sometimes they even get home at around 12-1am already. 😱 That's why I salute them for their craft.
The wedding we had finished at around 8:30pm and according to them that was already early 'coz most of the time it would end at around 10 or 11pm already. And imagine if the location is far from where they live, it will take them hours just to be home right? Sometimes they even get home at around 12-1am already. 😱 That's why I salute them for their craft.
Getting to know a photographer through the past two years have been very enlightening. I came to appreciate them more. I came to realize that they are essential in every event. For they capture the true beauty of an event. As a saying goes; "we take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone." True! Because with these photos we can have something to look back to. To reminisce how great that day was. That's why we should give respect to these people. It's not just about having a great camera or lens, it really is about the skill, creativity and passion of a person and that is hard to learn. Bravo for you guys! 👏🏻
BTS photos😅
So now I know why photo packages in events are quite expensive nowadays. Guys, it's not an easy job. A lot of effort is given in every event they cover. So yes, when thinking of getting a photographer for your next event, always choose quality over everything else. Kudos to every photographer out there. 📷
Happy to have spent the day with great people ❤️❤️❤️
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| Congrats Ms. Anne & Sir Gelo. 💕 |
How timely this blog entry of mine is, I started writing this a day after the wedding and I finally finished it right in time for a photographer's birthday. A person very close to me. 🙈😂 Happy Birthday Mic! Thank you for letting me have a glimpse of what you do best and for letting me experience it as well. All the best in your career. All the best for #michelangelo. I'm always right beside you. To more events to cover 📷👊🏼 Saranghae❤️😂🙈
Yay! Thanks for reading this blog entry. :)
Credits to Michelangelo for the photos.
