www.stanjohnsonpix.com
The thing I like best about doing wedding photography is having an opportunity to make pictures of family
gatherings full of emotion, spirit, fun and romance. I think it's wonderful if people believe in romance. I can
sometimes see it linking a bride and a groom, and I'd love to be able to capture that look every time I
photograph a wedding. It can't be faked and the best time to see it is on the wedding day.
I come from a working background with about three years as a military photographer, five years in
journalism and twenty years in school photography and I find that I prefer to work with people who want to
be photographed. That might rule out some of the students I have photographed.
Portraits of people are not something I can do without cooperation from the people in the pictures. To get
results that are real and pleasing a couple must be willing to dedicate the time and attention when it is
required. Usually during a wedding day this only amounts to about two hours, often broken in parts before
the ceremony, right after and a few short times during the reception.
Weddings are often the only opportunities to organize extended family groups where everyone is more or
less happy and able to smile. It is at such gatherings that the importance of family legacy is the most
obvious to everyone who has a sense of time and mortality. I have spent time marveling over family
pictures from the early part of the previous century, wondering about relatives and ancestors who are long
departed.
So I respect a couple who can stand in a pose and smile until the smile is frozen and the jaws hurt. I try
not to require family members to pose for very long, as long as they all remember to be ready when they
are needed. I especially like it when family members cooperate rather than disappearing outside the
church for a cigarette or to the reception bar.
Families who are willing to pose together for the sake of the generations represented, even when some of
these families have been split by divorce or bad feelings, show they care about the pictures as historical
documents. But I really appreciate it when someone warns me in advance not to try to pose certain people
together if the result might be frowns or worse.
It is important to know whether or not I will be permitted to take pictures during the ceremony. I always
have to follow the rules of whoever is conducting the ceremony, whether it is a priest, rabbi, judge or ship's
captain because I don't want to be thrown out of the church, temple or overboard.
But I wish all guests would follow the same rules and be respectful of the ceremony being performed. I
have learned to keep a low profile at gatherings. One of my favorite things is the reaction of someone
seeing a picture of themselves that they didn't even know had been taken.
When I am organizing the families for the group photographs I prefer not to have Aunt Sue taking pictures
over my shoulder. However at receptions I hope everyone to take lots of pictures.
Sometimes there are opportunities for pictures in parks or other outdoor locations before the reception.
Public parks sometimes require permits to use these facilities for pictures and I think it's a wise bride who
arranges this in advance rather than discovering someone else has gotten there first. An alternate
covered or indoor site can save the day in case of bad weather or in case there is no time for pictures in
busy churches after the ceremony.
Once the ceremony and the posed pictures are done, I like seeing a couple who want to have fun and
party. I love to let things happen at receptions rather than try to run the day. This is really the heart of
photojournalism: being able to get pictures of interaction between people rather than interrupting the
conversation or dance and calling for a smile. I prefer to let Aunt Sue get the "look here and smile"
pictures.
I wish more couples would realize that table shots are not the best way to photograph people attending the
reception. I am relieved when I don't have to compete with the servers, interrupt people who are eating
dinner and ask them to get up and stand behind people on the other side of the table. Besides I like to eat.
Couples who desire pictures of specific groups of people are more likely to be pleased with the results if I
organize those groups in some corner or spot near the dining room or reception area. This also pleases
the waiters who need safe and easy access to the tables and the guests who want quick and easy access
to the food. Perhaps there is someone in the wedding party who could help me round up, for instance, a
group of college friends or work buddies.
I am almost always available if someone asks for a spontaneous photo. Lists of desired photographs are
helpful, although I probably don't need a list of every traditional thing planned during the ceremony and
reception. I've photographed about 350 weddings so I have a general idea of events, but I do want to
know about anything special or unique that's planned, especially planned surprises.
