I was attending my cousin’s wedding where I noticed the priority and importance given to a set of people, who mostly were strangers, but they were pretty much calling the shots at the event. I am talking about the team who flashes extreme bright unpleasant light across the stage, onto your faces sparing nobody from their expensive, fancy clicks of their cameras. Yes, I am talking about ‘team photography.’
You obviously know and have witnessed how these wedding photographers form the crux of any wedding (probably more than the bride and groom themselves), bearing the burden of capturing life’s priceless moments that are to be eventually edited to resemble nothing like you. They have to be everywhere at the event, prepared to not miss anything real or artificial, especially the wedding couple. What was started ages ago as a simple task to photograph the wedding rituals, couple, family and guests, is now turning out to be an intrusive task, sure to anger someone or the other. In an attempt, to capture the best ‘poses’ they would go to any lengths or heights (seen those drones?). Well, doesn’t sound that bad I am sure, but how about when you have 10-15 photographers whizzing around the stage wanting to capture everything? I find it overwhelming just looking at this as a member from a corner of the hall (see how I hide from the limelight). What’s worse is how they place themselves around the stage such that, the audience who have come from far and near are seated to not only watch the wedding but to get a good look at their rears. How cute.
I know it’s their profession and that’s what they are here for, but maybe somewhere it goes a little out of hand in their search of professional excellence. The team directs every shot and movement that happens at the wedding, barging between every custom or ritual, like a member of their clan, unashamed and unaware of the glares surrounding them. They take nearly 100 clicks for a single pose of the bride/groom just to capture the best. This process continues for another 100 poses. Exhausted and maybe a little embarrassed after the long,continuous, sometimes edgy poses given by the couple, they retire hoping this long day is done. Frankly, as an audience I am hoping the same. Let me retire from this memory.
