Thursday, 10 July 2008
Reportage is simply the act of reporting news or information of general interest. So how can this term be applied to wedding photography then? Does it refer to a particular style of photograph or can it be taken literally to mean that at the end of the day you will have a wedding portfolio which reports the news or story of the wedding? Do we even need to delve any deeper? I mean wouldn't most people be happy with a set of wedding images which do exactly that?There is another definition of reportage wedding photography which is more suitable, or it goes into more detail at least. It is centered around the idea that reportage refers to an "eye-witness genre of journalism". I've already talked about photojournalistic wedding photography on these pages, and perhaps the two are linked. Certainly reportage wedding photography describes a process of observation and a fly-on-the-wall approach to achieving results. "One of the greatest tricks the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn't exist" (an idea conjured up by Baudelaire and popularised in the film, 'The Usual Suspects'); far be it from me to suggest that I should ever be compared to a being of supreme evil, but I like the idea that I could convince wedding guests that there had been no photographer present throughout the ceremony and reception, yet still produce a portfolio which the Bride and Groom can be proud of. This is something I strive for and something I pride myself on.
It takes practice and experience to work in a reportage style, and in a way it's an almost contradictory position to be in; on one hand it is a prerequisite that all guests should be represented in the finished pictures, yet no-one wants to have a camera pointed at them when they're trying to relax and enjoy the day. As you may have read in my mission statement my primary mode of working is in the reportage style so if this is something you are interested in please don't hesitate to contact me to discuss your requirements.
Labels: reportage wedding photography
