The Truth About Wedding Photojournalists

February 6, 2010 Dalen

As an award winning wedding photojournalist and a member of the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association, I must say that the majority of photographers who claim to be photojournalists, do not always know what they are talking about. I read this fantastic Article from the AGWPJA website entitled “Wedding Photojournalism Myths” and wanted to share a piece of it with you…

“MYTH: ANYONE CAN BE A WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALIST

Just because some wedding photographers may try to emulate WPJA members’ documentary approach, it does not make them wedding photojournalists who are qualified to document your wedding. “Photojournalism and shooting candids aren’t the same,” Adams stresses. “Wedding photojournalists don’t go into a situation and randomly photograph things around the room.” And neither do they follow the “machine-gun” approach, hoping that out of the myriad of shots a handful of decent pictures will emerge out of sheer mathematical probability. Wedding photojournalism is applying professional skills and honed talent to tell the story of a wedding. WPJA Gold Medallion winner, Michael Albert understands how this myth might have been propagated. “Not to say they’re spreading rumors, but traditional photographers see wedding photojournalism as a fad that totally upends their paradigm,” he says. Or they’re seeing bad wedding photojournalism, letting a few mediocre photographers who call themselves “wedding photojournalists” speak for an entire industry. “I see a lot of people who say they’re photojournalists—and that doesn’t always translate to strong work,” he says.

When considering a wedding photojournalist, it’s best to communicate and trust your own eyes, not rumors or heresay. Ask your WPJA photographer about his or her style. Ask to see samples. Look for a wedding photojournalist who is able to tell the story from start to finish, instead of presenting just one good photo from each wedding. “That means you have potential,” Albert states, “but it doesn’t necessarily mean you can tell the story of the day.” Fortunately, WPJA members have mastered the art of storytelling. And that’s no myth.”

—by Meghan McEwen for the Wedding Photojournalist Association

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