Can We Please Stop Using Workshop Photos and Styled Shoots in Our Wedding Portfolios?
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed a growing trend of photographers in the UK using workshops and styled shoots to boost their wedding portfolio. It wasn’t as prevalent when I started shooting weddings 6 years ago (following many years of documenting my own life with a camera), and I’m glad because if I’d not been as savvy as I was today, I might have been fooled into thinking those images were from real weddings. And from someone who’s only had a camera 6 months? Wow!
Now, I’m not hating on workshops or styled shoots per se, I think they’re fantastic! I just don’t think we should be pretending they’re part of our actual wedding portfolio.
What is a Styled Shoot?
For anyone not aware, a styled shoot is a collaboration between several vendors – putting together a photo shoot that shows off each element as well as the photographer. You’d typically see a wedding venue, hair stylist, make up artist, dress shop or maker, florist and photographer come together with a couple of models to showcase exactly what they can all do given the freedom and time to do what they want.
They’re really popular with wedding blogs as they include a huge amount of inspiration for people planning their weddings.
And I have nothing against them at all! I just think they should be presented as styled shoots and not real weddings.
Why I Like Styled Shoots and Workshops
Before I go on to say why I don’t think we should be using styled shoots and workshop images in our wedding portfolios, I’m going to say what I do like about them.
They’re brilliant for networking, getting to know other vendors, other photographers, and venues you might already work with, or want to work with. They’re fantastic for trying out new things, taking risks, and taking your time to really hone some of your skills. Be it posing, off-camera flash or anything else you might want to refine.
You can get some beautiful images, and learn what works and what doesn’t work. Want to get better at lighting a couple with off camera flash? Try out your new gels, prisms or something really different? Brilliant! Go for it! Post them on your website big yourself up. Show what you can do given the time to do it.
So What Don’t I Like About Them?
They’re not real weddings and therefore, they don’t have the same real constraints.
Your couple are models, who know how to pose and require zero direction. Perfectly styled by your stylist minutes before the shoot. There’s no time limit, no guests waiting for the couple, no food getting cold, no first dance to get the couple back to. No distractions and you have hours to refine things and get things “just so”.
Pulling off a perfect shot when you’re in control of everything is so much easier than pulling the same shot off on the big day when you are working to a timeline.
And you know this. So why pretend any different?
It Shows What I Can Do
Is the usual defense.
And I agree, it does. It shows what you can do when there aren’t the constraints of a wedding day. Otherwise, you wouldn’t need them, because you’d be pulling those shots off at every wedding, right?
But here’s the thing, this could get you into trouble too. If you’re not honest with your couple and they assume you can pull a meticulously planned shot off at a real wedding when you have 10 minutes to get it right, rather than 3 hours.
What if you can’t?
A Little Bit of Honesty Goes a Long Way
The thing is, if your couples do think that the images can easily be replicated at a live wedding, they’re going to expect it. And if you can’t do it, you’re going to get into trouble.
But, if you present them on your site as a styled shoot, and your couples ask you about it. It’s much easier to say “oh yes, we can definitely do something like that, but I’d need at least
Advice for Couples Searching for a Photographer
Images from styled shoots and workshop days are usually incredibly simple to spot. Beautifully styled wedding, gorgeous couple, zero guests. If you suspect a wedding isn’t real, simply ask to see more images from it, a photographer should always be happy to share more.
Does it mean you shouldn’t book someone? Probably not. But I’d want to see a good selection of images from a real wedding covering the whole day, to ensure there’s consistency throughout. And I’d ask about those images if you want them, and what it would take to be able to reproduce them on a wedding day.
About the author: Andy Dane is an award-winning wedding photographer, lifestyle blogger, husband, and father based in Norwich, UK. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. You can find more of Dane’s work on his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This article was also published here.
