Trust. It’s something that’s so easy to lose and so hard to gain. As a photographer we usually take the trust that is given to us for granted, but I feel like it’s one of the most important things that any couple can give us. We’d like to think that our work speaks for itself. As artists, we’re our worst critic. As business owners we are constantly changing. We’re constantly trying to follow trends and keeping up with the hot shot photographers as they evolve. We want to bring new things to the market. We want to be fresh. Creating that trust and cultivating it with our couples is challenging.
A few months back I went out to photograph two different weddings. Both were complete polar opposites in their own respective ways. One was more traditional at the beginning and ended up being quite a party in the end. The other started out pretty modern, but ended up being pretty laid back in the end of the night. Both were a great time to shoot. One of them I was second shooting for a dear friend of mine, Jessica. The other I was having Jessica help out since Marta was taking care of Oliver at home.
They said, “You do whatever you have to do. We trust you.” For some reason, those words stuck to me.
At the second wedding, something small happened that I took to heart. The couple that we were shooting said something that other couples have told us before. They said, “You do whatever you have to do. We trust you.” For some reason, those words stuck to me. I don’t know why, to be honest. It just seemed to stick with me for the rest of the day. Even on the way home, I brought it up a couple of times. I just couldn’t help but appreciate it.
Having that trust is something that means so much more to me. I’ve had couples come up to us and give us a check list of shots for their wedding. I’m definitely not saying that that’s a bad move. Heck, I can almost applaud it. Here’s the thing though. The more time that we spend making sure we get the shots you have on that list, the less time we have to be creative and, in turn, the better images that we can produce in the end.
Next time you work with a photographer, trust them. More importantly, let them know that you do. Let them do their thang.
