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.

In late July I spent a few days in Seattle at Jonathan Canlas’ workshop Film Is Not Dead. Some people are surprised that I’ve never been to a photography-related workshop, lecture or conference. I think I was waiting for the right workshop. It’s so important who you learn from.

I was looking for something authentic. When I saw Jonathan’s images and learned about FIND, I thought “this is the real deal.” Jonathan says that he keeps no secrets and that is no lie — just check out his Formspring page. So I signed up for FIND Seattle.

At FIND Seattle, I learned things about posing, prints, and story-telling that I can begin applying to my business right now. And film photography has opened a whole new world to me — I have never processed images as beautifully as RPL has done with the Kodak Portra images above.* I left Seattle so excited and energized about photography that I couldn’t wait to get back to Boston to photograph my next wedding.

In the spirit of generosity I found at FIND Seattle, I want to share Jonathan’s FIND Guide. As a FIND associate, I do receive a small proceed from any guides sold. But I would be telling you about it anyway. If you’re in my neck of the woods — Boston — then get ready for FIND Boston 2012. I highly, highly recommend this workshop.

By now you get it. I’m excited about photography and I’m nuts about film and I’m crazy about FIND. So crazy in fact, that I’ve already signed up for the FIND workshop in Ibiza, Spain next year. See you there.

*I shot all of the photographs in this post at FIND Seattle with a Canon EOS-1v, Kodak Portra 400 & 800.

One year ago I switched from a flash portfolio site  to a blog-based wedding photography website. It was a great business decision and I’ve never looked back. While I’ve been happy that my blog is the first thing most web visitors encounter, I still needed an area where people could view my best wedding photographs all in once place. I wanted an image-based space where people could experience the photographs without a lot of text or other visual distractions. Since the iPad is one of my favorite gadgets, it was also important that the site not use flash.

So please take some time to visit my new portfolio site. Even though it’s very simple, I promise to keep things interesting by rotating the photographs on a regular basis.

To say goodbye to 2010, I created a slideshow of some of my favorite wedding photographs from the past 12 months. After photographing 43 weddings, 15 engagement sessions, and delivering more than 25,000 images to my clients this year, I’ll be taking some time off between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Thank you so much to all the couples who shared their wedding day with me this year!

Hello all! I just thought I would give an update on where I’m at with wedding photography bookings for next year. I’m about 50 percent booked for 2011, with many of the prime dates from May through October already taken. But don’t be dissuaded! I still have 50 percent of next year’s dates available. If 2011 is anything like 2010, all dates will be filled by March.

Next year I’m slated to photograph weddings at venues around Boston, Newport, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. Some are big and beautiful, others are tiny and quaint, a few are rustic, there’s also modern & artsy… you name it. Locations include Fuller Gardens, the Holden Inn, Marianapolis Preparatory School, Artists For Humanity Epicenter, the Boston College Club,  the W Hotel in Boston, Jones River Trading, Belding House Bed & Breakfast, and the DeCordova Museum. I’ll also be going back to the Overbrook House, the Lenox Hotel, the MIT Chapel, the Boston Public Library, the Pierce House, the State Room, and Belle Mer in Newport.

And finally, what is a photographer’s blog post without photos? These are some of my favorite ROCKS! The first one below, is a very cool natural diamond from Whitney & Phil’s destination wedding in La Jolla, California (coming to a blog near you very soon).

I’ve been photographing weddings every weekend and so busy with editing, photographing, and meeting with clients that I haven’t updated my blog in a bit. Now that I’m getting caught up, I’m so excited to share all of these wonderful weddings with you as full blog features in the next few weeks. We’ll see a vegan wedding at Deerfield Academy, a wedding with the most beautiful floral designs at Belle Mer in Newport, yet another wedding at the MIT Chapel and Oleana with an adorable couple who make their own chocolates, and more.

Also, bookings for  2011 are in full swing! I’m about 25% booked for next year, which is kind of crazy scary since most of my inquiries usually come in after January of the same year. I hope I still have dates available by then! ]]> http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2010/07/summer-weddings-update/feed/ 5