Wedding Photographers to catch the different wedding Customs

Sydney is a melting pot and traditional wedding customs vary across the cultures.

An important part of the build-up to the wedding in many parts of South Asia is the mehndi ceremony when the bride and women closely related to her has traditional and very intricate henna patterns applied to her hands and feet.

Hindu weddings, for example, can last for several days and involve hundreds of guests. The actual ceremony is performed at a sacred fire and traditionally the end of the rituals the bride and groom circle the fire seven times.  The traditional colours for the bride’s wedding sari are red and gold.

Moroccan brides wear elaborate kaftans and jewellery and there is also a tradition of applying henna patterns to the hands as in S Asia.

At a traditional Scottish wedding it may be that all the men wear the kilt while at a traditional Chinese wedding the bride is presented to the groom in a red wedding carriage.

In traditional muslim weddings the formalities of the marriage contract are carried out, the nikah, with the bride and groom in different rooms or different parts of the room. The walima, the equivalent of the western reception, may also be one where men and the women celebrate separately and it may also be that taking photographs of the bride is not allowed.  It is only at the end of the walima that the bride and groom are seated next to each other, generally with the bride still veiled.

There are all sorts of customs associated with weddings and these can also include mass weddings when several couples are married at the same celebration.

Whatever their origins most couples want to be sure they have a photographic or video record of their big day to remember and treasure long after the event.

If a professional photographer is to be engaged to record a wedding that contains elements and traditions from different cultures they will need to be given proper guidance and information on the aspects of the wedding that it is essential to capture in their photographs, and equally those aspects that should not be photographed.

A meeting with the photographer well in advance of the event is therefore important.  In order to plan properly, organise the equipment that will be needed and provide an accurate costing.

The photographer will need to know when they need to be available, especially if the various elements of the marriage celebrations will take part over several days and what it is permitted to photograph and what is not.

Deyan Wedding Photography Sydney specialises in the art of beautiful, photojournalistic, pre wedding photography, digital, wedding and family portrait photography, including video NSW, Noosa, Italy, Hong Kong.
 

Memorable Wedding Photographs Depend on Briefing the Photographer Properly

Wedding locations and styles can be as individual as the couple involved want them to be.

They range from ceremonies conducted underwater or while skydiving to the more traditional formal church setting or the relaxed beach wedding. Some couples choose a historical theme and choose to marry in the costume of a particular era, others choose a theme that is modern and cutting edge. Perhaps the couple has a shared passion, for a particular sport for example, that will determine the theme of the wedding.

Capturing the atmosphere of each scenario means that it is important to find the right photographer, who can be adaptable and flexible enough to produce stunning images whatever the location.

The photographs are an essential part of the memory of a special day in a couple’s life and when choosing the photographer they need to feel comfortable that the person they have chosen understands what they have in mind and is able to produce memorable images that capture the atmosphere.  A good relationship with the photographer will make all the difference to the results.

It is therefore advisable to ask to see examples of previous work done by a studio’s photographers so that the couple can pick the person whose pictures are closest to what they have in mind.

It is also worth asking about the kind of training the photographer has.  Some learn on the job or work their way up through the studio.  Others have taken a fine art photography qualification.  Whatever the training, however, it is the results they have produced that will determine the decision.

These days, many people want a video record of their big day as well as an album or online picture gallery so the studio should be able to provide examples of each medium being considered.

Once the venue and details have been established the photographer will need to be given the details so that they can visit the location for themselves to choose the best settings and features that could be used to help make the pictures special.

They will also need to know if there are any people who would prefer not to be photographed and equally who the couple particularly want pictures of, both adults and children.

While there may be a number of formally arranged and posed photographs in the album, it is likely that the couple will also want to remember guests relaxed and enjoying themselves at the reception.

For candid photographs, the photographer will need to plan and pick the best spots that will allow them to be unobtrusive so that the guests are not aware that there is a camera pointing at them, which can often make people feel self conscious and awkward. 

Making sure that the photographer is properly briefed will ensure that the photographs that result are truly memorable.

Deyan Wedding Photography Sydney specialises in the art of beautiful, photojournalistic, pre wedding photography, digital, wedding and family portrait photography, including video NSW, Noosa, Italy, Hong Kong.