Why You Want A Storyteller For A Photographer
Photography is an art, and just like other forms of art there are many different ways to approach it. When it comes to capturing an event like your wedding, you may be after more than just “pretty” pictures. I know I always tell my couples that I want them to look back at their images years from now and feel what they felt on that day. To do this, I don’t focus solely on the big moments like the first kiss or first dance, etc. I make sure to keep my eyes open for those in-between moments that aren’t planned or rehearsed - the kind of moments that just happen when two people lose themselves in each other. Below, I’ve mentioned a few ways that storytelling can play a role in capturing your big day. You only get one shot at capturing the energy of the moment so be sure to find the right person for the role.
Emotion - Storytelling helps bring emotion to the surface. Whether it's joy, sadness, awe, or nostalgia storytelling guides the audience through an emotional journey, making the photograph more memorable.
Context - Having a story behind the photograph provides context and meaning. This helps explain what’s happening in the image and why it holds significance. Images can be beautifully processed with a nice composition and still feel empty if the story is lacking.
Moments - Storytelling allows photographers to capture not just moments, but the essence of those moments. By framing their images within a narrative, the photographer can convey the atmosphere, mood and dynamics of a scene, transporting viewers into that moment in time. This is why some images allow you to quickly bring up memories associated with them and others don’t.
Expression - Storytelling in photography is a form of personal expression. It allows the photographer to show their perspective, experience and feelings through their work, creating a unique voice and style that distinguishes their images from others. As I’ve mentioned plenty of times in the past, photographers are very different from each other. It’s important to find someone you connect with whose approach fits what you’re looking for.
Engagement - When an image is captured in a way that relates a story it captures your attention and holds it. Stories draw people in, encourage them to linger on an image and provoke thought and discussion.
Storytelling, to me, is a crucial piece to any art. As the artist, we need to have something to say and we use your story as a guide when putting our visual words together. Keep this in mind when searching for your photographer and you’ll be loving the end result.