Oh, Oh... Rob Does A Wedding...

[Rob MacKillop]

My friends, Gordon and Claire, asked me to photograph their wedding party yesterday evening. I pleaded for them to pay for a proper photographer, which they did: a man and wife team who do weddings all the time. They had huge cameras, lenses and flashes. They undoubtedly got some great shots. The woman photographer said to me, "Oh, it's good they got an amateur to give an alternative view" which amused me a lot!

So here's the alternative view...

The couple go for their first dance as man and wife...they both said to me they were VERY nervous about it...


FirstDance1 by RobMacKillop, on Flickr


FirstDance2 by RobMacKillop, on Flickr

Here the mail pro photographer suddenly realised what was happening, and he ran passed me to get into position - but he dropped his flash, which smashed on the floor just next to me...


FirstDance3 by RobMacKillop, on Flickr

A couple from my Dutch Masters Collection:


descent by RobMacKillop, on Flickr


dark champagne by RobMacKillop, on Flickr
​

All XE1 and Auld Nik

 

[Glenn Clabo]

Well Rob you did do a very good job with the "alterative view". These are very nice shots with your artists touch.
You were also smart to insist on them getting a "proper" wedding photographer because I'm betting they would have expected you to do the "normal" shots for their wedding album and my second bet would be that you don't enjoy doing that.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Glenn. You are right, in that I wouldn't enjoy doing that - but I also think I'm incapable of doing normal shots. Really - I've tried. It just seems impossible. Maybe I'm not artistic, just incompetent!

 

[Glenn Clabo]

Maybe I'm not artistic, just incompetent!

Me thinks you have that completely backwards. Maybe I'm not I ncompetent, just artistic...is more like it.
I've found as age numbers build...doing what you love...ends in better results and is much more important than doing what you have to.

 

[Brian Moore]

He's definitely incompetent, @Glenn Clabo, as you can easily see by the wonderful images he has produced!

Rob, I had to laugh when you mentioned the guy dropping his flash as he ran into position. Also, the woman's remark about the amateur shots was amusing. That would have delighted me if she she had said it about me, and I'm guessing your reaction was similar.

Excellent stuff.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, the dynamic duo of pro togs did give me a chuckle on a few occasions.

 

[Paul Lange]

Well, they certainly are alternative for wedding photos but I still like them. The one with the woman walking down the staircase is my favourite out of these, I think it is an elegant image.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Cheers, Paul. They knew what they were in for when they asked me...

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Just received this from Gordon:

"Rob, the photos are really fantastic, we love them, thankyou so much, you've captured the essence of the night perfectly."

Job done

 

[Paul Lange]

There you go Rob, you're now a professional amateur photographer specialising in alternative wedding photography.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Ha. What should be my fee? I pay them?

 

[Paul Lange]

Well it is alternative so maybe you should have a novel business model to suit.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Hmm....

 

[Pete Askew]

Alternative but wonderful. Love the blur as they go past and the spiky fingers and the loneliness and terror of the first dance on the empty floor. And the lady on the stairs is just stunning.

Evocation in action.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Cheers, Pete. Their fingers are just perfect - so pleased with the way they turned out. And the lady on the stairs - I took about twenty shots of people going up and down, but she just looked perfect. Glad I got her.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I'd have mentioned that they only got the job on your insistence - see how she liked that!

Great alternative view - not at all surprised they like 'em Rob

They clearly had good taste asking you in the first place!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Chris. Yes, I should have asked for commission from the two photographers!

 

[Beth Carter]

nicely done amateur. sounds like the pro either had a huge ego or was worried that you might up stage his shots.

 

[Keith Hollister]

Great shots, Rob. There is a whole genre of "documentary" wedding photography that this sort of fits into. Kevin Mullins is a successful UK practioner of this stuff (all B&W using Fuji's, too). The "pro" didn't sound all that pro to me. Nice job showing him up.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Cheers, Keith. Much appreciated. I think I got them just what they wanted. Job done.