"All in the Family"

I approach every wedding day the same. I always insist that I am just a vendor and am there to document the day. I try to stay out of the limelight as much as possible and often have been successful with that approach. However, there have been many occasions where the client has insisted that I eat with the guests. That is not how things usually work and I have to say, those events are where we usually get the best captures.

I came to realize long ago that the better the "comfort level" a client has with their photographer, the better the captures. This is because the client and the guest are comfortable with the photographer "being there" in their midst. This is not to say that great captures never come with the more "outsider" approach. Tremendous captures often do. I'm merely suggesting that the more comfort a client has with their photographer, the better the chances of getting great expressions-often when they don't realize or forget that the photographer is even in the room. Inhibitions, self consciousness and caution go out the window.

There have even been instances where the client has insisted that I spend the entire weekend with them and truly amazing shots have been obtained. Also, some of my best memories came from those very events and made me feel very humbled and grateful to be part of such a special and personal day.

I have never approached what I do as a "job" and other vendors have said to me, "wow, you are really hardcore" when I have stayed past the allotted time because of a hiccup in the itinerary. Maybe that's why I have had such wonderful experiences with my clients and them with me.

I encourage you when you are interviewing photographers to ask yourself; "Is he or she someone I really want to have around on the biggest day of my life?" Do I "click" with him?

It "is" possible to have a photographer be extremely professional and yet posses the qualities of someone who is fun loving, a diplomat at times and will never try to be the star of the show. Someone you would actually enjoy having around!

Sincerely,
Steve Dunbar
Principle Photographer
www.dunbarphotographic.com