Artistic Wedding Photography

[pull_quote_right] I want to challenge your preconceptions about wedding photos [/pull_quote_right]A lot of times we have a lot of preconceived ideas of what wedding is supposed to be. Some of those preconceptions are good, like the idea that the day is supposed to be a celebration of the couple’s love. Some of those preconceptions are bad, like the ceremony has to follow a predetermined formula.

What I want to do now is challenge your preconceptions about wedding photos. I want you to abandon the idea that your only choices are formal posed photos with your friends and family in a line and candid photos. In reality, your photos can be whatever you want them to be, and I want to throw the idea at you that your wedding can be the perfect time to create something beautiful and different. If you want, you can help create some truly artistic wedding photography.

[one_third] [single_lightbox url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MG_5857.jpg” image_url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MG_5857.jpg” image_width=”150″ image_height=”175″ title=”This image was made near a sculpture using an infrared camera. I wanted the bride to be looking down as opposed to into the camera. I placed her body at an awkward angle in the frame to intentionally create unbalance.”] [/one_third] [one_third] [single_lightbox url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/0144-Campbell.jpg” image_url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/0144-Campbell.jpg” image_width=”150″ image_height=”175″ title=”This image was actually created in a small bathroom. The light was coming through the blinds and falling across the shower curtain. I had the bride pull a bathrobe around her losely and created this high key portrait.”] [/one_third] [one_third_last] [single_lightbox url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/0948-titcombe1.jpg” image_url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/0948-titcombe1.jpg” image_width=”150″ image_height=”175″ title=”An infrared camera was used for this image to turn the green grass and trees bright white.”] [/one_third_last]

When I talk about creating artistic wedding photography, I do not necessarily mean over the top, abstract modern art. Instead, I am merely suggesting that couples set aside some time; perhaps an hour the day of the wedding, or some time the next day to be creative. Work with your photographer and find time to play. You could use this time to create images inspired by high fashion, abstract, or even landscape photography. The important thing is that you find time to play.

In many cases, couples have a few minutes for photos during the cocktail hour and they want to cram in a shot list with 200 family photos during that time. Instead, why not get a few large group photos with everyone, and spend the rest of that time being creative. This might be one of your very few chances to be models, and do something creative. Take advantage of that.

[one_third] [single_lightbox url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/0246-polatsek1.jpg” image_url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/0246-polatsek1.jpg” image_width=”150″ image_height=”175″ title=”For this image, I found this sculpture in a park in Vail. It took some experimenting to find a way to incorporate the bride into the image.”] [/one_third] [one_third] [single_lightbox url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MG_5533.jpg” image_url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MG_5533.jpg” image_width=”150″ image_height=”175″ title=”I had an idea of how I wanted the couple on the grassy ridge with a lot of sky in the image. It was just a matter of waiting for the right color in the sky.”] [/one_third] [one_third_last] [single_lightbox url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/0833-elledge.jpg” image_url=”https://www.timothyfaust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/0833-elledge.jpg” image_width=”150″ image_height=”175″ title=”All veils, but particularly red veils can be fun to play with. For this, I held the veil above the camera, and allowed the lines from it to lead to the bride.”] [/one_third_last]

In conclusion, my point is not to make every single image a piece of artwork suitable for a museum. Although that would be nice, my actual goal is to give myself not only the time, but the freedom to experiment, so that I can create artistic wedding photography. I allow myself some time where I do not have to focus on the shots that the couple asked for. Instead, I can work on things that I think might be interesting. A lot of those shots will not work out, but the ones that do, tend to be my favorites from the day. Ideally, I would have an hour at every wedding for me to just play with ideas, light, and locations.