Opinion
WARNING: The following is my opinion.
I have just been to another consultation with a bride who has told me that she can’t find anyone else who does wedding photojournalism, many people advertise it, but none seem to practice it. This once again set me down the track of why the South African wedding photography scene is filled with photographers content to do the same old thing. Not just not breaking any boundaries but literally doing the same thing, not even following overseas trends. My not-so-wise-conclusion was that this is what the market wants, so this is what they provide. Not an earth shattering conculsion by any means, but then you start to think as to what drives that market and the answer is the media – yes, I know, another teeth loosening realisation.
Most brides these days read the local mags, which have yet another how-to-choose-your-wedding-photographer article in them and showcase even more photos of brides showing some teeth in ‘natural’ poses. I wouldn’t mind seeing actual articles on wedding photographers who are pushing some new type of photography being featured, or even having name photographers stating what they would look for in a wedding portfolio of another photographer. It would be interesting to me, but then again I have never been a bride.
Last year bride24 and associated mags held a competition for the wedding photographer of the year in which the winning photographer was described as “… this isn’t a frustrated Vogue fashion photographer at work here…” I have nothing against the style of the winning photographer, but to imply that a good wedding photographer shouldn’t employ the same technique or be of the same quality as a fashion photographer is just annoying. I would have paid more money than I have to have had someone like Nigel Bennet or David Sims photograph my wedding. Imagine if David Bailey had shot your wedding or Nick Knight – gorgeous, mysterious potraits, cutting edge photography. Its these guys as well as Selgado and Nachtway who inspire me. If given a chance, would I shoot a spread for Vogue? Damn straight I would, and I can’t imagine many photographers who would think that it was beneath them. Imagine a fashion spread of coal miners shot by Selgado as a fashion spread in Vogue!
OK, just about to get off my soapbox. I just know that more than half the people who visit this site are photographers and I wanted to make my point which is that wedding photography in South Africa seems to be a stagnant style and we need a bit of a shakeup and it probably isn’t going to come from the media. My photography isn’t fashion photography, it isn’t portraiture. Its photojournalism inspired by fashion photography, conceptual ads and people like Marcus Bell and Nick Knight. I capture the real moments, the emotions and feelings I see in front of me. Am I a frustrated Vogue fashion photographer, ne, I’m more of a Harper’s Bazaar (or Dazed and Confused on some days) person.
These images are protected by copyright, no use of any images shall be granted without the written permission from Dror Eyal Photography.
