Why I love Wedding Photography in Scotland. Part 1
The Challenges of being a Scottish Wedding Photographer!
The wind catches Jennifer’s veil at The Lochside House Hotel, some minutes after the ceremony. Bob looks on with concern and rushes to her aid…as does the photographer…Kirk Lothian, who is currently writing this with a smile and a fond memory of this moment…
I know a lot of photographers who would suggest that Wedding Photography is an area that they would never venture into. “Too much stress…”, “Only one chance to get it right….”, “Bridezilla…”, “Saturated market…”
All of the above, I think, are a bit of a cliche and if you plan properly, build up your expertise and, most importantly….communicate effectively, then there is no reason why it can’t be one of the most rewarding jobs you can have.
From the first contact, I treat the job as a collaboration. I offer the expected and court the obscure. I invite the couple to think about their ideal wedding photograph and love the challenge if it is a little or a lot different from the norm. For me, the best way to learn anything is to be put in a position where you are being asked to do something new and preferrably, just a wee bit scary!
Yes, it can be stressful but stress is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s natural. If you have put in your “10,000” hours then a bit of stress can trigger your “A-Game”.
The stress can come from a number of places:
Number 1 predicatable source of complication in Scotland is ALWAYS THE WEATHER!
Raining..snowing..too windy..too sunny..too cold..too hot…all at the same time :-)
Deal with this by having a “Bad Weather Plan”. This can be a location indoors or a different outdoor location with more shade, more shelter from the wind and rain or if all else fails a different time slot.
Delays getting to the venue
Plan to arrive early. In some cases where the wedding is some distance away arrive the day before and build the accomodation into your pricing.
If you are going to be late, let the couple know asap. Don’t just turn up late with a weak apology.
Delays on the day
Wedding Planners are fantastic but delays are sometimes inevitable. Go with the flow. Most importantly…learn to “read” the mood. You could use the opportunity take more photos but be careful not to make things worse. Sometimes the best approach is to dissappear. Taking someone’s photograph when they are having a difficut time is not always appreciated. Having a laugh with the guests and keeping the mood light by taking some portraits while things get sorted out can work but every situation is different.
Equipment failure
Bring 2 of everything!
Group Portraits! I don’t care who you are, if you have 40 people to photograph in multiple configurations, you will get lost… unless you have a system. People dissappear to the bar, go away to catch up with old friends etc, etc. It’s a wedding. That’s what people do. It’s the job of the Wedding Photographer to make sure that this part of the day goes as smoothly as possible. It’s tough! It’s the hardest part of the day, in my opinion and no matter how organised you are, you need help. I will go into detail about my approach in a future post.
In summary…agree on a list of specific shots with the couple well ahead of time, enlist a bridesmaid or groomsman who knows everyone and who can send “runners” to the bar to round up strays :-) For really large weddings…have an assistant.
Physical pain!
The last wedding I shot lasted 13 hours. I started at 8:00am and finished at 9:00pm. 13 hours carring 2 heavy cameras + lenses + flashes + light stands + strobes running up and downstairs. I normally clock up between 15,000 and 25,000 steps at an all day wedding.
Go to the gym, keep fit, don’t party the night before, stay hydrated, take regular breaks, determine whether you will be provided with a meal beforehand, always put on sunscreen and ALWAYS wear “appropriate footwear”
Unforeseen circumstances???
Things I have been caught out by in the past and which apply mostly when the Wedding Ceremony and the meal/reception are at different venues in the city are
Scheduled protest marches, road works, events, accidents, breakdowns
Police Scotland have a list of all events on their website that will result in road closures. The city council will have a list of planned roadworks. Always check Google Maps and follow the route it suggests as it will take into account any routes that have delays and give you an alternative.
These are just some of the main challenges and how I deal with them. There are many more. Please share your stories in the comments…
