Planning Guides

Michael Alan Bielat – To pose, or not to pose…that is the question. This is a question all modern day wedding photographers have to face. Today’s bride is all about “photojournalism.” It’s getting to the point where I’ve seen couples turn their head anytime someone mentions the word “pose.” However, is photojournalism something that they really want or did they just see that buzz word in a magazine?

Photojournalism, documentary, and lifestyle photography are all synonyms. They all mean that the photographer will be “unobtrusive” and capture those special, candid moments as they unfold – to be a fly on the wall, so to speak. But what do you do when it comes time for your portrait session after the ceremony? Do you want family formals? Will you be able to make the magic happen on your own in a portrait session that typically occurs after ceremony and before the reception?

A true photojournalist captures the moments as they unfold and does not try to affect what is going on around them. However it isn’t every day that you are getting your pictures taken, so how do you know what to do or how to act for the photos to turn out well?

As a couple planning your wedding, this is totally new territory for you. Engaged couples are only in the market for a short period of time. Therefore, you tend to get feedback from friends and family who just got married themselves. You may even ask them for suggestions or referrals while tearing out the pages of a wedding magazine to help with ideas. I have noticed that there is a common theme coming out of these sources telling you that posed photos are “old-fashioned” and dated. However, consider all those amazing photos and portraits from bridal magazines. A lot of times, the images are taken by a fashion photographer and the “brides” are hired models who pose for a living. What kind of vibe do you get when you look at those photos? I see the bride looking radiant and gorgeous and looking like a princess, and THAT is exactly what I aim for in my work. Therefore, my solution is to create a happy medium between the two.

First, I think it is absolutely essential to my clients that we meet. All of this is very new to you. I’ve seen brides asking about photojournalism one second, and then taking out their plan book to show me a handful of images that are nothing of the sort. The photos she takes out are posed shots of brides on gondolas in Venice or on a secluded beach in Hawaii. Yet they look amazing! This just reinforces my opinion that, no matter what, every bride wants to look like a princess and every bride wants her wedding day to be like it was from the pages of a fairy tale. When I meet with a couple, this lets me tell them how weddings typically run and let them know that powerful images like the ones they are showing me require a large amount of pre-planning. It probably isn’t in their budget to fly everyone down to Venice or Hawaii but amazing photos can be taken really quite anywhere. It just takes some grunt work, scouting and planning to find a place that is elegant and unique.

Secondly, I let the couple know how I photograph a wedding. This is where I mention how I “coach” couples to create these memorable photos. I tell the couple how I offer them tips and pointers throughout the day to make the best images possible. This could mean telling them to sit by a tree together and just talk and be cuddly or even to just tell them to keep doing what they are doing… just a couple steps over so they can be in better light.

Lastly, I strongly recommend that my clients book an engagement portrait session since it is a learning experience for you and me. As a photographer, I am seeing what works and what doesn’t, and I get to know the best ways to photograph the couple together. On the other hand, you get a chance to warm up in front of the camera and to get comfortable with me so that it will all be second nature on their big day.

This coaching technique gives that tiny bit of guidance which ultimately makes a world of difference in your images. So, to pose or not to pose: I say BOTH.