Ever found yourself dismissing a photograph you’ve taken because it was “just easy”?
“Easy” is a dirty word in photography. We all want to capture that technical masterpiece – those intricate, accomplished, aspirational “how did they do that?” shots. But a “technically accomplished” photograph is not necessarily the same thing as a “good” photograph.
It’s human nature to undervalue what comes naturally to you; to dismiss the results of actions or ideas that didn’t feel especially challenging. But often it is those “easy” shots that reveal the true artist and offer insight into how you really see the world. Because one person’s “easy” is another’s “how did they even see that?”
It’s easy to become entranced with another photographer’s work or a particular technique or aesthetic that you find visually appealing, and there is always value in working hard to learn those techniques in order to expand your visual vocabulary. But, in doing so, it is important not to diminish those photographs that came easy to you from the start. The images that, long before you felt like you really knew anything about photography, you were instinctively drawn to. Because it is your instincts; your vision that makes your voice unique, and they’re revealed in the images that come most naturally to us.
“I always knew how I wanted to shoot, I had only forgotten”
The first time Dominique shot a wedding back in 2003 (as a second shooter), long before any idea of her own “style” had emerged, her relatively untrained eye just shot what came easy. With no real concept of what wedding photography was “supposed” to look like, She saw the main photographer focussing upon the standard family formals but found herself drawn to the in-between moments of “nothing”. The moments where people were simply being people and all of the formalities had finished. Their tiny interactions and gestures fascinated her and still do to this day.
The first time Liam photographed a wedding back in 2006 his very first photo that he saw as “something” was an image of some children playing in a circle next to a circular garden. He made an instinctual connection that these two components were similar and that this symmetry could form a photograph. Whilst his work has grown in complexity, intrigue and humour those initial thoughts and connections remain the same.
In truth “easy” isn’t easy. Just because a photograph comes naturally to you, that doesn’t make it complete. It takes hard work and concentration to consistently turn photographs that come naturally into great images. But the instincts that drive them; the ideas that “just come to you” and make you want to click the shutter – those are the key to finding a photographic perspective. They are the easiest thing to photograph and the easiest thing to forget.
Today’s wedding took place at Chateau du Fey, France; a grand, typically exquisite venue where two beautiful creatives, Rike and Sachin took centre stage over a duet of celebrations. Day one was a colourful Indian celebration, announcing itself with plenty of fanfare, whilst day two presented a characterful and emotional wedding reception. This wonderful pair wanted their wedding to be a true expression of who they are and what they love and, in turn, we worked hard to draw on the ideas that come easiest to us and shape them into images that we hope reveal as much in us as they do in the wonderful Rike & Sachin.
