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Shoutout to the wedding planner in Austin who changed my whole approach
I was filming a backyard wedding there about five years ago, and the planner pulled me aside during the cake cutting. She said, 'Stop chasing the couple and film the guests' faces.' I turned my camera around and caught the bride's grandma crying happy tears, her hands over her mouth. That one shot got more reaction from the client than all my steady ceremony footage. Now I always make sure to get those guest reaction shots early in the day. What's a simple tip someone gave you that stuck?
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mark_thompson16d ago
Oh man, that guest reaction thing is so true. I mean, it's easy to get stuck on the main event. A buddy who does sports photography once told me to always shoot the parents in the stands right after a kid scores, not just the kid celebrating. Same idea, totally different story. It's those little human moments that actually hit you in the feels, you know? Makes you look for the quiet stuff happening off to the side.
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anthonynelson16d ago
Used to be all about the perfect shot of the couple, making sure every pose was just right. A photographer friend told me to chill out and let them just talk to each other for a minute between poses. The pictures from those little breaks, where they're just laughing or whispering, are always the ones they pick for their album. It seems so obvious now, but I needed someone to tell me to stop directing for a second. That advice completely changed how I run a portrait session.
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