on Shooting Weddings

"What or who got you started in wedding photography? The lousy pictures I got for my wedding and honeymoon trip. I was very disappointed at the pictures I got, so I started to question the approach of the photographers. After which, I became a hobbyist and got to practice shooting for some of my friends’ weddings. So that’s how it started." -- Dino Lara (Interview with Crash Taylor)

I will start this blog by saying that I am not (well, at least not, yet) a wedding photographer. While there have been a number of inquiries, I have yet to take a professional gig with my own team. Perhaps, 2016 will be the year that I will take that big step up into the wedding industry. I am still very indecisive on that move.

From time to time, I do dabble into wedding photography but not professionally. I shoot from the sidelines most often at the behest of the couple or their family members. And they just want to see the guest's point of view of the wedding. And I usually only accept the invitation when I am comfortable with the photographers covering the event as I do not want to get in the way of those who are getting paid to shoot.

The wedding of Neil and Karina would be one of those times that I had my camera with me during the event. Neil has been my friend since gradeschool and Karina during my entry into the world of portraiture. And I also know the team from Homebrew Photography that was covering the event. So, I tagged along during the post nuptial shoot and had a couple of interesting photos. I didn't direct them or anything, I just looked for my own angles while the official photographers were doing their thing.

This 2016, I am looking to probably take some steps towards doing wedding photography gigs. While I have covered a number of weddings as a backup shooter, I do hope that I find the confidence to step up and be the main guy. There are things I still need to learn but I know I will get there soon. And I know that I can assemble a team that can back me up.

"‘How can I be the next Dino Lara?’ What would you say? Be yourself. Learn more of who you are and what makes you happy. Strive and change for the better, but never forget who you are, what you do and what you love." -- Dino Lara

 

Happy New Year to everyone! May 2016 bring you and your loved ones the joy and prosperity that you wish for! God Bless!

PS: There is another wedding that I attended a week after this one. I also had my camera with me then and I will probably post a some of the photos I took.

PPS: Dino Lara is my second cousin and a photographer I look up to. He, and his sister Gia, are two of the people that have inspired me to make this hobby a profession. I often go back to that article whenever I doubt myself and my craft. I hope to live up to my family name in the future.

Noel + Cathy: A Unique Wedding

"Truth is, all brides are beautiful – exceptionally beautiful on their wedding day. If it doesn’t show, I’m not doing my job properly." -- Dino Lara

I was inspired by a blog post by my cousin about Brides being beautiful on their wedding day. They are really supposed to feel that they are the prettiest in the venue; that all eyes are on them. Its their day and its supposed to be the most memorable walk down the isle.

But its not just the bride but the groom as well. You can't have a bride without a groom now, can you?

In my first solo wedding coverage, I found freedom to do what I want and shoot in the angles that I never tried before. I must say it was one satisfying experience for me. And a huge sigh of relief that I actually finished the wedding without panicking.

And this was an ultra-religious and non-conventional wedding because the bride and groom belong to a particular church group. The traditional entourage wasn't even present because only the bride, groom and their parents walked down the isle; no ring bearers or flower girls. The chairs where the bride and groom sat didn't face the altar but was in one side just to the right of the priest facing the assembly. And there was a huge liturgical table in the middle plus the lectern was also in the middle; a lot of obstacles were present which made it tricky. Even the church layout was a bit of a handful.

It was quite challenging because the whole ceremony itself was not ordinary. There were a lot of non-traditional parts and others were skipped which made it a bit confusing. But it was unique and fun at the same time; it kept me on my toes. But its still a wedding and its my job to cover it; I'm glad I did my job to the best of my abilities (or lack thereof).

A lot of first for me again. There were a few Uh-oh moments and some shots I missed but thats a part of growing up. I'll learn as I go along.

And as for my output, here are the first few frames from the wedding.