articles/Weddings/malteseweddings-page3
by Charles Zammit Published 01/12/2010
While we were talking I noticed that if she doesn't smile or talk, you can't notice her defect. So when she came to the session I did a normal session close up, facing the camera, from side and so on. Then I selected some prints, edited them and gave them to her for free. She was so happy that she cried and thanked me - she booked us. So, both your approach and the pre-wedding session are very important as you can get further work. I gave them the session for free but I booked a wedding.
The week of the wedding we have a meeting at which we discuss the wedding in detail: how we are going to work and what they should do so that everything is organised. In this pre-meeting I enquire if they have both parents or if they are separated and so on. Imagine you go to the bride's or groom's house asking for the father or mother and they tell you that one of them is dead. The bride may be feeling sad that a parent is absent when you arrive and you put your foot in it - but if you ask for them at the pre-meeting they will tell you normally. If parents are separated I will ask the couple if they want photos with both parents. Some of them might say yes they are happy to take family shots together, others tell you, no they don't because they are not on good terms. I need to know about these issues beforehand as I want the day to run smoothly. In the pre-meeting I also ask the couple if there are any special photographs they wish to have taken. Why do that? Because I want to go prepared and be confident and know what I am doing
On the wedding day we start early, about 31/2 hours before the ceremony. We normally start from the groom's house and then go to the bride's house. At the house I try to get to know the family and mingle with them. If this is not the first wedding with the family it will be easy to say how we enjoyed the last wedding of their son or daughter. One good thing that I have is that I remember most of the weddings and what happened on that day, when I see their faces and that shows that they were really important to us and this helps me to win their respect. I do not want to show them that they are just a 'client'. I want them to feel important by saying nice things about their houses - even if they have a small house I try to find something nice. I will explain to the parents their part in the wedding and tell them what they should do. I will tell the bride how beautiful she looks, say nice things about her dress, hair and make-up and try to notice if she has something different in her dress, and show interest even in small things. By using this attitude you are winning over the bride for more co-operation.
There are 0 days to get ready for The Society of Photographers Convention and Trade Show at The Novotel London West, Hammersmith ...
which starts on Thursday 1st January 1970