How to Storybook when you can't shoot the cerimony?

I love the storybook style, the wedding photojournalism style. To me

this style provides the most interesting albums. Traditional albums

are nice but rather boring to look at. I realize that many or most

clients also need posed in-color shots as well to satisfy the needs

of the wedding party members for classical portraits.

 

Here is my quandry - how to shoot a story when you can't shoot the

most important part of the story. "What do you mean", you ask? I

live in Utah; the center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday

Saints, whose members are more commonly known as the Mormons or LDS.

Mormons can be married in the traditional manner that you are all

accustomed to, but at least half or more, choose to be married in one

of the many Temples scattered around the world. The "Temple"

marriage is the "preferred" way for those that meet the strict

worthiness standards to enter the Temple.

 

The problem for the wedding photographer is that cameras are strictly

forbidden inside the Temples. That's right, you can only shoot the

unmarried couple going in and the now married couple coming out.

Wedding dresses and the standard tux are NOT worn going in (just

standard church clothes), however, they are typically put on inside

the Temple's dressing rooms for pictures to be taken outside the

Temple. So the photography at the Temple is just about all

outdoors. There are a few "inside" places such as foyers and

hallways that aren't actually within the Temple where shots of the

couple can be taken, but these are generally not large enough or

appropriate for the whole wedding party. Typically, the b&g and

family are photographed outside around the Temple and on the

beautiful flower-filled grounds of the Temple. These shots out of

necessity are traditional posed shots (you have anywhere from 3-8

bridal parties all waiting to use the Temple steps and grounds for

pictures) taken in mostly the same locations.

 

No shots of the b&g getting dressed;

No shots of the first kiss;

No shots of the ring exchange;

No shots of walking down the aisle (which isn't done anyway);

No shots of document signing;

No shots of the cerimony; and,

No shots of the church offical who is performing the wedding (you

will in fact not even see this person before, during, or after, and

neither you or the b&g will know who it is that will perform the

marriage).

 

Rather boring. So any thoughts on how to tell a story when much of

the story is hidden? I guess you could recreate simulations of some

of the shots; ring exchange; document signing; first kiss as a close-

up. You obviously can't re-create the setting so these re-creations

would be intended to be depictions of the actual event in order to

tell the story. They would likely have to be done at the reception

location.

 

You may be able to get dressing-type shots at the reception which is

usually much later in the day. The reception is where most of the

visible action is going to take place. You could I suppose take

shots of the b&g getting ready to go to the Temple, but know that the

Temple events are usually in the morning with the reception in the

early evening. So you would have a VERY long day if you tried to

cover it all.

 

After all that explanation so that you understand the difficulties -

do you all have any thoughts on how to "tell a story"?

 

Maybe an early focus in the album could be on the pre-wedding day

couple. Where they met or got engaged, favorite places to spend time

together, etc. But it seems these "engagement" type shots would have

to be rather planned and posed and would require location shooting

and a lot of extra time from the photographer.

 

Catholic and Jewish weddings seem alot more interesting to me to

photograph, but being a Mormon myself and living in this community, I

will likely get alot more Temple weddings than anything else.

 

Your ideas would be most appreciated.

<<So any thoughts on how to tell a story when much of the story is hidden? I guess you could recreate simulations of some of the shots; ring exchange; document signing; first kiss as a close- up. You obviously can't re-create the setting so these re-creations would be intended to be depictions of the actual event in order to tell the story. They would likely have to be done at the reception location.

>>

 

Scott, you say you're a Mormon yourself. Look at it this way: There is a REASON cameras are not allowed inside. You know that. The newlyweds know that. I wouldn't try to recreate any of the events that take place where cameras don't go.

 

Tell the rest of the story. It will be enough.

 

Have fun,

Cameras are not allow because 1) the place is sacred, and 2) many events that occur there (besides weddings), are very sacred. Temple marriages are very simple ceremonies. The document signing (required by law of course), the ring exchange, and the kiss, are not really even part of the "sacred" part of the Temple marriage, but are conducted if the couple wishes, because its a tradition everyone expects. My thinking is that to tell the story without a huge gaping hole where the ceremony goes in a non-Temple marriage:

 

1)a few shots of the couple going in, waving goodbye to the people that can't enter with them (those without Temple enterence documents) but that will be waiting for them to exit;

 

2)recreate the feeling of the document signing, the ring exchange, and the kiss with some closeups taken at the reception;

 

3)then shots of the couple walking out and greeting those waiting for them.

 

There is really nothing in "re-creation" of those few events that should be considered offensive by anyone. And with close-up type shots, the "feeling" of the acutual event should be possible. There is really nothing else that I can think of that could be re-created even close to acuratly and that would not offend.

 

So I do not think there will be anything wrong with the above. But it is a pretty thin story as they go and doesn't lend itself to the wedding photojournalism approach. I'm hoping for some "love story" ideas to add some un-posed "meat" to the mostly posed around the ceremony. Otherwise the album will be divided up as a bunch of posed family pictures at the Temple of the already married couple, then the typical formal poses of family with b&g and the reception. Then FINALLY, some photojournalistic images around events at the reception.

