Creative wedding photography comes from the heart

What do we mean when we refer to 'creative wedding photography'? In reality, the phrase probably means many different things to as many different people. In fact in any field the word 'creative' is entirely subjective, and liable to vastly varying interpretations. Today, I see a lot of wedding photography in the 'fun & quirky' style which is really popular. I see photographs of couples standing arms length apart, facing the camera and showing no connection to one another. This is one interpretation of creative, but personally I find it hard to connect to a photograph of two people in love if I see no connection between them.

To my mind, creative wedding photography is not about being different for the sake of being different. It's about finding a unique way to tell the story of a wedding day. It's about working under pressure and still seeing opportunities to make amazing photographs.

The image below from Sanja & Liam's wedding at Cecil Green in UBC was taken after the ceremony when the guests had left for the reception. I saw the scene where minutes earlier two people committed the rest of their lives to one another, and I wanted to use it as the backdrop to this casual portrait of the newlyweds....

For me the art of photographing a wedding can be divided into two parts: the reactive, and the creative. The reactive incorporates the parts of the day where I have no control over what happens. All I can do is use my judgement to find the best way to frame what unfolds before me. The creative parts of the day are when I get to make little suggestions, maybe we should go here, maybe we should try this or that. I am always careful to be subtle and understated in the way I communicate my ideas, because it's important above all else that good energy flows at all times. The expressions must be heartfelt and sincere.

I love both aspects of wedding photography, the creative and the reactive, but I definitely feel a greater sense of pride in an image where I was able to use my creativity to produce something which I know my clients will treasure forever.

Creative wedding photography should never feel false or contrived. Rather it should feel natural and spontaneous, as all the best moments in life are. There is no formula, no step-by-step process. Such things are the enemy of creativity. One has to see with the heart, as well as the eye. If your heart's not in it, then you'll never find those moments of real emotion and sincerity.

As human beings we are predisposed to looking to the eyes for visual clues. We know innately that the eyes never lie. This is as true in photography as it is in everyday life. When we look at a photograph we look at the eyes to determine the 'truthfulness' within. This is something I am keenly aware of whenever I create a photograph. In my book, veracity comes before artistry every time. It's the reason I photograph weddings instead of fashion.

Juna Photography is a boutique wedding and portrait photography studio based in Vancouver, BC. It was founded in 2009 by me, Justin Morrison, with the aspiration of creating soulful imagery that portrays the love and deep connections that my clients feel. My goal is to create photography that will be treasured for a lifetime and passed on to future generations.
If you would like to schedule a consultation to discuss your wedding day, Please follow the link below.