I also included my son because he wasn’t about to let his sister have all the fun.
Massive Trucks and A Beautiful Wedding | Richard J Nieves Photography
Here’s some edits from a recent wedding I photographed in Pennsylvania.
The edit is warmer than I would normally make it, but the vibe of the day and the couple called for it.
These two were awesome. Everyone was cool. Not a lot of jitters all around, even in the toughest of moments. A solid wedding through and through.
Two Narrators, One Great Tale
Recently, I decided that all of my wedding packages will include two photographers or videographers.
That decision was made because I feel like only 1 person alone couldn’t do justice to the story of a couple. You have your lead who is focused on getting the traditional imagery that tells the broader story of a wedding, but the second is the person who fills in the gaps and gives you a more detailed vision of the day. They’re the ones capturing moments the lead isn’t focused on. They’re the one telling the smaller stories within the grand design.
I wouldn’t want to deliver anything less to my couples.
The Most Important Question You Can Ask Your Wedding Photographer
I was talking to a peer, a videographer, the other day regarding other photographers he’s worked with. A lot, too many, have told him they rarely, if at all, use flash at any point during the weddings.
That is straight up loony.
The most important tool we have as photographers, outside of the camera in our hands, is light of any kind.
Natural light is the most powerful and useful light we can use to make moments feel cinematic and beautiful.
That’s why, when we’re about to start photographing indoors, the first couple of things we do is turn off the lights and bring you close to a window.
Throughout the day, we’re going to be in different lighting situations that may not allow us to use natural light. In that moment, we have to bring out a flash or something to compensate.
A wide aperture can’t always save a photo.
I’m just blown away by fellow photographers who would rather deliver a mediocre image than learn the basics of a speed light and use it to their and their couple’s advantage.
If you’re looking for a photographer for your wedding, please ask the photographer how they light a scene. You’ll learn so much about the quality of your potential wedding gallery with that one question.
Angela and Brandon's Engagement Session at Pine Lake Park, NJ
Simple and Beautiful | A Pine Lake Park Engagement Session | Richard J Nieves Photography
One of the skills you must have as a wedding photographer is the ability to guide a pose from clients that is authentic and characteristic of them and their relationship.
I’d say it’s honestly the most difficult tasks as a photographer, especially a wedding photographer who works with different people on a regular basis.
You want to show and celebrate the couple’s love for each other and show their viewers that this couple absolutely loves each other.
How do you do that?
What I do is set my expectations. Essentially, I completely demolish them going into a session. I immediately have stories in my head, as I work my couples, that I want to see. I’m driven by cinema. I turn their session into a short film and I figure out the way the story is going to go through photography. The story is of the couple just being together. Loving each other as only they know how.
Simple and beautiful. How do I convey a simple and beautiful rendition of their love through my eyes?
Those are the thoughts and roads my mind goes through as I’m working with couples.
The One Thing You Should Never Do In Front Of A Client
Source: Pexels
Warning: I’m going to go on a rant. I saw behavior from a peer that truly dumbfounded me.
Working alongside other photographers and videographers gives me a truly great point of reference for how to act in front and away from couples.
Recently, I worked alongside a photographer that showed me a great example of how to not act, especially in front of clients.
This photographer, who was the lead photographer this day, was absolutely manic in their posing. The way he posed allowed for beautiful imagery, but at the cost of the couple’s patience. That is something I truly cannot get behind. That should never be the cost of our work as wedding photographers.
The photographer was also constantly at odds with the videographers. He wasn’t willing to work in a manner that allowed the videographers to create the quality the clients paid for.
Here’s the one thing you should NEVER do in front of a client. He was combative and rude with the videographers in front of the clients and at one point in front of everyone at the ceremony. At one point, they were positioning the groom for the first look. They kept moving him around because they couldn’t decide on proper lighting because of harsh shadows created by trees nearby. I could tell the moment was getting sour for the groom. That should never be the case, especially before a first look.
The session got even more tense as time went on. By the end of the session, the couple was done with photography and videography.
For this person, the videographers were an after thought and his work was priority. That is not the case.
Clients are paying a lot of money for both photographers and videographers to have their wedding documented and their love displayed in a manner that is uncommon to them. Both parties, even on a day like a wedding where time is usually strained, should have their moment to get the imagery they need to tell a compelling story for their couples.
Okay, rant over. I’m sorry. I don’t normally get this riled up, but boy, oh boy. This hit hard as a service provider.
The Inn at Erlowest on Lake George.
My First Time Photographing A Wedding At A Castle on Lake George 😄 | Richard J Nieves Photography
I recently photographed a wedding of a college friend of mine up at Lake George. Specifically, we were at The inn at Erlowest, a castle build on the edge of the lake.
Checkout their gallery here.
We stayed at one of the townhouses on the left.
My bride Leslie was so gracious and paid for me and my wife, my second photographer, to stay the night. We got in pretty late, but we could still see how beautiful the lake was with the star riddled sky as a night light. It was still beautiful. We had a little patio so I stood in the cool air for a bit and watched the dark lake rest before I did the same.
The day of the wedding was absolutely beautiful, expect for maybe the direct sun that joined us but I wont focus on that too much.
What I will focus on is this couple.
Leslie’s been a friend ever since we met during our first year at SUNY Morrisville. She was part of a gang of architects who I quickly became close with. She has always been focused, driven, and light hearted.
I first met Brian back when I photographed another college friend’s wedding whom me and Leslie and are both friends with. Like Leslie, he is a pretty chill dude.
Leslie and Brian are two peas in a pod. Organized. Detail oriented. Laid back and we’re ready to just enjoy their wedding day, and that they did.
As a wedding photographer, you’re up in the nitty gritty and seeing everything from a closer than bird’s eye view. I can tell you there were absolutely no hiccups during the day. Nothing to trip anybody up. If anything, we sometimes had too much time on our hands, that helped a lot with making sure we got details and candids.
By the way, I love my wife so much as my second. She truly isn’t afraid to ask strangers for photos and to work for my couples. I couldn’t ask for anyone better.
My wife is also my practice subject before I put my couples in place. Thanks, love!
I couldn’t ask for a better coupe either, and I appreciate them for allowing me the honor of being there for their wedding. I always have to give thanks to my couples. It means so much to have them allow us to be a small part of their wedding day and to preserve their special day the way me and my wife do.
Maggie and Kevin's Engagement Session
Ana and Delbert's Wedding Highlight Film | Richard J Nieves Photography
Ana and Delbert's Wedding Highlights Film filmed by Richard J Nieves Photography - A Look at their Day!
Ana and Delbert's Wedding was one of the most special days of their lives. These two are so adorable together and it was a pleasure to be able to document their big day! When I first met Ana and her future husband, Delbert, you could feel the wedding day jitters, but also a calmness and joy that would take over and push those jitters to the side. As I got to know them, I could see the strong chemistry they shared. The attention to each other they shared so deeply. The details couldn’t have been more perfect. They were both huge Harry Potter fans and it showed in the best of ways. Everything about their day blended together perfectly because these two are just so amazing! Here’s a look back at some of my favorite wedding highlights!
My Kid Cheats at Pin The Scar On The Harry
This young lady turned 9 not too long ago.
After so long, you watch these kids come into their own and it’s just incredible. This one has been through a lot, and she still has so much to go through.
