Thasvindran & Uma Devi

Thasvindran & Uma Devi | November 6, 2022 | Holy Tree Sri Balasubramaniar Temple, Singapore

As a Wedding photographer, each time you take a photo, you are constantly making conscious decisions about what items to include or exclude from your frame. There are photographers who will go the extra mile to move and rearrange décor and objects simply because they prefer to keep their images clean and “clutter-free”. On the other hand, there are those who incorporate all the elements that are present to create a narrative out of that frame.

Now, as a client, you might wonder which is better. Here’s my take. At Jacob’s Artography, I believe that there is a time and place for both types of photography. As a Documentary wedding photographer, during an event, I do not rearrange anything, let alone remove items because they are “in my way”. Instead, I change my positions, play with composition so that the elements in the photo take a different perspective. I often find myself coordinating the elements to tell a better story, highlight strong emotions, and most importantly, find a perspective that brings out meaning behind the photo. To me, it’s not just about capturing what is happening, because the chances of everyone present at the event seeing the same thing as me is high. So, I make it a point to include other elements that are happening concurrently, which tend to go unnoticed by the lot.

Having said all these, I too, have shots that are aesthetically pleasing or “clean”. Usually, this applies to portrait photos, where the bride and groom step aside from all the hustle and bustle of the wedding process to get a few of their shots taken. However, during the editing process, if I feel that editing an image and giving it a clean look would enhance its final outlook, I would then (only then) go for it.

At the end of the day, what you should have is an album, filled with beautiful memories, not a wedding magazine. I believe that incorporating both real and raw moments with clean and aesthetically pleasing photographs gives your wedding album a storyline that you can keep revisiting throughout the years.

Cheers!