IT BEGINS WITH TRUST
The key to capturing creative portraits is to gain the trust of your subjects and to get them to buy into your vision. Once they are on board, it gets progressively easier to suggest unorthodox portrait ideas. And sometimes the bride, groom or member of the bridal party will come up with their own off-the-wall ideas for portraits.
Since the couple will be spending the most important day of their lives with you, establishing this relationship early on will pay off in gold on the big day. If you want to be seen as the visionary you truly are, you must pave the road with confidence, conviction and a sincere empathy for the couple’s needs. Your clients will go to the moon with you if they believe you have their back.
This means you must be attuned to the things that matter most to your couple. And not just the obvious “how we fell in love” moment. Listen to their reasons for choosing the wedding locale; who is doing the readings; the style of music for their ceremony, etc. The more you’re a part of their wedding “story’, the easier it becomes for them to see you as a vested partner in their happiness. Remember, ‘engagement’ doesn’t always mean two people and a ring.
Of course, this bond will only grow stronger on the wedding day. A great way to keep your clients at ease is to continually talk to them; reassuring them that you’re getting some great shots while showing them what a genuinely fun time you’re having. If you can, call everyone in the wedding party by name and even crack some jokes if you want. The more you break down that barrier, the easier it becomes to get inspired and creative.