Documentary photography: A different kind of wedding photography

Photography took me completely by surprise. When I discovered this art form, I was working for an e-commerce social enterprise and completing a digital marketing certificate which included a class in photography. I borrowed my brother-in-law’s entry-level Nikon and went to my class thinking nothing of it. And then, it happened; I took my first photo and immediately fell in love with the medium.

Photography was a weekend hobby for a while until it slowly started to become an all-consuming obsession. During this time, I quickly discovered my own style which eventually led me to become who I am today; a wedding and family documentary photographer.

My name is Mac MacDonald and I’m a wedding and lifestyle photographer based in Atlanta, GA. I made the leap into wedding photography about 14 months ago and absolutely love it! It is an absolute honor to be the photographer chosen to capture one of the most important days in a person’s life. I take this responsibility very seriously and push myself to the limit on every shoot. It is their day and my job is to DELIVER!

I’ve been so fortunate to have amazing couples over the past year. Thinking back, one couple really stands out. Cara & Aaron found me in an ad on Craigslist. They had already booked their wedding photographer, but needed engagement photos. We had a brief email exchange and the shoot was scheduled.

Within five minutes of the engagement photo session, we hit it off. They were fun, energetic, and were very receptive to all of the ideas I had regarding the shoot. By the end of the shoot, they told me they wanted me to be their wedding photographer. Even though they would lose their deposit with their current photographer, they still chose me.  Even though they would have to fly my wife and I to Philadelphia to shoot their wedding, they still chose us. This is why I love weddings. The bonds formed with clients. With that, we ended the engagement shoot and prepared for our trip to Philly!

November came fast, and we were off to Philadelphia. Cara had planned an amazing ceremony and reception. My wife, Mary, is my second shooter and this offers us advantages over most photographers, as Mary can hang out with the bride while she is getting ready and I am with the groom. This gives us two perspectives of the day and gives the bride and groom wall-to-wall photographic coverage.

From a style perspective, I shoot prime lenses. I shoot with two cameras suspended from a dual camera harness. I love the look prime lenses provide with their shallow depth of field and amazing image quality.  For Cara & Aaron’s wedding, I shot with a 35mm and a 85mm. These two lenses enable me to shoot in low light situations, like churches and dimly lit reception halls.

This was an all-day shoot and we traveled all around the city. We stopped at the museum, and we even convinced the bus driver to stop in the middle of rush hour traffic to take an amazing photo of Cara & Aaron in the middle of the street with the iconic museum in the background.

After the ceremony, Cara & Aaron were on board for a few “serious” shots that seemed fitting in this old gothic-like church. I love shooting couples in new and different poses and places, and Cara & Aaron were on board. This truly was an epic adventure with an amazing couple whose love for one another jumps out of every photograph. Couples and venues like this are why I am a wedding photographer and what keeps me motivated.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post. Thanks to Basic Invite for the opportunity to be featured on their blog.

I am available for weddings in Atlanta as well as anywhere else in the US and overseas.

You can find out more about me through my website http://www.macmacdonaldphotography.com/

You can also find me on Facebook and Instagram

 In 1993, I was talked into photographing my first wedding. I'd graduated from art school the year before, and had been shooting mostly portraits. The wedding industry was completely different then - bland, stagnent, just uninspired. It was not a space where "real" photographers landed. An engaged couple begged me to cover their San Francisco wedding. I finally relented, warning them, "I'll do it, but these picutres aren't going to look like the wedding shots you're used to seeing ." My career took off quickly. I had a fresh approach, and was in the right place at the right time.

 The San Francisco Bay Area embraces entrepreneurs and couples travel from around the world to marry here. For me, it's the perfect fit. I've had the opportunity to shoot some of the most visually stunning, over the top weddings.  I've also been the only person present, documenting the sweetest, simplest intimate nuptials, just myself, the bride and groom.

 I still shoot film. Timeless black and white is vital to my work. It's purity intensifies the emotion within an image. For awhile, people did not recognize my film camera. But film has a new following and the cool kids always ask about my gear.  I carry three cameras when shooting, two digital Nikons and a Hasselblad for film.

My favorite weddings have a relaxed, loose mood about them. You can avoid wedding day stress and anxiety by hiring experienced vendors. Experience matters. From a photography standpoint, there's much more to shooting a wedding than the images. Years in the business teaches you how to work as team with other vendors, how to anticipate and prevent mishaps. Experience sharpens your ability to communicate with all types of subjects, of any age.

Some of the best weddings I've shot take place in the Napa Valley. It's hard to beat those backgrounds - the vineyards, surrounding mountain range, incredible food and wine. This region of Northern California raised the bar, when it comes to events.

I've always been curious about people, their stories. Photographing couples, even after so many years, continues to intrigue me. There's a private language between a couple in love. I'm able to gain trust quickly with my clients, and they let me inside their world.

I have a hands on and off approach when shooting. I begin by guiding people and working up close. I'm obssesed with the small details and I pay attention to the hands and feet. At some point, I pull back and shoot from a distance. I always get caught up in the energy of a wedding day. The air is charged with anticipation, excitement. It's the best.

A wedding guest once commented, saying I did purposeful work. His words have stayed with me. I love my role of documentarian. I'll run into clients, whose weddings I shot twenty years ago. They'll tell me how much they still love their wedding pictures.

COMPANY: Michelle Pattee Photography

WEBSITE: http://www.michellepattee.com

SOCIAL: Facebook