You will find the word ‘reportage’ on a great deal of wedding photographer’s websites but what does it actually mean? Simply put, it is the capturing of events in a candid and unobtrusive manner. For instance, when the time comes to cut the cake, a traditional wedding photographer will pose you and sometimes request that the guests hold off until he/she has the required shot. With a reportage or photojournalistic approach, the photographer will let you just carry on naturally and shoot the scene as it unfolds.
However, it’s not just a case of ‘point and shoot’. The artistic nature of the shot is as important as the technical side of things. A good reportage photographer will plan certain shots in advance based on the light available, the positioning of guests, and the available backdrops. For example, when the couple walk into the Wedding Breakfast together, chances are that the photographer has planned where you’re likely to be and how to make the most of it. This approach not only creates artistic images but also give a sense of perspective, of where you are.
It’s the subtleties of a shot that lead to a beautiful image. It could be the way the bride is framed by an open window, or the way the line of the curb leads the eye from the corner of the picture to the subject. It’s really just a combination of light and lines. They are the tools that we use, the camera is just a vehicle.
That said, like all reportage photographers, we will usually spend around 20 minutes creating some intimate and beautiful pictures of the two of you together, and about the same time capturing those important family pictures.
You can see examples of all of our photography on our website; meantime, here are a few of our favourite reportage images:
by David
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