portraits

The Formals

The Formals

When I was younger and just starting out shooting weddings, like many of my colleagues I took a somewhat dim view of “the formals.”  The group photographs at weddings, save for the occasional “rockstar” bridal party shot, were typically something of an assembly-line affair.  These shots couldn’t claim the drama possible in the individual and couple’s portraits, and lacked the raw emotional impact of well-executed documentary work.  Large group portraits were simply a check-the-block item, to be accomplished as efficiently as possible.  This view was reinforced by the fact that many young couples took a similar view: these group shots were a “necessary evil” to placate older relatives...

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