I often think about who my couples are — their likes, interests, and who they are as people. It’s so important to visualize and know your clients. What kind of music do they listen to? What do they read? What kinds of movies do they watch? What kinds of things do they value?

When you’re photographing someone’s wedding, you can get close to them. Getting to know so many couples over the past few years, I’ve noticed that my clients have a few things in common.

They are creative.

People who work with me enjoy visuals and art and are generally creative people. Even my clients who are engineers and scientists are creative. They cook and sew and garden and play piano. They bake bread, dance, make their own beer, or are photography buffs. They are interested and interesting, and pay attention to aesthetics. If you were to ask them what’s more important — living in a marble mansion or residing in a humble space and surrounded by art — they would probably choose the latter.

They are kind and trusting.

As a wedding photographer I am constantly struck by how kind people can be. When I’m driving in Boston traffic, it’s easy to think that most people are jerks. Sometimes I go grocery shopping and have such a negative experience battling carts that I come home convinced that civilization as we knew it has ended. But when I work with my clients and their families, I am so often struck by how much they trust me, and how kind and thoughtful they are. I can honestly say that I have never encountered a bride- or groom-zilla. I thought maybe I was imagining things but then a wedding planner told me that I have the nicest clients. I also realize that I’m lucky to have a job that allows me to know people in this way.

They share their feelings.

I like people who show their emotions. I’m an emotional person. I get angry, happy and sad very quickly. I sometimes cry at the weddings I’m photographing (the vows kill me). For better or worse, it’s hard for me to hide my feelings.

I don’t want to photograph indifference, and the couples I work with are not cold or detached models. I don’t want to do that kind of photography, and documenting something that’s highly personal is a big part of why I got involved with weddings. Since I’m photographing people on such an emotional day, feelings are often on the surface, and even when they’re not, I’m constantly trying to read them. Are they joyful, anxious, or a mix? Are they relaxed enough to let me get closer? Is this person self assured in front of the camera, or do they need a little confidence building?

I also have selfish reasons for enjoying people who share their emotions: It helps me take amazing photographs. If someone lets go and shares their feelings then I can capture more of their humanity. The people who view those photographs later on — including the subjects — will more deeply relate to the images.

While my wedding couples have much in common, I’m also struck by how different every wedding, every couple, and every person I photograph is. Even though I’ve photographed dozens of Christian ceremonies, tens of non-religious couples, and multiple weddings at the same venues, every day I photograph is different. People will often ask “Have you photographed at this venue before?” or “Have you photographed our kind of ceremony?” and I think “Yes but that doesn’t matter because your wedding will be different. You’re you.” Thank goodness for the differences. Because that’s what keeps life — and photography — interesting.

Part 2 of my Valentine’s Day special…. clients select their favorite wedding photographs. You can view the first part here.

Maria & Carl

From Maria: “This picture doesn’t even really need a caption to explain why we love it.  I knew Carl planned to sing a couple songs with the band later in the reception… but what I didn’t know was that he was going to grab the mic during our entrance and [senerade me] with Jackie Wilson’s ‘Your Love Keeps Taking Me Higher.’ AMAZING!”

View my favorite photos from Maria & Carl’s wedding: Wedding at the Ocean View Inn, Gloucester

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Erin & Alex

From Erin: “Neither Alex nor I love being the center of attention. We got married at City Hall in front of only a handful of people, and it was the best day ever. However, when it came to our reception the next day, we threw a big party for all of our friends and family. We were so nervous. But once we got through our first dance we knew we had made it. This picture is the moment we started to have fun.”

See my favorite photos from Erin & Alex’s wedding: Cambridge City Hall Wedding & Wedding reception at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center

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Brooke & Richard

From Brooke: “This photo captures a moment which felt all our own.  It was one of the only times throughout the day/evening that we were ‘alone’ for a minute or two and focused on the exact same thing in that moment.  It reminds me that we have made this commitment together – and side by side we will take on each new day.”

See my favorite photos from Brooke & Richard’s wedding: Peabody Essex Museum Wedding

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Ashley & Howard

From Ashley: “I totally passed over this photo until you asked me to choose. But this is the first photo that made me cry.  (Kind of crying a bit right now).  I’m actually really grateful you caught this moment.  I can tell from the look on my brother’s face how happy he is.  I don’t think I’ve seen him look that happy in a long time.  Though I know we both love each other deeply, we both have never been very good at communicating our feelings.  I can tell from this photo how happy he was for us on our wedding day.  This photo is really better than words.”

