Certain wedding photographers might think it is necessary to include the groom or bride in every photograph; however, these pictures convey only a small portion of the overall story. Most WPJA members will say that you’re only documenting the wedding if you go to the outskirts and capture all the other aspects of the day’s festivities, the distinct and interspersed stories of guests enjoying the celebrations.
These types of photos are “sideline shots,” They differ from typical reaction shots the second photographer can capture while walking along the aisle, at the vows ceremony, or the cutting of the cake. These types of images are generally far removed from the traditional wedding day ceremony in terms of geography and thematically.
Most clients want an entire wedding day photo that is a full-blown record of their wedding day by capturing the reactions and actions of their guests. Professional photographers are aware of this and are eager to show their expertise in this kind of storytelling through images.
COVERING THE ENTIRE STORY
If weddings are a sum of many smaller pieces, and that’s why omitting the activities that are happening far from the bride and groom could be a violation of coverage. This is something other than WPJA members will let happen. When asked by members about their wedding photos, they revealed that approximately 30% to 50% of their shots are in the sideline category.
One of our members stated that wedding receptions are often chaotic, with various diverse things co-occurring. Many conversations happen simultaneously, and the entire day is packed with multiple distractions, including food or even kids running around. Apart from the fun, the wedding day is filled with emotion and must be captured for proper documentation. Additionally, by shooting these photos on the sidelines, the wedding photographer provides a unique service for the couple by letting them experience all the elements and moments they weren’t present. This way, the couple can revisit the entire experience and witness the joy in the surrounding area.
The guests can affirm the love the wedding couple and their guests have for their sideline pictures and note that many of them are praised for capturing beautiful moments that the couple may not have otherwise known.
ADDING DEPTH
These images of the sidelines are about more than just getting a broad range of coverage. It’s about ensuring you’ve tracked down every single guest and taken their photo amid the party. These are about depth, an essential element of a good photography journal of the event, as well as the artistic quality of the images.
Many of our members have stressed the importance of taking pictures of the entire wedding day, not just the moments that involve the groom or bride that can soon start to look the same and provide a few different options. The groom and bride aren’t the only aspects of the wedding day. Therefore, guests’ reactions, emotions, and memorable moments are equally significant. While photographs are obviously essential too, they’re only one aspect of the ceremony, and those “side stories” will provide a more full, enriched impression of the day.
CURIOSITY AND WONDER
It is crucial to be attentive to your thoughts and let yourself be awed by them in the form of curiosity, excitement, and joy. Those emotions that inspired your professional career are essential in capturing the best sideline shots you can. Let your feelings guide you, and do not get caught up in being too self-conscious. If you don’t follow the rules, pursue what you’re most interested in or what you are most interested in immediately and let that be the guiding force.
The most important and unique aspect of the sideline shot is that you’re unaffected and can play, experiment, and expand your imagination.
ANTICIPATION AND SKILL
The ability to anticipate is essential for the wedding photographer, and our members have shared their thoughts, affirming that their success in photography can be directly attributed to this ability. Sometimes, you’ll be waiting for quite some time to capture the photo you’re after; however, if you identify the areas where the most distinctive lighting and intriguing compositional elements are, you are patient enough and patient. Eventually, the perfect moment will arrive.
Sometimes, this waiting may be in a static state, or you’ll be moving around looking for the correct details–where you are and who’s about, what’s the lighting, and what’s going on in everyone’s eyes. But If you’re alert for perfect moments, you’ll be prepared for the moment it occurs.
