Ever see those street photos from the 1940s of lovers
strolling down the cobblestone streets of Paris, arm in arm? Maybe stealing a
kiss while seated at an outdoor cafe? Huddled in an embrace? I believe those
images hold the key to how to make your wedding photos timeless.
Think for a moment about the posed shots you've seen in your
parents' and relatives' wedding albums; some common shots in the '70s, '80s,
and '90s were the best man mopping the groom's brow as he nervously looked at
his watch, the bride fawning over her bouquet she caressed in her arms like a
newborn baby and, of course, the obligatory double-exposed shot of the wedding
couple superimposed over their ceremony. They were cute the first time around,
but by now, they tend to get mocked because they've become cliché.
Today, some of the stock poses are of tightly-cropped photos
of feet that showcase the shoes the couple wore, brides and grooms jumping in
the air, and heads cut off in photos at the neckline showing only the torsos.
I'm sure you've seen these, too. And they
were cute the first time around as well.
So here's something to consider: These later photos are
actually getting as cliché as the photos from the '70's to '90s. And none of
those photos are as old as the street scenes from the 1940s, yet the older
street scenes are still relevent to us today — some 70 years later — while
those photos from recent years already look out-of-date.
Have you guessed why the older images endured so well? The
photographers back then were photojournalists looking for what they called the
"Definitive Moment" to photograph; the moment that tells the story.
And the stories those photos told were of real couples in love doing what real
couples in love do. They were authentic; they contained real moments and honest
emotions. They weren't about the pose or about doing something gimmicky or
trendy for the camera's sake.
Here's the thing: We all react to stories and emotions. It's
like a common language all of us understand. Look at a photo of a baby or a
puppy and it can make you smile. A photo of a mother grieving in a war torn
land can make you cry. We're human. We're all wired to respond to emotions.We
all share this universal human condition. When we see moments which resonate
within us, we're moved. But when images are contrived and manufactured, they're
totally void of any real meaning or emotions. We may like them on a superficial
level when they only have a gimmick based on some trend going for them, but
when that trend fades, there's nothing left in the image of much substance, and
so it has nowhere to go, except to look dated.
The images which speak to us about humanity, about reality,
the images that make us laugh, cry and say "awww," those photos
continue to speak to us. And they speak to us at a very core level. Because of
that, they speak to everyone, everywhere. They transcend borders. They
transcend cultures. They transcend politics, religions and languages. And,
since their message speaks to anyone of any generation, they transcend time.
The emotions and reality in the image are what make it timeless.
And here's the irrefutable proof right in front of us: those
images from the 1940's endured so well they're now considered iconic. No
wonder. Fact is, reality and emotions are two things which are naturally
impossible to go out of style.
Here's how to infuse reality into your wedding photos to make
them timeless.
1. Don't play to the camera. Don't stop what you're doing to
do something affected for the camera. In fact, pay no attention to the camera
at all. Instead, live your real moments and permit the camera to witness it.
2. Be in the moment. Be fully present, open and immersed to
each second of your wedding day. This gives you the fullest experience of your
day. That also gives your photographer true real moments to photograph which
will contain unique and deep personal memories.
3. Speaking of the photographer, make sure they're skilled at
this approach. You can't be immersed in moments if your photographer is the
kind who continually pulls you out of them for their shots, directs all their
shots or depends, on trends for ideas to photograph. Look for someone with the
skill set to get the "definitive moment" kind of images.
