Working with a Videographer to Achieve a Cinematic Wedding Portrait.

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

Working with a Videographer to Achieve a Cinematic Wedding Portrait.

Before anything else, can we please just take a minute to appreciate this cape? What a look! I am so here for this level of drama. So now we have that out of the way, let’s focus on the image.

Captured by the immensely talented Scottish photographer, Meggy Mac, this real wedding image exudes a level of sophistication that wouldn’t be out of place in the pages of Vogue Hommes.

The cinematic edge it possesses is particularly noteworthy, and learning that Meggy collaborated with a videographer sheds light on the dynamic and unique quality that sets it apart, even against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.

The decision to embrace a black and white treatment adds a layer of mystique, leaving us, the viewers, intrigued for the rest of this particular story. The tension in the frame, accentuated by the distance between the subjects and their gazes fixed on different points, ignites curiosity about what preceded and followed this particular shot.

This image serves as a testament to the versatility of wedding photography. It doesn’t always have to conform to the lovey-dovey stereotype. Couples, as evident here, might have a strong aesthetic vision for their day, injecting a sense of dynamic and compelling visual storytelling. It’s a reminder that each wedding is a unique canvas, allowing for the creation of images that not only document but also encapsulate the essence and style of the couple. ???

THE DETAILS

CAMERA: Canon EOS R6 | Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L

ISO 640 | f2.5 | 1/640

PRESET: Chasewild Signature BW

WHAT MEGGY SAID

“I know videographers and photographers can sometimes be on differing pages, however, I would say if you can work in tandem together you can actually end up with different setups and more interesting, cinematic viewpoints than you may have otherwise chosen.”

“This shot was taken at the top of the Johnnie Walker Experience building on Princes St in Edinburgh. The views in the centre of the old town of the city are amazing, but I’d only ever really been aware of them from the other end of Princes St, so this was a nice surprise to get a more elevated view of Edinburgh Castle.

I worked in tandem with the videographers on this shot, with us both wanting to make sure we got the castle in the background, but also adding a little more depth than both grooms just stood together almost obscuring the castle from view. The videographers originally wanted to put Peter and Charlie behind one another and I believe move in and out of focus between faces then I built on this position, and moved them to work for the shot I wanted.

As Peter had such an amazing cape on, I wanted this to be a focus and not hidden behind, so this pose works well for that and it leads the eye nicely towards Charlie and then the castle behind.”

THE TECH TALK

Working with a videographer to achieve a cinematic wedding portrait.

“I know videographers and photographers can sometimes be on differing pages when it comes to wedding shoots, however I would say if you can work in tandem together and bounce ideas around one another, you can actually end up with different set ups and more interesting, cinematic viewpoints than you may have otherwise chosen. I know some videographers choose to not direct and allow the photographer to fully take charge, but if videographers do also want to pose then utilise this and observe the situation, don’t just wait until your turn if that makes sense. You can often see things you might not have otherwise noticed while they are posing and you can build on that or get some alternative shots while they are filming, like a second shooter would from other angles if you were directing.”

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