Peter Northall Photography

Here’s a couple of shots from a recent assignment with Katia. She’s a very talented young actress with a great future ahead of her.

This week I’m not doing much photography at all as it’s the Annual SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers) Convention at the Novotel in Hammersmith. All very exciting for the geek in me, I’m dusting off the anorak for its usual outing. In truth there’s lots to see and do; business schools, photo workshops in every discipline you could want, exhibitors galore and lots and lots of kit!

One issue that affects all reportage photographers, whether at war or weddings, is how far do you go in order to provide comprehensive coverage? How much is too much?

An extreme example of this is the paparazzi coverage which led to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

In general, and as illustrated by that case, pursuit of a photo is never worth someone’s life. But what about more typical circumstances which any of us may encounter? In providing a comprehensive coverage of a wedding should I be on the lookout for that which may be embarrassing (ie: too much to drink), upsetting (Bride – or Groom – arrives very late), humiliating (split trousers happens surprisingly often as in-laws squeeze into clothes bought optimistically!).

These may not be circumstances which you would want to see at your wedding, but if they happened, if they made a talking point during the day would you want to be reminded of them as part of a multi faceted event, are they a colourful contribution or an unwelcome memory? Might you want the photos, but not in the album please? Would you want to remember your wedding through rose tinted glasses, or is a ‘warts and all’ approach more likely to make you smile when showing the album to your grandchildren?

Your thoughts on this will be most welcome, especially as it’s an issue which returns to  the fore again and again, and about which I still have no definitive position.