 

I realize that this type of marriage really does not lend itself very well to the photojournalistic/candid storybook, photoessay approach. But I'm looking for ideas.

 

The Temple buildings themselves tend to be rather beautiful. And the grounds are often very garden like with nice landscaping filled with many flowers. So there is opportunity for architectural detail type shots to add to dress element shots, close up of the brides shoes, etc. Maybe it is enough.

You will need a very, very romantic directorial sense to do this:

 

It is said by many officiators that the couple "marries themselves", and that there is

nothing that the officiator can add to their relationship.

 

If you are really good, you can create a believable story right there in the shady lawn areas.

It may require fuzzy lens technique to place the viewer in another space, and B&W may

also help, handcolored pics add to the otherwordly-ness of this style.

 

But this requires planning. You need to be somewhat of a director, rather than just a

photographer. And it may help you to be a ballroom dancer, as the couple will be judged

by the 'audience' for their gracefulness. Well, this just about eliminates 96% of all the

photographers out there.

 

I refer to dancers such as Grace Kelly and Fred Astaire who could make a "love story" from

just their body positions. But your subjects don't have these skills. But there are tidbits

of "tableau" that you could use to show some passion or romance. This really requires a

near fashion photographer who has this set of skills and interest. If it is not done right,

the audience will only be amused, they will not believe. But it is possible, and I do it at

some of my weddings.

 

You will need to find harmonious backgrounds if possible, that seem to 'wrap' around your

subjects.

 

To do this will really put the pressure on you to perform. This is not color-by-numbers

time.

 

Sure, you could travel to different locations. And these locations may be special to them.

But you will need to direct these 'actor/actresses/' and give them much leadership,

direction.

 

Therefore, the 'story' is an emotional story, not a functional story of a ceremony.

 

You will need to understand what theatrical 'believability' is. And taking a college course

in stage directing (I did) will help you.

There are thousands of images that can be captured and storyboarded at a wedding,that occur at other times besides during the ceremony.Checkout some of the PJ wedding shooter's websites.I typically only shoot a few during the ceremony even when its allowed.I like to not interfere with religous ceremony too much.

Well, since it's an understood in that religious tradition that no

cameras are allowed, certainly the bride and groom don't

<i>expect</i> to see photos of the ceremony, right?

<p>

Could you build an album that included an artist's sketches of

the ceremony? You know, like in a courtroom that doesn't allow

cameras? Seems like you could fit that nicely into an album

otherwised comprised of photos.

<p>

I would grab a few shots inside those hallways you mentioned

just to flesh out the non-ceremony part of the day inside the

temple. The documentary style seems well-suited for that.

<p>

You've got some tough limitations to work with here, but Orson

Wells said "Absence of limitation is the death of art." ....For what

that's worth :-)<div></div>

Caption to above:

 

 

Smith... Smith... Smith... Smyth... Smythe, Samuel. 555-6754. Why not? Let's call him and see if HE wants to get married in half an hour.

Well, I suppose it has to be admitted that some weddings don't lend themselves to the "storybook" approach...

Take one of them going in ... then shots of the closed door with your wrist watch in the

foreground. Label "Getting Dressed", "Approaching the Alter", "Vows", "Candle lighting",

"Ring Exchange", "First Kiss", "Greeting Friends and Family"... then the shot of them

coming out ; -)

so what all actually happens inside? they aren't consumating their marriage in there, are they? ;)

am fairly new to this forum and certainly not a wedding photographer but am attending one soon and planning on taking a few snaps (or better) so have been dropping by here for some thoughts. its a great forum for ideas and a good read to boot. i find your aim to be an interesting challenge.

 

my thoughts are along similar lines to timber's in that i think i would merge two or three shots to hint at what was going on inside the temple.

 

the "thought bubble image" would be a *very* clumsy way of describing my concept ... that combined with the images mostly related to the renaissance period (those biblical images of heavanly and earthly moments combined) i believe if tastefully done this would work very well to add that extra dimension you seek while keeping with the dignity of the moment.

 

if you venture back in the art world you will find that they tackled very similar problems back in the early ages. they often had to depict that which they did not know and often incuded additional information to be "read from" their paintings by viewers and achieved this by use of reality mixed with heavy symbolism. i have visited mormon temples and they are indeed architecurally superb buildings - these and the gardens you mention would make a wonderful backdrop for this type of imagary merged with imagination. i would test out a few stock ideas first as this type of thing would need detailed planning. and possibly props (fabrics, furnishings, frames etc to add to the effects).

 

do take a look back and you may find your inspiration there.

 

...good luck with your challenge!

My husband and I eloped when we got married and have no wedding pictures at all. Last weekend we just got sealed in the temple and I hired a photographer to take pictures of us and our two children afterwards. I LOVE those pictures because they remind me of the what happened that day. All the things that happen in the temple (first kiss, ring exchange, etc..) will forever be engraved in the couples mind. The couples getting married in the temple know there aren't any pictures allowed and I really don't think they'll miss them anyway. Take wonderful pictures before and after and let them remember all the beautiful emotions of the day.