Why Jonathan McPhail Photography?
I understand that finding the right photographer for your wedding, amongst all of the other wedding-related chores, is no simple task. I truly believe that it is imperative that the bride and groom are a good match for the photographer and that the photographer is a good match for the bride and groom. It is important that all parties feel comfortable with each other as an uncomfortable vibe can create a problematic barrier which may result in a final product that visibly displays negative energy. Nobody wants that!!! As a start in finding where our compatibility lies, here is a little about myself and how I work.
Who Am I?
It is a wedding photographer’s job to make the bride & groom, as well as their guests, feel comfortable in front of the lens. It is also the photographer’s job to have the patience and the experience necessary to get the job done right. I pride myself in having a positive and outgoing personality and I do not let the pressures of a typical wedding day shoot get to me. I also have complete confidence in my craft. I am able to give my subjects the space that they need while, at the same time, earning their trust and submerging myself into the event so that I become a part of it as well.
It is always an honor to be chosen as the photographer for one of the most momentous days of a couple’s lives. It is an experience that I truly appreciate. Whether it be mother nature, human nature, food, or art…it is the aspects of life that are fueled by love that I enjoy shooting the most. Capturing the love that two people share for one another is a prime example of that.
How Do I Prep For a Wedding?
VISITING THE VENUE
Visiting the wedding venue, in advance, is super important when it comes to prepping for your wedding. It allows me to brainstorm ideas for bridal portrait-sessions, bride & groom portrait-sessions, & family/group portrait-sessions. It gives me time to gather ideas and plan compositions, in my mind, for every photo opportunity. Having these visions, prior to the wedding, also allows me the time to create a list of photo-gear needed for each shot…rather than scrambling with my team at the last minute to achieve the proper lighting setup.
MEETING THE VENUE’S EVENTS COORDINATOR
Often times, visiting the venue in advance also gives me the opportunity to meet with the venue’s event coordinator and quickly establish a working relationship with them. This can be vital in determining how the coordinator and the photographer work together on the day of the wedding. Pre-established trust is definitely helpful in providing a smooth shooting experience.
SHOT LISTS
As a wedding photographer, it is impossible for me to guarantee that every single photo on your wishlist will be captured. Wedding days can be very unpredictable and absolutely chaotic, but it is possible to organize this chaos. Working together directly with the bride and groom to create and confirm a detailed shot-list is key in ensuring that all important moments on your wedding day have the highest probability of being captured. My shot list form is accessible via the Bride and Groom Checklist once a verbal contract is established between myself and the bride and groom.
Visiting the venue in advance allowed these ideas to become reality. Preparation is just as important as taking the picture.
How Do I Prefer to Photograph a Wedding?
Once all of the planning is done and the shot lists are created, it’s time to put the plan into action. From my experience, this is what seems to work best for my photographic style.
EARLY SETUP
I find that it makes my life much easier to report to the venue early on the day of the wedding to minimize any last minute snags. It is extremely helpful to seek out my available power sources and set up all necessary equipment (stands, lights, etc.) as to make it readily available at any moment. Weddings days hold numerous spontaneous moments and setting up in advance only prepares me more for when those special moments occur.
PHOTO ASSISTANT/S & 2ND SHOOTERS
When you sit down to choose your wedding package, you may notice that there are zero options that do not include a photo-assistant. That is because photo assistants are absolutely vital to ensuring that the wedding photographer is in position to capture all of the important moments throughout the day. They retrieve equipment, hold lighting, and also help to photograph other angles / moments since, obviously, I am unable to be in two places at one time. Without an assistant, the quality of the work is greatly compromised.
WIRELESS AND OFF CAMERA LIGHTING
I do not use on-camera flash to light my subjects. All of my wedding photography is primarily shot using off-camera flash systems, studio strobes, or simple ambient light when it is optimal. This is the only way I am able to achieve the results that you see within my body of work.