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The People Person - Lori Berkowitz Offers Her Professional Tips on Wedding Photography by Jeff D. Kent Interview by Jeff D. Kent Article rating: 8.11

TakeGreatPictures.com: Tell us a little bit about how you approach a wedding shoot.
Lori Berkowitz: We know the shots we have to get, like the processional into the church, the exchange of rings, and that sort of thing. When we’re not shooting those shots, we’re always looking for the things the average person attending the event would probably miss.

So we go in for the details, but we also make sure to capture the overall scene. We take wide shots of the ceremony site. We capture the environment from a distance or an elevated perspective. We try to provide a viewpoint that the bride and groom would never see unless we captured it for them. 

We also concentrate on eyes and smiles, and on capturing the emotions of the day. We want feelings to be associated with the images so that when people look at the photographs, they will relate them with the emotions they felt that day.

TGP: How do you prepare for a wedding job?
LB: Every job is different. We try to do an onsite walk through with the bride and groom a couple weeks before the event. As time consuming as it sounds, it always pays off because we’re prepared for the situation and we can get our minds set on the bride and groom’s vision.

TGP: Describe your lighting for a fast-moving event like a wedding.
LB: We shoot weddings year-round, so natural light isn’t always an option during the winter months when it gets dark early. We’ve learned to work really well with our flashes. We have Canon 580 Speedlite flashes on our Canon digital SLRs. If we have time, if the moment is still there, we’ll get a candid without flash and then get the same shot with flash. Then we can compare and keep the better shot. 

We also work with a lot with auto sync. If I need more light on a portrait, Gastone might hold a flash off to one side and sync it to go off at the same time as my camera’s flash. This technique works well to cover a group about 10 people.

TGP: Do you stand back and shoot from distance, or do you get in the action and mix it up with the guests?
LB: I get pretty close. I’m petit, though, so it never seems like I’m in your face. I’m in there getting my shot, never in background.

Gaston is bigger than me. He has the ability to take the overall shot from a little farther back. It’s a nice complement to my style.

Most clients say they didn’t realize we were there. We work well together and use different approaches to get two different perspectives. However, we’re never intrusive.

TGP: Describe your interaction with your clients.
LB: We spend a lot of time meeting with clients before the wedding and getting to know them. It’s important for us to figure out what they want. Not everyone wants the same thing or wants an event covered the same way. That keeps it interesting for us, because we’re not doing the same thing over and over again. It keeps our work fresh. Also, it helps us establish a relationship with us clients. If the bride and groom and their parents are comfortable with us, then everyone is comfortable. When that happens, we can get much better images.

TGP: Do you do a lot of posing or prompting of your subjects? Or do you prefer to let them behave naturally and capture in a more photojournalistic fashion?
LB: There are always the must-have shots of the wedding party and families. We definitely pose those to make sure we get everything. However, during those posed shots, I do the straight-on shots while Gastone photographs in between my shots to capture some interesting candids. Sometimes those are the best images, those shots of people in a group when they don’t know they’re being photographed. They tend to act more naturally and come off more relaxed.

During the reception and other times, I’m pretty hands-off. I try to manipulate myself to get in position rather than moving people around.

TGP: What overall trends are you seeing in wedding photography and how do they affect your business?
LB: There are a lot more photographers shooting in less traditional ways. It’s created a situation where there are a lot more options for brides and grooms, which is great. I’m even more flattered when they choose me.

TGP: With so many images surrounding people in their daily lives—magazines, television, the Internet, et cetera—do you feel that today’s brides and grooms are more educated visually than previous generations?
LB: No. I think they are extremely over-stimulated. It’s hard for them to focus. They’ve seen all the TV shows and read all the wedding magazines, and there are all these lists of questions they think they’re supposed to ask. They have all these pictures flying through their heads. It gets very complicated for them. But really, your wedding photography should be simple.

Clients used to come in and refer to images they saw on my web site. Now they come and say, “Did I see this on your site or someone else’s? I can’t remember.” It’s as if they’re taking in too much. They just need to breathe and focus on their wedding. They need to figure out what they want and let the rest fall away.

TGP: What advice would you give to a couple who are trying to find a wedding photographer?
LB: It has to be a match. The photographer’s work needs to be consistent with what you want for your wedding images. And personality is very important. You have to trust the photographer. Go with your gut on that one.

Of course, do all the regular things like checking references and asking around for referrals. If you have it in your budget, be willing to pay for experience. It really does make a difference

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© 2006 Lori Berkowitz

When asking about a photographer, find out how he behaves at the wedding. The most important thing for a photographer is to always remain calm. It’s a highly stressful day for a lot of people, but it shouldn’t be stressful for the photographer. He should know what his job is and be able to do it without breaking the calm.

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	I enjoyed the article and picked up on a few tidbits of info. Posted by: Debbie Biersdorfer Jul 6, 2006 @ 1:1 PM EST
	thought it was very useful Posted by: chris Aug 24, 2006 @ 11:5 AM EST
	I found a few tips but most of all I found out what I have been doing is ok. It sure is a busy time when you are the only photographer. Posted by: William Stancliff Oct 13, 2006 @ 8:53 PM EST
	Like William, this article boosted my confidence that I am doing the right thing! I am a solo photographer hoping to find another to help me on my quest to do this for a living. I find Lori's images quite inspiring. Posted by: Jennifer Hazel Jan 10, 2007 @ 2:59 PM EST
	Excellent Posted by: jason accime Mar 3, 2007 @ 2:28 PM EST
	Wow, what a great eye. Nice arrangement and variations of subjects, color choices and angles. I wish I knew about her when I got married! Posted by: Mark Trerotola Apr 4, 2008 @ 4:30 PM EST

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