Original subtitles

So let's talk about groom prep and the

strategy there.

One of the first things to keep in

mind is that Erica and I, we always

divide and conquer in the morning and Erica

goes with the bride and the girls and

I go with the groom and the guys,

unless it's a same-sex wedding of course.

And the reason that we do that, even

though we would both appreciate the opportunity to

have, you know, a different challenge and I

would love to take a stab at shooting

the girls and Erica with the guys, is

two reasons essentially.

One is it's that much easier for Erica

to get the kind of access and trust

and establish that with the girls than it

would be for me and vice versa me

with the guys.

It's not to say it can't be achieved,

all kinds of male photographers are incredible documenting

bride prep and vice versa, but it's just

a little bit easier.

And the second reason is because we've both

kind of become specialists.

You know, I'm so well versed now with

what happens during groom prep, I'm able to

sort of anticipate things that I know sort

of how to play that game and, you

know, be in that vibe and ditto for

Erica with the girls.

And really when we boil it down in

the morning for Erica and I, we are

going to do everything that we can to

get the best images into our camera during

that day.

And so in the morning that means Erica

with the girls, me with the guys.

Typically the bride starts getting ready before the

groom, so usually Erica starts working before me.

Not always, sometimes the guys are going golfing

in the morning and in that case, as

long as they're cool with it, I'll tag

along for that, right?

Because we want to tell the whole story.

But typically the bride starts first and when

we, when Erica goes, I accompany her.

So we go together, you know, when I

drop Erica off, I don't just drop her

off, like I actually go up physically with

her into the room just to say hi

so that, you know, I get a chance

to see the bride in the morning and

also everybody else who's in the room, all

the other girls, mothers-in-laws, whatever, at

least they see me and I'm not just

some stranger and they're seeing for the first

time at the ceremony a few hours later.

But I don't hang out there for long.

I used to and we've learned our lesson

is I killed Erica's mojo and we had

some some experiences that just showed us it's

better for me to just leave and plus

we both kind of appreciate that part of

the wedding day where we get to be

our own solo independent photographers without each other,

you know, without peeking at each other with

ideas and getting in each other's trots, it's

just we get to run the show ourselves.

So I'm there for maybe 5-10 minutes

and then I basically say goodbye, alright, I'll

see you guys, I'll see you girls later,

you know, I'm gonna go find Will now

and I'll see you in all your glory.

Have fun this morning.

And then I go off and usually, not

always, but I often have like an hour

or two to kill before I need to

start documenting the groom prep.

Sometimes I've got some things to check off

during that time.

If they are going to be doing a

first look, which is pretty rare for us,

but if they are and we're not sure

where that's gonna happen yet, I might go

and scout around the space and figure out

where that should happen.

If we haven't figured out where we're gonna

do the family formals yet, I might go

and and scout that out as well so

that once we get there we're ready to

go.

Otherwise I usually just go have a coffee

and try to, you know, burn off that

nervous energy.

I'm always nervous in the morning before a

wedding and so I'm just trying to do

whatever I can to kind of stay calm

and get and keep my my mind in

the game.

Turn off all other distractions so that when

I arrive to do my job I'm focused

on just being present and documenting what I'm

there to document.

Like Erika, when I arrive I'm not going

in with guns a-blazing.

I'm going in as a friend, right?

I'm going in for the hug.

I'm trying to set that vibe because I

genuinely feel like I want to be a

friend with a camera.

I don't want to be some stuffy hire

pro and so I'm trying to set that

vibe.

Not just for the groom obviously.

Hopefully we're already on that level but for

all the other guys is I want them

to welcome me in to be part of

part of the gang rather than just this

hired help.

So I'm looking for anything that I can

connect with, anything that we have in common

with.

So I'm really just trying to be myself

and the groom obviously already understands our approach,

right?

He knows that I'm not going to be

directing anything.

But a lot of the other guys don't

know that and in fact the last wedding

they were at you know was was a

photo shoot essentially and sometimes they'll even even

even say to me like okay so all

right Mr. Photographer how does this work?

What do we do?

And I'll usually in that case I usually

just say guys I got no rules.

My only rule is don't look at my

camera and you're never in my way.

Or a good soundbite to use we learned

this from our friend Matt Ebenezer.

He says imagine photography hasn't been invented yet

and do that.

