Perhaps one of the most compelling characteristics of wedding photojournalism is the ability to capture the moment of pure emotion. This also happens to be one of the most difficult traits to consistently pull off.

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We’ve discussed, in a past article, 4 keys to building instinct as a photographer and those would certainly help one to improve that ability to “capture the moment”. There is, however, another key ingredient to consider;

The ability to immerse yourself in the events of the wedding.

Photographing a wedding, in the style of photojournalism, requires a photographer to feel and relate to the emotion of the moment. Allow it to penetrate your inner passion to capture the ceremony of Love’s declaration.

Your technical photographic, observational journalistic and artistic storytelling skills meld in such a way as to express the strong emotion that one experiences on a wedding day. As a photographer you must silently and alertly move to always be ready to make the exposure. Experience will teach you to listen and watch carefully the events before you so that you can be sensitive to what is happening and be prepared for what will occur at any instant.

Bride & Flower Girl

Most great wedding photojournalists would agree that capturing the emotion of the day is what it’s all about and it’s what they enjoy about being a wedding photographer. It’s the whole content of emotion that a wedding contains that will allow you to portray those feelings in these cherished moments. Your goal should be to produce images that portray the emotion of the bride, the groom, their families, and their guests.

Love your work. Love weddings. Love love.

Photographs:

DSC_4112a by prlde91

Bride & Flower Girl by Michelle M. Bradley