A tale of two shooters

[StinkyDaddy]

Over the last month or so I’ve attended two weddings as a guest. It has been quite a learning experience, on several levels. The first wedding was a little over a month ago in Atlanta, just for reference let’s call it wedding “A”. The most recent was this past weekend in a small town in Southwest Virginia, wedding “B”.

Wedding “A” was quite a show, rehearsal dinner at Maggiano’s and the ceremony and reception at the Atlanta History Center. After arriving at the rehearsal dinner, I noticed that the photographer was very skilled. Quickly moving from shot to shot, but taking the time to redirect his flash bounce off the back or side wall. He might have even done the shirt bounce a time or two. He used “L” glass all the way, changing lenses from a quiver anyone on this board would be proud to call their own. At the ceremony and reception he had two extra shooters, both with high end gear and different styles. One had a pocket wizard firing a room strobe and the other with one of those milk jugs covering the hot shoe flash head. Together they must have shot 5,000 images over the weekend, possibly more, that’s just my guess. He posted 1,500 excellent images on Pictage, which are divided into logical groups. Overall I was very impressed, and it was a bit like a workshop watching the way the main photographer managed his shots.

Wedding “B” was more of a small town affair, very appropriate and fun but very different from wedding “A”. The ceremony and reception were outside at a local historic site. We were asked to sign in at a table over to the side and my wife asked me to do it while she stayed with the kids. I waited in line and when I got to the table I saw an extremely nice black and white portrait of the bride and groom. These folks are both in their 40’s, average looking and this was a very flattering portrait of the two of them. They were having guests sign the mat of the photo rather than a guest book. As the ceremony started, out walks a lady with what I assumed were 2 D-Rebs strapped around her neck, one with a small flash, something like a 220ez or whatever those little flashes are. She moved around easily and confidently and was always in position for the money shots. After the ceremony, we were in the food line (good homemade food I might add) and there were about a dozen really nice photos of the bride along the path of the food line and around the tables. While we were eating I saw something I did not expect…she changed rolls of film! I haven’t seen that in so long it was really a surprise. Then I figured out the two cameras with seemingly identical zoom lenses, one camera b&w and one color. That’s just my guess, but it makes sense. The more I watched her work the more impressed I was with her. Not impressed by her stuff or her technique, but the way she made everyone feel at ease. Several times I noticed the bride looking at her with a big happy smile. I’m sure she is going to deliver work the bride will love.

I’ve enjoyed watching both of these folks work and seeing how two totally different approaches can each be successful in their respective markets.

Y’all Have Fun,
Wm.

[golfer]

Stinky, thanks for the story. Hard to believe how digital has taken over photography and I too would be surprised to see someone changing film.
Thaks for taking the time to put this together. I enjoyed the contrast between the two shooters. It was well written also.

[Kiron Kid]

Originally Posted by golfer

Stinky, thanks for the story. Hard to believe how digital has taken over photography and I too would be surprised to see someone changing film.
Thaks for taking the time to put this together. I enjoyed the contrast between the two shooters. It was well written also.

I too, shoot only color and B/W film. You'd be surprised at how many quizzical looks and questions I receive at each wedding...

Kiron Kid

[KellyL]

Good stories. Thanks for taking the time to share. It reinforces what I have learned over and over and over here at the Camel. Gear does not make photographers, photographers make the gear. I would love to be able to see the film shots. She sounds like she was very, very careful and selective on what she was shooting. Not to say that the first group didn't do an awesome job, it is just with the new found freedom of digital, quick shooting usually equates to more post processing.