And usually that's the guys get it.

Oh yeah okay well that's easy that makes

sense.

And I go out of my way to

set that precedent even if there's something that

I'd love to ask them to move or

for something to line up is I try

not to intervene or direct in any way

especially in the morning because I'm trying to

set that precedent so that they're not going

to be looking to me for direction throughout

the day.

So I don't get gripping grins throughout the

rest of the day.

Okay so kind of training them essentially.

And I'm also training them or acclimatizing them

to to my presence by being there and

being in it in amongst the action even

though there's not much action usually early on

I'm going out of my way to be

close with my camera early because it's gonna

take some break in five ten minutes for

them to to stop thinking about to stop

noticing me.

And you know with with the guys often

there's an hour or two in the morning

where nothing's happening.

It's I mean they're there maybe they're sitting

watching the game they're playing video games they're

there whatever right.

There's not a whole lot happening but I'm

not just hiding in the sidelines waiting I'm

actually making the most interesting compositions of that

nothingness that I can.

So I'm trying to layer things in I'm

getting in close with my camera intentionally not

necessarily knowing that I'm gonna get the money

shot but because it gets that awkwardness out

of the way early.

So that then once they do get into

the important stuff the intimate moments it's not

the first time that I've been that I've

been close right.

They forget about me it's like okay he

that's his jam he's gonna be all up

in here with his camera doing his thing

and they tune me out right.

So that's intentional.

The main difference between bride prep versus groom

prep is with with the girls often there's

you know a 30 or 45 minute period

where they're sitting in one spot having hair

done and then sitting in one spot having

makeup done right.

With the guys there's a whole lot of

nothing in the morning and they're never in

one and then they get ready in like

seven minutes flat and they're never in one

place for more than 20 seconds at a

time.

So it's very different I have to strategize

much differently.

Like Erica when I strategize I'm you know

scouting around the space seeing where the opportunities

are and eliminating possibilities okay.

So you know I'll go and I'll look

for reflection potential interesting angles interesting perspectives and

basically crossing them off.

Okay well this isn't gonna work this isn't

worth it this won't line up or maybe

this would be cool if things line up

a certain way and I'll sort of keep

that in the back of my mind.

But I'm narrowing it down to what's likely

what's worth it and I'm trying to basically

set myself up so that once they do

start getting ready in seven minutes flat I'm

ready right.

I'm anticipating I've got my lights in position

for example.

So with respect to my lights usually what

I do like Erica one cameras dedicated for

natural light.

So whatever moments happen in the worst possible

light I've got that camera ready to go

and I can just crank the ISO and

get the moments.

So for the most part I'm rolling with

that camera natural light.

But I do link a generally link my

other camera to my flashes and usually what

I'll do is all I'll mount one flash

in the bathroom.

I'll figure out where's the bathroom because that's

the one spot that I can predict things

are gonna happen right because there's a mirror

there that's where they're gonna do their hair

that's where they're gonna shave whatever.

And so what I'll do is I'll usually

mount one of my flashes in the bathroom.

I might clamp it up on a light

fixture clamp it to the shower rod or

if there's room I might bring a light

stand in there.

And then the other flash I usually put

on my light stand.

Remember I've got my two cameras and my

and my two flashes and my one light

stand.

And I'll usually have that light stand off

in the corner somewhere out of out of

view.

So that if something does happen in a

spot where the light really sucks and it

looks like I might have more than 30

seconds to light it I can go position

the light right and try to get it

with off-camera flash.

And then with my cameras again we don't

we don't use the holster systems we basically

just use normal straps or no strap at

all.

So I'm usually only shooting with one camera

at a time and the other camera is

just like sitting on the floor sitting on

the bed nearby and I know where it

is so that I can grab it.

And with lenses I've generally got I generally

got honestly two wide lenses and I'll have

usually a medium lens in my bag that

I can grab.

But for the most part I'm I'm rolling

with the 35 or wider.

So because you got a 35 on one

camera and probably the 28 on the other

for if I go into the really small

bathroom or I want to get sort of

even closer I can use the wide lens.

Now a common question that we get is

how do we get the shower shots?

First of all there's a time and a

place.

When I'm strategizing when I'm scouting around one

of the things I'll do is I'll go

into the bathroom and check and see if

a shower shot is even worth it.