View my favorite photographs from Ashley & Howard’s wedding: Wedding at the Commander’s Mansion

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Henry & Joel

From Henry: “This photo shows such joy on our faces, we were not even married yet but so very happy, excited and together….you captured it.”

View my favorite photographs from Henry & Joel’s wedding: Radius Restaurant Wedding

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Lynette & Conor

From Lynette: “Our most favorite photo is the black and white family photo where we are all making stupid faces…the most priceless face of them all is Conor’s, like ‘what have I gotten myself into?’ I could have gone on and on picking favorites but this is the one we always come back to.”

View my favorite photos from Lynette & Conor’s wedding: Ocean Edge Resort wedding

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Tiffany & Wes

From Tiffany: “I love how this photo really captures the late fall atmosphere with the beautiful colors of the leaves and the sun giving the background a subtle glow. Wes is really being himself here – not paying attention to what’s going on and most likely chatting up with someone.  As for me,  I think this picture really depicts how I felt all day – elated, excited and cold!”

View my favorite photographs from Tiffany & Wes’ wedding: Charles Hotel wedding

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Heather & Steve

From Heather: “Our favorite photo has to be this one.  We love Boston, we met there and shared so many memories there so it had to be a part of our wedding.  I think that picture is everyone’s favorite!”

View my favorite photos from Heather & Steve’s wedding: Hyatt Harborside Wedding

]]> http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2011/02/favorite-wedding-photographs/feed/ 1 http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2011/02/favorite-wedding-photography/ http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2011/02/favorite-wedding-photography/#comments Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:22:05 +0000 lisa http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/?p=7709 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

My favorite images are usually different from the photos that my clients like the most. It reminds me how photography, and wedding photographs in particular, can have so much personal meaning.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day I decided to do something a little different on the blog. I usually select and publish my favorite photographs. But this week through two blog posts, a few of my clients have selected their single favorite wedding photograph and tell us why these particular images mean so much to them.

Katie & Doug

From Katie: “I first have to say that we have so many favorite photos from our wedding day.  It probably depends on the day which picture I would say is my favorite, but this photo has something very special.  When I look at this photo, I can immediately feel the energy, excitement, and emotion I felt on our wedding day.  For me it captures the rush of unexpected, overwhelming emotion when we saw each other for the first time.  I remember feeling so happy and so much more relaxed, like there was no one else around.  In a way its surprising that is picture is my favorite.  It is much more serious than our personalities, but I think it really exudes the feelings of love we have for each other.”

View my favorite photos from Katie & Doug’s wedding: State Room Wedding

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Elizabeth & Jason

From Elizabeth: “I fully expected that our wedding would be a lovefest between Jason and me, but I did not expect to be so overwhelmed with love from our friends and family.  I told several people that I wish I could have bottled it up for a rainy day – this picture is the next best thing.  A ridiculous number of our friends stood up throughout the day to toast us, and each one was so raw and full of a truly staggering amount of love.  But Aaron, one of Jason’s long-time friends and business partners, brought the house down with an incredibly emotional and totally improvised homage to their friendship.  It’s the only time during the whole day I really lost it and it made me fall in love with Jason all over again.  I’ve always joked that their design + research firm reminded me of a really healthy marriage, and I think this picture shows just how deep their partnership runs.  It’s one of a handful I find myself looking at over and over again.”

View my favorite photos from Elizabeth & Jason’s wedding: Wedding at the MIT Chapel and Oleana

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Norah & Chris

From Norah: “This candid image taken between formal portraits shows us happy and relaxed during a brief moment of downtime.  Clouds and rain were threatening to roll in, but nothing could shake the wedding bliss.  The photo reminds us more than any other of the excitement and joy we felt that day.”

View my favorite photos from Norah & Chris’ wedding: Wedding at MIT Chapel and Oleana Restaurant

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Colleen & Scott

From Colleen: “We love these photos both individually and when they’re viewed together.  We actually had them printed and then placed in a frame together with a third wedding picture in-between.  I think they are really playful and artistic.  We didn’t want our photos to look too portrait-y and this does a fantastic job of capturing our expressions.”

View my favorite photographs from Colleen & Scott’s wedding: Henderson House Wedding

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Crystal & Sean

From Crystal: “I think this was when people clinked their glasses for us to kiss. I love how I am holding Sean’s face and he is really leaning in. The girl smiling in back of us makes the picture! Even our family and friends at the tables are not looking at us, but she found the moment enjoyable. haha! It’s a genuine, candid moment, that we might have otherwise forgotten if not captured. This photo makes both of us happy.”

