I can only photograph what’s there.
I stress that to the people I shoot for all the time. Delivering photographs that have power, impact, drama, beauty and emotion is not just the responsibility of the photographer. The subjects have more to do with that than I do. Not even the best photographer can photoshop romance or love into a photograph when it doesn’t exist between your camera’s focus point.
The subjects must provide those parts of the collaboration for this kind of result.
Mrs. Julia Roeling and U.S. Navy Lt. Ryan Roeling.
Mrs. Julia Roeling and U.S. Navy Lt. Ryan Roeling.
Julia and Ryan are the perfect couple to shoot with. They’re both confident and classy to begin with.
Basically, all I have to do is show up, set exposure and focus and press the shutter.
Mrs. Julia Roeling (Waters).
Any hack with a camera could photograph her and have great results. (It does, however, take a professional photographer with working knowledge of using, manipulating and controlling light, creativity, composition, camera control, working photojournalism, as well as the knowledge of how to inject and document emotion, and create drama to photograph her like THAT. (Smile)
Julia and Ryan gave me unlimited freedom to decide how to do their portraits. So, how do you make those decisions?
As always, Julia was beautiful, elegant and regal on her wedding day. She should be photographed in ways that capture and display those qualities.
Ryan is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and an active duty Officer in the U.S. Navy.
He should be photographed to reflect a sense of power and presence, as well as to capture his dignity, pride and masculinity.
U.S. Navy Lt. Ryan Roeling on his Wedding Day.
I always strive to deliver images with power, drama and emotion, but this wedding held kind of a special responsibility to me. I got my initial training and experience as a photojournalist in the Navy. It’s one of the reasons Ryan and Julia told me that they hired me for the day.
Ryan is quite familiar with the level of professionalism and the incredible amount of training that goes into preparing someone for service in the military. He knows that whether you’re a U.S. Navy photojournalist, a pilot, a surface warfare officer, a bubble-head (submarine corps), a cook, a yeoman, a security guard or someone’s wing man, that when you’re called upon to do your job, it happens. Instinctively.
And, one never forgets it. I’ve been off active duty for more than 15 years, yet my shutter finger and my mind still function as a single unit.
There was one other reason I wanted to do an incredible job for Ryan and Julia (and their warm, fun families and friends) is because I respect Lt. Ryan and those like him for the sacrifices they give to us all with their Military service. And, of course, to Mrs. Julia for her new role as a Navy wife. It’s also a very difficult, demanding responsibility.
Stepping down from my soapbox, I will close with this: I can only photograph what’s there.
You’ve seen the romantic, formal photographs (albeit only a tiny, tiny fraction of them). Believe me, those shots were only the beginning of what Ryan, Julia and, myself and my assistant Broderick Winn did together before the ceremony. Ryan and Julia chose to see each other before the ceremony and to spend an hour together shooting pre-ceremony portraits. It’s becoming quite the popular trend)
But, of course Julia and Ryan like to do other things than simply appear regal.
They appreciate humor and laughter.
One too many paparrazi in the limo following the ceremony.
They understand and embrace love, romance and passion as in this shot from their first dance:
Romantic First Dance.
And, Julia especially, knows the value of tossing a Coach purse as opposed to a bouquet of flowers to make sure that “All the Single Ladies” (ALL the Single Ladies), pursue the toss with vigor, passion and enthusiasm.
Modified Bouquet Toss with a Coach Purse.
I can only photograph what’s there. In this case it was romance and passion, laughter and love and formal military protocol, but also sexy shots, scenes from Top Gun, hijinks and highlights.
PS: If you’ve never seen their engagement session, see my main web site cover photo: www.timboylesphotography.com
If you wish to be notified when their photos are publically posted, leave me a comment or email.
Thank you for reading!
Tim Boyles' Photography Blog 