Ah, those shots between shots, those frames after the frame, that click from the hip and the flash all askew...I love those shots. Weddings, bless them, are wonderful places for photojournalists because the access is near-total. Now, of course, this sets up a delicate balance between good coverage and driving a couple bananas. But it's these shots that I remember most, because they come from that side of me cultivated in college that lives for compositional experimentation and capturing moments most people pass by or take for granted. Exhibit A:



I shot this today. Yes, there are weddings on Monday. It appears that the groom is loath to remove his bride's undergarments. This is not the case, of course. I'm sure he can't wait. But people were teasing and taunting him and he was joking around, making as if it were a terrible job. Funny how photos can lie and tell the truth all at the same time.

Most brides are drawn to a photographer because of style and personality. My style is very rooted in my photojournalistic background, particularly influenced by the likes of Richard Avedon (not a traditional PJ) and Salbastio Salgado. Both of these photographers' work is filled with life, and I try with every shot to follow in their footsteps. Now, I also make sure to get the shots everyone wants from their wedding: formals, friends hugging, the procession, etc. But during those events and once-in-a-lifetime moments, I keep an eye out for the even smaller moments between the big ones, the spaces in which people express themselves and their humanity with feeling and without thinking.

Below are a collection of images that I keep separate from the images I give to the bride and groom. These are the quirky, sometimes fun or funny images I cull from the hundreds of photos I make at an event.

Congrats Abby and Derrick!

Congratulations Marlon and Kristy!

I photographed Marlon and Kristy's wedding in cool, sunny Topsail Beach, North Carolina. The warm spectral light and beach setting made for some fabulous photos. In no particular order, I've included a few of my favorites below. Check it out, and if you like what you see, take a gander at my website (www.stephenjonesphoto.com).

--Notes