Not Every Pretty Place Makes a Pretty Picture | Trust Your Photographer

You’re a bride who has probably spent a lot of time researching wedding photographers, perusing website after website, and reaching out to a handful of favorites before you decided on the best fit for you. You couldn’t be happier with your choice, and you’re excited about the photos you’re going to get. You should be! If you’ve done your research and hired a professional photographer who knows what they’re doing, you can rest assured that they will create incredible photos for you…

…if you’ll let them.

Say what? Of course you’re going to let them take beautiful photos! Who’s stopping them?

Well, unfortunately, many well-intentioned brides, bridesmaids, mothers of the brides, and pretty much anybody with an interest in getting good photos may inadvertently tie their photographer’s hands. How does this happen? It often goes something like this:

Bridesmaid: “Oooh, there’s a pretty patch of flowers over on this side of the church! Bride–we’ve got to take some photos over there! Come on, Photographer!”
(Meanwhile, the Photographer has already scoped out the area and knows that the full light of the noon-day sun is beating down on those patch of flowers. Bright sun=squinting eyes, harsh shadows, UGLY photo).
Photographer: “Actually, I think there’s some nice shade over here that will make for some great photos.”
Bride looks crestfallen after Bridesmaid got her excited about patch of flowers; Bridesmaid feels shut down and is frustrated by the “mean Photographer who won’t let them take pretty photos.”

And although the above scenario is fictitious and perhaps a bit exaggerated, it’s actually not too far off from similar scenes I’ve encountered. At that point in the game, the Photographer has either two choices. One, give into Bridesmaid and take the sweaty, shadowy, squinty photo and appease everyone. Or two, not waste time and energy taking an ugly photo but then deal with the disappointment and frustration of bride and bridesmaid. Neither choice is ideal. So, how can this situation be avoided?

Trust your photographer.

It’s that simple. Trust that your photographer has your best interest in mind, that they want to create incredible photos for you, and that they have a much better grasp of what goes into a good photo than anyone else there. Does that mean you don’t make any suggestions or requests of your photographer? Certainly not! By all means, feel free to discuss types of photos and locations ahead of the wedding day and feel free to point out places that you’d like to have a photo at. But, also allow them to say “No, I don’t think that’s a good location” and trust them with that decision. Think of them as saving you from an ugly photo and a waste of time. Not every pretty place makes a pretty picture.

I honestly want to create beautiful photographs for my couples. And I don’t want to waste any of the precious time allotted for photos on the wedding day taking pictures that I know will not be good. So, I ask my clients to please trust me. Trust that I know what I’m doing. Trust that I have your best interest in mind, and that if I say “no” to something, it’s not because I’m lazy or don’t want to create a good photo for you…it’s because I know that what you’re asking is not going to look good, and you’re going to be disappointed with it if I take it. Conversely, if I suggest something, it’s because I do think it will look good! Lastly, let your family and friends know how much you trust me so that they will be on board, too.

Now, if you’re a previous bride of mine, please don’t read into this post, thinking you ruined photos by asking for specific shots. By and large, I’m very fortunate to have clients who trust and allow me to create beautiful images for them. And I wholeheartedly appreciate that. It frees me to be creative and deliver great photographs for my clients, which is my ultimate goal.

As examples, here are some favorite photos taken in less-than-picturesque locations. This first one was taken in a hotel room after rain washed out plans to take photos in downtown Pittsburgh.

Taken in an alley in Johnstown, PA to avoid the bright mid-day sun.

What you don’t see in the photo below are the two parking lots filled with cars on either side of the strip of grass and a few trees the bride and groom are standing in. The light was gorgeous though, and I was able to work around the parking lots.

Portrait taken in front of an abandoned building on a side street in Pittsburgh.

Here’s a pull-back where you can see the facade of the building was not particularly beautiful…but the lighting was.

Just a street sidewalk in Pittsburgh. An ugly box truck and some trash are just outside of the frame, but I knew the light was gorgeous and would make for a good portrait.

I love this bridal portrait–the bride looks beautiful, confident, and happy, and the bricks make a striking contrast to her dress.

What you didn’t see is that she’s just sitting on a plain old table in the “holding room” for the bridal party before they’re announced at the reception.

I have plenty more examples of great photos taken in locations that weren’t at first glance “picturesque.” So, if you ever think I’m little cray-cray for asking you to go to a certain spot for a photo, please remember I know what I’m doing…and if I ever say “No, I don’t think that will look good” trust me that I have your best interest in mind. Your photos are going to be awesome!

Trust me.