I like to coordinate as much as possible with the band or disc jockey and the reception manager so that,
for instance, the cutting of the cake happens when everyone is ready and present. That way it becomes
possible to duck out for a picture by the pond at sunset without the whole reception coming to a
screeching halt.
There's nothing I like better than a couple who have decided that whatever happens on their wedding day,
they are going to be totally into it. I'm happy when I see that the bride and groom aren't trying to bend the
day into some kind of imagined fantasy. Fantasies are more likely to be fulfilled on the honeymoon, and I
don't usually come along for that.
I've always believed the best weddings are very much like an amusement park ride. Couples who have
planned every detail in the months leading up to the wedding seem happiest when they let all of that go on
the wedding day and climb on board for the ride. I am happy when I see nervous brides and grooms
unwind and laugh.
When it comes to business, basically, the more work I do for a couple, the more it costs. I recently
switched to all digital photography and my base package now provides a cd or dvd of images along with a
limited-use copyright release so that clients can make their own prints wherever they want. I can also
provide an album of proofs, many different sizes of reprints and various styles of fine albums, depending
on what the client desires and is willing to pay for.
My prices are a real bargain, based on the amount of work experience and money I've sunk into education
and equipment.
Usually I photograph alone, although I may bring an assistant if a client desires an expanded package.
Some situations might involve setting up backgrounds and lights if time and space permit, but I try to travel
as light as possible so I am able to keep up with the bride and groom. I always bring backup equipment,
and, for those who prefer, my film cameras still work.
I require a non-refundable security deposit for the full base price before the wedding.
New York State Sales Tax will be collected.
I can travel throughout the Capital District area and beyond, although there may be an extra mileage
charge depending on event locations.
I like chicken but am happy with beef if it's well done.
So why might I be an excellent choice as a wedding photographer? Listen: I was happily married until my
wife passed away a few years ago. Despite my sorrow at losing her, the experience of marriage was
excellent and I hope to do it again someday.
I really believe everyone stands a chance of being as happy as I was.
I believe it might show in the pictures.
Love, Stan.
gatherings full of emotion, spirit, fun and romance. I think it's wonderful if people believe in romance. I can
sometimes see it linking a bride and a groom, and I'd love to be able to capture that look every time I
photograph a wedding. It can't be faked and the best time to see it is on the wedding day.
I come from a working background with about three years as a military photographer, five years in
journalism and twenty years in school photography and I find that I prefer to work with people who want to
be photographed. That might rule out some of the students I have photographed.
Portraits of people are not something I can do without cooperation from the people in the pictures. To get
results that are real and pleasing a couple must be willing to dedicate the time and attention when it is
required. Usually during a wedding day this only amounts to about two hours, often broken in parts before
the ceremony, right after and a few short times during the reception.
Weddings are often the only opportunities to organize extended family groups where everyone is more or
less happy and able to smile. It is at such gatherings that the importance of family legacy is the most
obvious to everyone who has a sense of time and mortality. I have spent time marveling over family
pictures from the early part of the previous century, wondering about relatives and ancestors who are long
departed.
So I respect a couple who can stand in a pose and smile until the smile is frozen and the jaws hurt. I try
not to require family members to pose for very long, as long as they all remember to be ready when they
are needed. I especially like it when family members cooperate rather than disappearing outside the
church for a cigarette or to the reception bar.
Families who are willing to pose together for the sake of the generations represented, even when some of
these families have been split by divorce or bad feelings, show they care about the pictures as historical
documents. But I really appreciate it when someone warns me in advance not to try to pose certain people
together if the result might be frowns or worse.
It is important to know whether or not I will be permitted to take pictures during the ceremony. I always
have to follow the rules of whoever is conducting the ceremony, whether it is a priest, rabbi, judge or ship's
captain because I don't want to be thrown out of the church, temple or overboard.
But I wish all guests would follow the same rules and be respectful of the ceremony being performed. I
have learned to keep a low profile at gatherings. One of my favorite things is the reaction of someone
seeing a picture of themselves that they didn't even know had been taken.
