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Gary Kaplan

GARY KAPLAN PHOTOGRAPHY

When Gary and I met in Tampa not long ago and he showed me some of his photography work archived on his iPhone. Even though the images were small and I was staring at a phone screen, I could feel the passion and life in his pictures. In a roundabout way his portfolio made it to my desk and was subsequently passed around to the different producers in my office. Each of us had the same emotional feedback from his images; that we could almost feel the time and place of each shot as if we were there at that exact moment. Emotional, energetic and exciting were words we collectively seemed to call out, defining his work and making a strong enough impact on me and my staff that I immediately knew he should be part of my group of fantastic friends. I viewed his video and heard the story of how he got into the wedding business, and once again, that same emotional pull drew me. Gary has the wedding bug! As he says “I’m in love with love”. And what bride and groom wouldn’t want a wedding photographer that feels each picture with the emotion of love.

Tips from Gary:

• When shooting dark venues, make sure proper lighting is being used. Ambiance is great in some images but showing the expression on someone's face or capturing the small details, sometimes takes more than a flash on a camera. Make sure you discuss this balance of lighting with your photographer before the wedding or event. If you want to use these images for your coffee table book, magazine, press release or large prints, then you must plan proper lighting in advance.
• Always ask the photographer not to delete any photos. What they may think is a bad photo or a mistake may be the most precious moment of your life.
• Spend the time to get to know the photographer. Engagement photos as well as pre-event portraits help. Capturing the day is an emotional commitment not just a documentation of time and spirit.
• Be yourself. Don't force a smile or pose. Traditional photos are important and have a place in the day. If you did not believe in tradition, you would not be getting married, but capturing special moments that live in your heart forever comes from spontaneous emotion and life. These images are known as photojournalistic, artistic, and in our case, a bit edgy. Forget the rules and enjoy your day, but also be prepared with a list of photos that you have to have. Look through magazines and visualize images that would make you feel comfortable.
• When posing, and if you want to lose a few pounds, turn to the side and then point your shoulders slightly forward. Bend a knee to look a bit more glamorous.
• Make sure during preparations that the photographer shoots a head shot. Photography has a tendency to wash out make-up or make you shine. Now would be the time to fix that.
• Remember the reason you are there. It is your day not anyone else's. Displace yourself from all the planning and enjoy the moment. Focus on each other and the photos and your day will be full of life and love.