Or if I even think it's within the

realm of possibilities.

So and that gets back to the whole

you know everything that's happened before the wedding

leading up to it.

One of which is they've seen those types

of photos on our website.

So they at least know that it's within

the realm of possibilities.

Okay and if I so then if I

arrive at the wedding and he hasn't showered

yet and we'll tell him you know anything

that you want documented in the morning hold

off until I get there.

Okay so if I get there and he

hasn't shaved yet if he hasn't showered yet

then I'm thinking okay this grooms may be

open to the possibility of me documenting that.

Okay and then I'll scout it out right.

I mean nine times out of ten it's

not gonna be worth it.

The bathroom is just there's no way to

get an interesting shot so I won't even

go there.

But sometimes if it looks like you know

what this might be cool it might be

worth giving it a shot.

So generally I need to get permission to

have that access to do so.

And no groom even if they're totally open

to it no groom is gonna say tell

me I want you to shoot me I

want you to photograph me in the shower.

Okay it's just not gonna happen.

I have to give him permission to give

me permission in a way that's not awkward.

So I usually try to broach the subject

in some sort of a funny way.

I might say like so so well Jenna

wants a shower shot and then we you

know we have a good chuckle about it

we laugh and then I'll say no no

it's seriously.

Or I might say you know I've got

an idea I could probably do a pretty

interesting kind of artsy shot of you when

you're in the shower.

But so you know totally up to you

just when you go for the shower just

if you leave the bathroom door open a

crack then I can probably do something interesting

from outside or whatever.

And if then if you just kind of

leave it open and if he leaves the

bathroom door open that's my open invitation to

open that door all the way go in

and kind of do everything that I want.

Sometimes it's easier to just keep rolling in

documentary mode and sort of follow them.

But more often than not if we're gonna

pull that off it requires a flash to

make it to make it actually work.

And so I do need that pre-permission

to sort of mount that flash you know

up on the shower head or whatever get

it positioned with the grid do some test

shots so that I'm ready for when that

happens.

Okay so another strategy that I've sort of

sort of learned is because with the guys

often they're you know they're having a good

time and you know it's not uncommon for

them to be you know having beers or

you know doing shots at 10 in the

morning.

And one of the things I've learned is

if they offer me a beer or a

drink I always say yes.

Even though you know I'm probably not gonna

have time to drink I'm gonna be working

you know have a sip and then I'll

go off working and I don't get back

to it.

As soon as I say yeah why not

I get instant buy-in from the guys

generally.

They see that oh he's here to have

fun have a good time too.

And plus I like beer right if you

don't like beer you know don't say sure

it's be yourself that's the main thing.

So that's a little thing little sort of

thing that I've learned with the guys.

So here we go behind the scenes for

GroomPrep.

All right here we are back at the

mango ranch after breakfast.

Erica's shooting Shannon getting ready and I'm kind

of milling around the property here with Ian

Hill and Time.

We got a few hours actually and lots

of little kind of stories happening all over

the place.

There's Ian there with his socks.

Here's the guy who's gonna be marrying them.

Right now this ceremony I guess here so

floating around.

Now I know that and I'm anticipating that

one of the most visually interesting things that

that might happen is Ian said he's gonna

shower in that outdoor shower.

So I'm kind of trying to get ready

for all the things that are gonna happen

much later.

Getting my flash on a stand and Ian's

kind of just nervously floating all morning.

This is one of the points where he

actually sat down for more than a couple

minutes in one place and I'm not sure

what he's doing on the computer here but

gave me enough time to position a flash

and start playing around.

I've got a grid on there and a

little warming gel.

First I'm trying to use this mirror for

a reflection.

You can see I've got the flash power

balancing with ambient light outside.

Then I moved over here and now I'm

just trying to position the light behind him.

Getting it all linked, getting it all synced.

Testing it out.

So I'm hiding the flash behind him basically

just trying to backlight him.

Rim light is awesome beard.

But you can see my ambient exposure is

set for the outdoor scene.

So the rest of the ambient light indoors

is kind of all falling away.

But that's one of the times that I

will play around with flash is when it

I've got more than 30 seconds.

You know he's sitting here one position.

And so when you know obviously when they

look down as they often do you know

texting, reading, writing, I'll often try to position

myself to shoot from low up through the

hands into the whites of the eyes.

