Pregnancy Photography Session: photographer and composition

INSIDE A PHOTO by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN SINTRA

The photographs are of a couple during a pregnancy session in the gardens of Quinta da Bacalhoa in Sintra

• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

Harmonious composition in a photograph

Composition, or how to show you’re in love in a photograph. When I go to photograph a couple, one of the things I need to consider is how they manage to intertwine so that the composition, the way the various elements, in this case their bodies and the surrounding space, come together harmoniously.

There are mathematical and geometric principles that can illustrate the different ways of composing an image. It applies to photography, painting, or cinema. But the wedding photographer doesn’t always have the time needed to carry out preliminary studies, like the classical painters did, and must rely on their experience and an intuitive sense that, driven by urgency, helps ensure these displays of affection appear genuine.

The exercise of composition

Truthfully, this is my favorite exercise. I enjoy it naturally, without needing to apply special effort, especially when under pressure from time that refuses to slow down. If I think too much about it, I end up overcomplicating things, and often the simplest or most obvious solution doesn’t turn out as well as when I go with the flow, without brakes or a reverse gear.

A necessary and learned exercise, shaped by the reality of being a wedding photographer who… never has enough time.

Point by point:

• A photograph must include two essential elements:
  • Content:
    • Having the necessary elements
    • Telling the viewer what it’s about
    • Being part of a story—or its own story
  • Form:
    • The composition
    • How the elements are harmonized
    • What sensations are conveyed by the textures
    • How they appeal to the eye
• Composing a photograph is an exercise that requires:
  • A sense of balance
  • Knowing where to place yourself for the best perspective
  • When at a wedding, the ability to observe quickly and act immediately
• In short, the wedding photographer must master these components. That’s what will make the difference between a simple image of a moment or object, and something visually engaging for whoever views it.

You must know:

• There are rules that define compositional balance, whether in photography or painting. Since the Renaissance, painters became masters of composition. Even non-representational painting requires these concepts to ensure an internal structure that gives the piece identity.

• When photography arrived, painting began exploring paths beyond the simple representation of real life. Painters embraced imagination and handed that responsibility over to photography.

• Over time, photographers also discovered tricks to move beyond just representing their subjects—portraits, landscapes, or still life. But what interests me is what happens in photography that documents events, like wedding photography.

• The wedding photographer, like any photojournalist, works with unrepeatable moments. Each instant is unique and cannot be recreated if it wasn’t captured in time.

• That’s why the photographer must develop techniques and habits that, in a chain of actions while photographing, lead to an image containing the necessary elements to be considered a photograph: quick observation, framing choices to decide what stays in the image, the angle for a composition with internal harmony, and finally, the decision of the exact moment when it becomes a photograph.

Because of this, every photo I take at your wedding includes these steps, so I can give you a beautiful story of the day.

Come and see how it all works in a meeting, where I’ll also show you many stories from other weddings. I’ll be waiting for you.

• You can see a full wedding story:

• Na Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra