This year has been both a boon and a bust for photography. A boon in part because camera and lens technology continues to advance in leaps and bounds with new flagship tech being released by Sony, Nikon, and Canon that firmly plants mirrorless technology into the lexicon of professional photo imaging, sealing the fate of DSLRs permanently.
That’s great for the tech, but pandemic life has severely damaged the prospects for event photographers due to the canceling or delaying of public events across the spectrum. So, when I received a request to shoot a young couple’s engagement photos, I sprang at the opportunity to get out with my camera equipment on location and to capture the magic of a charming young couple.
I approached the shoot the way I do all of my shoots, with a dialogue. When I worked as a therapist, I began all of my sessions by asking questions and listening. And, although there are stark differences between photography and therapy, there are some similarities as well - both are about capturing the essence of relationship by guiding your subjects (“clients” in the therapeutic lexicon) into expressions of their true selves. Only with photography I get to engage my clients in a dialogue about their relationship, with a focus on all that is unique, cherished, and passionate about their love. With therapy, the dialogue is the focus. Whether it is functional and loving, or dysfunctional, and hateful, it (and my emotional filter) is the tool that I used to cultivate growth and change. So, both have the same goal. Getting to truth, and both use storytelling to get there. Only one uses light and technology, and the other uses empathy and dialogue to get to the truth…same destination, slightly different journey.
And, as is true for most things, it is the journey, not the destination, that matters. With photography, story-telling is all important. Simple images taken without a compelling narrative are just that…images. They are still captivating, but they lack the tone and impact that true photojournalism brings to the fore.
My goal with this young couple and with all of my images is to capture images that tell the compelling story of their love. Each image when stitched together should evoke aspects of what is currently calling them to deepen their relationship to one another. So, when I interviewed them for their engagement shoot, it was important to me that I learn about their backgrounds, how they met, what they currently do for work or enjoyment, and where they are planning to hold their wedding and why.
With these points covered, the next piece of the puzzle is discussing their stylistic preferences. A couple’s story is only part of the fabric of the narrative that we weave together, we also use photographic techniques to provide tone and tempo for their story. Shooting utilizing a modern photographic approach with strobes brings a completely different aesthetic to the narrative than shooting in high-key. And capturing images in sepia tone brings a completely different flavor than straight black and white photography. These stylistic elements help weave the narrative of their story and are critical to determining how I approach my photographic work with my clients. As a therapist this amounts to the difference between working with clients using a cognitive behavioral approach to psychotherapy as opposed to taking a more psychoanalytic or family systems approach with your clients. Each may be effective as an intervention, but the journey you take, and the tools you use to get there, will be strikingly different.
I shot this young couple on a beautiful, brisk, and sunny day in early December 2021. We chose two locations - the San Jose Rose Garden and a recently painted mural in downtown San Jose. Prior to the shoot, I shared examples of my photographic preferences and technique work - and my clients expressed a desire to do our shoot utilizing two primary styles: high key and modern strobed. We also agreed on two wardrobe changes during the shoot - one formal, one casual. The goal was to capture their dynamic and to retell the moment of their November engagement using props which they would provide and I would setup and light.
The shoot was a stunning success. I was able to provide the clients a warm and captivating album capturing the tone of their engagement, the tempo of their relationship, and the breadth of their shared interests. As a photojournalist, I’m proud to be able to once again help people stitch together healthy and loving relationships and to use my skills with a camera, lens, and light (as opposed to therapeutic interventions) to capture their stories and to provide my clients with a healthy and supportive container to explore and imagine the highest prospects for their relationship.