And I'm basically just kind of following Ian,

shadowing him kind of all morning long here

while he paces around and gets things ready.

So upstairs there that's where Shannon's getting ready.

So Erica's up there and so once in

a while Ian will poke his head up.

Here comes Ian's brother, affectionately known as Kid

Rock.

Okay and I'm coming back to this shower

because I know he's gonna be in there

at some point.

I'm not really sure what I want to

do.

There's a lot of options actually so it's

a little bit overwhelming to figure out how

to set myself up here for success.

He's getting ready to shower now.

I'm just gonna go natural light because he's

gonna be out there in the Sun.

Okay so here I'm trying to use the

window light side light here on the dark

background.

Okay now he's in the he's in the

shower.

We're starting here kind of straightforward just exposing

for the highlights.

But I'm kind of maybe rushing a bit

because I've got several ideas that I want

to try.

So you actually get in there at one

point right in front of him kind of

straight on.

There is just kind of just enough room

for me to squeeze in there.

And then backing up here a bit more.

I want to tell the story of the

uniqueness of this shower, this outdoor shower in

this kind of tropical mangle ranch.

So I'm trying to find a position where

I can layer in the scene, the story

of place.

So by kind of going out and using

the glass doors I'm able to kind of

use reflections.

And then outside it's kind of a crack

through the bamboo walls.

Shoot through there.

See if I can get an interesting perspective

from up here behind him.

Very excited to see you guys do with

all this stuff.

It's just so surreal right?

I think like having seen all your like

so much of your guys' work and then

like being here in the moment right?

You don't get to see the products at

all right?

It's the thing I still I've learned not

to but I always ask Shannon like oh

did you get a good one?

She's like we'll find out.

Okay this tiny little bathroom is where he's

gonna be shaving or not shaving but working

on his beard.

Trimming it up.

Okay so I've positioned one flash there.

See how that works.

It seems to be working pretty good without

a grid.

It's just too close to have a grid.

Okay so I'm really hoping trying to get

his reflection through his hands, through his fingers.

Obviously I'm in there but I can take

myself out if I need to.

This was all of two minutes, three minutes

top so it's kind of like working fast

hoping for the best.

There we got this one.

That's what I was hoping for.

I brushed his teeth.

I pulled out.

It's the flash still in the same position.

I'm playing around with it trying to play

around the reflection in that microwave there.

Okay now I've kind of pulled back to

see what it looks like from outside and

if I can use the glass again to

reflect the outdoor scene.

My flash is already there and I'm already

dialed in for that.

I didn't get a great moment.

Somewhat interesting but that hand was casting shadow

so that I can focus.

You can see in the shot that I've

left it so that he sort of pops

in the darkness.

A lot of this hanging out with his

friends outside waiting to get ready killing time.

Is there product in here?

Minus 10.

Then at one point they went to try

to find a quiet spot to get away

from everything and practice Ian's bows.

Again he's looking down so trying to get

that trying to get his eyes.

Opening my heart filling with laughter for sharing

your life with me and especially for bringing

such a practically just dropping them down.

I love it.

I'm so f****** confused.

I have no idea.

We do study everywhere.

So they spend a fair bit of time

playing this game this werewolf game of some

sort.

I don't know how it works but they

were into it.

Yvonne's really good at it actually.

He's very evil and conniving.

You're killing you're killing Bulgarians.

He said he saw it.

So he was sort of like

removed from the rest of the group for

a lot of it but obviously a super

interesting characters, so I wanted to get in

there and take some photos.

There's all of the dog, the most spoiled

dog in the world.

Okay, now it's starting to get close to

the point where he's gonna start actually getting

ready.

I'm trying to use the light on the

steam window light here from the side.

Okay, trying to get a bit of a

unique perspective here.

Watch your face.

Eyes go up, camera goes up.

There we go.

Trying to do a sexy dance for my

friends.

So I just got these ones from my

dad.

Aw, shucks.

Aw, shucks.

Also kind of like, I don't know.

That pose is inspiration for my walks remotely.

I don't remember where this mirror was or

why we decided to put it there, but

for whatever reason we decided that this is

where they wanted to have the mirror.

Okay, now it's all happening.

Now they're getting ready.

Short envelope?

The idea was Patrick Star at the end

of the Spongebob movie.