View my favorite photos from Crystal & Sean’s wedding: Stonehurst Wedding

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Erica & Mike

From Erica: ”It’s impossible to pick! We love, love, love (!) our wedding photos. We love all the ones that were shot of just the two of us down near/on the wall – but another one that sticks out is a shot you captured of us in front of the photo booth. If you look closely, you can see the reflection of us kissing in the photo booth mirror.”

View my favorite photos from Erica & Mike’s wedding: Chestnut Hill Wedding at Pine Manor College

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Abby & Ger

From Abby: “When Lisa asked us what our most cherished photo was, there was no question. Here we were sitting in the middle of a field on the coast of Ireland on our wedding day. It was incredibly surreal. I love that Lisa was able to capture such a personal moment that shows the sweetness in our relationship and who we are as a couple.”

View my favorite photos from Abby & Ger’s wedding: Ireland Destination Wedding Pt. 1 and Ireland Destination Wedding Pt. 2

I like taking road trips to flea markets, thrift stores, and antique markets. I don’t usually buy much — I mostly just like looking. I keep hoping I’ll find old wedding photographs, but those are hard to come by.  But yesterday at a flea market in central Massachusetts I came upon a wonderful collection of old wedding photographs, and I bought them all! They appear to span the early 1900′s through the 1950′s. Here are two from the earlier part of collection. I have no idea who these people are or where these photographs were taken. All I know is that they were taken by “Warchol’s Studio.” Any ideas? ]]> http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2010/03/i-love-old-wedding-photographs/feed/ 5 http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2010/02/winter-beverly-massachusetts/ http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2010/02/winter-beverly-massachusetts/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:18:43 +0000 lisa http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/?p=3027 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Today I read an article in the NY Times about a US Marine who handed two family photo albums to his Vietnam buddy. Forty years later, his widow is trying to return those albums to their family. To me, family history is one of the most interesting aspects of photography, and wedding photography in particular. I remember reading in Diane Arbus’ biography that she was sort of obsessed with her personal family photographs. I can relate to that.

One of Peter and my favorite things to do is to shop at thrift stores and flea markets. It’s amazing how often I’ll find old wedding and family photos at these places. If you search eBay for “vintage wedding photos” or “vintage photos” you’ll get tons of hits. I think it’s sad that these photos don’t know their families — or vice versa.

Sometimes I think about how my love of family documents and old photographs is part of why I love photographing weddings. My family photos are one of my dearest treasures, and I hope that the wedding photos I take for clients become part of their family treasures too.

A few years ago I scanned over 1,000 of my family’s photographs, slides, negatives, and postcards and I thought I would share a few here. The first one is a postcard photo of my Uncle John (pictured center on left) just before he went off to WWI. The back of the card reads: “I don’t know where I’m going, but I am on my way.” Luckily he did return from the war and lived a long life. The man in the oval portrait — Uncle Thomas — wasn’t so lucky and never returned from WWI. He would write postcards to his sister (my great-grandmother), that were addressed: “Little Girl.” She’s in a few of these photos too. I love the one of her and her friend with their giant bouffant hair-dos.

Fortunately I know the people and stories behind most of these photos. Many of the WWII photos are of my grandparents, and the tintype photo is an uncle on my father’s side. The woman dressed as a gypsy for Halloween is my Aunt Myra, who I got to meet and know when she was older. Since we’ve lost some of the context, a few of the photos are just plain strange and I have no idea why they were taken. Although sometimes those are the ones I find most interesting: a photo of a child’s empty bedroom, a female torso standing next to a dying poinsettia plant, a television in a dark room.

I’ll leave it to you to figure out which of these photos includes me. ]]> http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2010/02/family-history-needs-a-family/feed/ 6 http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2010/02/weekend-in-nyc/ http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2010/02/weekend-in-nyc/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:52:57 +0000 lisa http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/?p=2740 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Peter and I spent the weekend in NYC. We pretty much spent the whole time on the Lower East Side: stayed at the Thompson LES, ate dinner at Congee Village, and Peter performed two nights at the Bowery Ballroom. Even though it was possibly the coldest weekend yet this winter, we had a fabulous time!

Whenever I go on “vacation,” I rarely photograph as much as I’d like. I’m too busy living in the moment, which is hard to do when you’re trying to document moments. Anyway, here are a few photos from this weekend. Check out our room at the Thompson LES — with floor to ceiling windows it was amazing! We booked it through Tablet, which I highly recommend for great deals on funky hotels.