What does it take to have a personality that works photographing weddings?

There is a subtle balance between staying in the background and being totally engaged with the client and their guests.  As a photojournalistic photographer you are doing your best to capture the special moments that are happening during the entire ceremony and celebration, and even when taking formal portraits.  That said, in order to be able to capture many of these moments your clients and guests need to be comfortable with me as a photographer.  They need to trust me.

At the beginning of each wedding I engage with as many people as I can by taking a complementary photograph of them and showing them the image in my camera.  By doing so I get their permission (in the form of a complement by them normally).  If I have a shot that comes out not quite the way I like, I’ll intentionally delete the photo after showing them indicating to them that I just want good shots of them and I’ll throw away the ones that do not show them well.  I find that after I do this they start spreading the word that the bride and groom have contracted a great photographer and they feel comfortable to act natural around me.  I then enlist the guests to point out things around me that I may not see like the flower girl dancing with the ring bearer. The focus of the wedding and celebration is as it should be on the Bride and Groom.  I dress in a black shirt, pants, jacket, and tie.  I go to the extreme of using black gaffing tape to block out the logos on my equipment so that I can blend in.