When I am organizing the families for the group photographs I prefer not to have Aunt Sue taking pictures
over my shoulder. However at receptions I hope everyone to take lots of pictures.
Sometimes there are opportunities for pictures in parks or other outdoor locations before the reception.
Public parks sometimes require permits to use these facilities for pictures and I think it's a wise bride who
arranges this in advance rather than discovering someone else has gotten there first. An alternate
covered or indoor site can save the day in case of bad weather or in case there is no time for pictures in
busy churches after the ceremony.
Once the ceremony and the posed pictures are done, I like seeing a couple who want to have fun and
party. I love to let things happen at receptions rather than try to run the day. This is really the heart of
photojournalism: being able to get pictures of interaction between people rather than interrupting the
conversation or dance and calling for a smile. I prefer to let Aunt Sue get the "look here and smile"
pictures.
I wish more couples would realize that table shots are not the best way to photograph people attending the
reception. I am relieved when I don't have to compete with the servers, interrupt people who are eating
dinner and ask them to get up and stand behind people on the other side of the table. Besides I like to eat.
Couples who desire pictures of specific groups of people are more likely to be pleased with the results if I
organize those groups in some corner or spot near the dining room or reception area. This also pleases
the waiters who need safe and easy access to the tables and the guests who want quick and easy access
to the food. Perhaps there is someone in the wedding party who could help me round up, for instance, a
group of college friends or work buddies.
I am almost always available if someone asks for a spontaneous photo. Lists of desired photographs are
helpful, although I probably don't need a list of every traditional thing planned during the ceremony and
reception. I've photographed about 350 weddings so I have a general idea of events, but I do want to
know about anything special or unique that's planned, especially planned surprises.
I like to coordinate as much as possible with the band or disc jockey and the reception manager so that,
for instance, the cutting of the cake happens when everyone is ready and present. That way it becomes
possible to duck out for a picture by the pond at sunset without the whole reception coming to a
screeching halt.
There's nothing I like better than a couple who have decided that whatever happens on their wedding day,
they are going to be totally into it. I'm happy when I see that the bride and groom aren't trying to bend the
day into some kind of imagined fantasy. Fantasies are more likely to be fulfilled on the honeymoon, and I
don't usually come along for that.
I've always believed the best weddings are very much like an amusement park ride. Couples who have
planned every detail in the months leading up to the wedding seem happiest when they let all of that go on
the wedding day and climb on board for the ride. I am happy when I see nervous brides and grooms
unwind and laugh.
When it comes to business, basically, the more work I do for a couple, the more it costs. I recently
switched to all digital photography and my base package now provides a cd or dvd of images along with a
limited-use copyright release so that clients can make their own prints wherever they want. I can also
provide an album of proofs, many different sizes of reprints and various styles of fine albums, depending
on what the client desires and is willing to pay for.
My prices are a real bargain, based on the amount of work experience and money I've sunk into education
and equipment.
Usually I photograph alone, although I may bring an assistant if a client desires an expanded package.
Some situations might involve setting up backgrounds and lights if time and space permit, but I try to travel
as light as possible so I am able to keep up with the bride and groom. I always bring backup equipment,
and, for those who prefer, my film cameras still work.
I require a non-refundable security deposit for the full base price before the wedding.
New York State Sales Tax will be collected.
I can travel throughout the Capital District area and beyond, although there may be an extra mileage
charge depending on event locations.
I like chicken but am happy with beef if it's well done.
So why might I be an excellent choice as a wedding photographer? Listen: I was happily married until my
wife passed away a few years ago. Despite my sorrow at losing her, the experience of marriage was
excellent and I hope to do it again someday.
I really believe everyone stands a chance of being as happy as I was.
I believe it might show in the pictures.
Love, Stan.
| stan@stanjohnsonpix.com |
wedding information
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