Speed vs. Quality

I’m known as a very quick wedding photographer when it comes to formal portraits. I’m not sure how that came about, or why, in general, other photographers take longer. I organize the people in the group, make sure everyone can see me and the entire photo is properly composed, and take the photographs - enough to make sure that, when I post-process the photos later, there is at least one of each person not blinking (should I need to swap faces to make the perfect photo).

With many of my clients, the wedding or engagement photos move naturally. I might spend more time with a client if I think that there’s something we haven’t reached, an emotion we haven’t communicated. With some couples, the photographs and poses come so easily and naturally that their portrait sessions are done in fifteen minutes. With others, we need to move to a new location, try a different position, etc. - just until we find the shot that best reflects the couple.

A wedding coordinator I recently worked with posted this review of A Softer Image on WeddingWire.com:

I had the pleasure of working with Lara and Brad at an outdoor wedding in Southern Lancaster County on June 9th, 2007. We had some challenges, including a sunny and windy day, but Lara and Brad still got great shots. They were low-key and friendly and made the wedding party feel comfortable. I was really impressed with the speed that they took pictures. We actually had extra time for the couple to have a private moment by the pool before they greeted guests at the reception. That’s the first time that group photos didn’t wreck my timeline! I was concerned that maybe we were sacrificing quality for speed, but after viewing the photos online today, I can say that they got plenty of formal and candid shots. They even suggested the couple visit a nearby carnival as they left the wedding and got some cute shots with carnival games and fireworks in the background, how creative! The photos were ready to view online quickly and it was easy to view and order pictures online. I would readily recommend a Softer Image Photography for any type of photography. They were friendly, professional, and got great results!

I’m so glad that we can give that to our wedding and union photography clients - a deep breath, just from not keeping them away from their guests for so long. Also, from a photojournalistic perspective, it’s most important to have a client feel natural and unposed, rather than stiff and uncomfortable while standing for a long time in a traditional family portrait. When not compromising quality, a shorter formal photo session will yield better results on all counts.