Photographer: Catherine Hall
When photographing groups of people at the wedding, whether it’s the family or the couple’s entourage of bridesmaids and groomsmen, Catherine Hall looks for something beyond the expected shots.
“I nail the formal shots first—the straightforward, get-it-in the bag shots. Then I try to promote a reaction or an interaction,” says Catherine. “This is a huge opportunity for photographers—you have these people who love each other standing right next to each other, so it shouldn’t be hard to instigate some kind of authentic connection between them. After the expected shot, I want something a little deeper.”
“A lot of times, this is about me coaxing them, or having a little banter with them, or getting them to interact and laugh,” Catherine says. Very few of her images are journalistic, so maintaining a light and fun level of interaction eases the process of guiding her subjects toward the image she envisions—a process that is inherently more complex with larger groups. “With the wedding party and the family, I try to include them and make them feel comfortable. I don’t really consider myself a funny person, but I try to add as much humor as I can to the situation to keep people loose and keep them engaged.”
Window Light
The only time Catherine normally adds light is during the reception or on the rare occasions when formal portraits need to be created indoors. Accordingly, she makes full use of natural light sources, like large windows (as seen in the portraits to the left). For these, she frequently adds a 4×6-foot California Sunbounce reflector. “They have a high footprint—but the light is beautiful and clients are kind of impressed,” she says.
