Finding Authenticity in Posed Moments / Soph and Cam at Donington Park Farmhouse
Picture the scene… it’s an early April afternoon, and you got married just a few hours ago. Your guests are being seated for the wedding breakfast, and you’re grabbing five minutes with your new wife, and your photographer and videographer have tagged along too to get some shots. You’re having a walk, you’re holding hands, you’re having a little smooch, and your ‘natural, candid, documentary-style’ videographer suggests getting a bit arty with the veil. If you’re like Cam, you might make a wee quip about how you’re “feeling so authentic right now”...
Yeah, you’ve got me there! Four people under a veil in a courtyard isn’t how you’d spend any old afternoon. Did Soph’s veil naturally float over her head, then Cam’s head, and mine, and the photographer’s?
No, it wasn’t a true documentary moment, and how the moment was born wasn’t very natural or authentic. That might seem counterintuitive to the rest of my work.
But the smiles? Real. The laughs? True. The smooch? All them.
And isn’t it worth it!
Too beautiful to miss.
Much of my work is natural and unposed, and that’s how I like it; capturing people as they are. There’s value to be found in getting a bit creative and making some magic too, especially for moments like the couple shoot. I think of it as setting the stage. A veil swoosh is set dressing, and you just need to play yourselves. I’ve suggested a backdrop, and you’re bringing the feeling!
During the couple shoot, a couple of suggestions I might make are holding hands, having a walk against a pretty backdrop, having a smooch. I might encourage you to have a chat, have a laugh, get cosy with each other, or practice your first dance with a spin. How you do those things is up to you.
And you can always say no! Having your photo taken and being filmed is unusual for a lot of us, and it can feel a bit weird and awkward. I never want to make anyone feel uncomfortable, especially on an important day. I’d rather you watch your film and think “I didn’t notice she was there!” than “oh god, remember when she made us do that…”
There’s definitely a balance to strike, and I’ll always err on the side of my couples being present to enjoy their wedding day rather than remembering it as a film set.
Soph and Cam married at Donington Park Farmhouse, giving us a few options for our couple shoot locations. They had a quick visit from their wonderful dog, so we crossed the road into the venue’s field where she had space to walk, have a play, and have a break from the hubbub of the Pimm’s reception. We took about 10 minutes. While the guests were being seated, we grabbed a few more shots in the courtyard. There was a bit of greenery for the background, and I love the red bricks too!
In the evening, we returned to the field for another 10 minutes to capture the last scraps of colour in the sky. It had clouded over since the afternoon, but we captured the last scraps of pink in the soft evening light, before having a quick smooch underneath the festoon lights in the courtyard.
Overall, these three quick sessions were less than 30 minutes out of our 10+ hour coverage. But that extra bit of effort, that step outside of your comfort zone, those ten minutes away alone, can yield something beautiful that will last a lifetime.
Supplier Shout-Out!
Photographer: Wolf & Strap Photography
Venue: Donington Park Farmhouse
Dress: Wendy Makin Bridal Designs at Yes Bridal Studio
Hair and Make-Up: Helena Rose Make-Up Artist
Flowers: EverWild
Frankie May Weddings - Natural Documentary (ish!) Wedding Videography based in Norfolk UK, capturing beautiful moments wherever love stories are found.