Getting Grooms Going. Using Key West's quirky energy into great groomsmen wedding photos.
Unless you have a groom who is really outgoing, photogenic, and has a big personality, most brides at some point will worry about their fiance's attitude or behavior during the photography session. The top concerns are usually one of the following:
- He will get impatient
- He will feel awkward and uncomfortable
- He'll be hot, hungry, and grumpy
- He will be too self conscious to let loose and have fun
But fear not, my veiled taffeta beauty! If you go about the photography session of the two of you the right way, it will be smooth sailing, and your man will be asking "Oh we're done already?" The key things to keep in mind are:
1) He might not realize it now, but after the stress and hubbub of the preparations, ceremony and family formals, it's going to be a huge relief to finally get some time alone with you away from the attention and the activity. If you decide to see each other before the wedding during a "first look", you'll find those nerves dissipate even more.
2) This is only a short segment of the day. You might be thinking "big picture" and how the schedule will play out with the photographer over an entire day, but keep in mind that most of that is documentary-style capture of the moments as they unfold. It's only during the more directed portrait sessions that he will even be conscious of the camera. So don't fret that "there's no way he'll last 6 hours", because it's really only about 30 to 90 minutes (depending on the wedding, of course) total that the photographer will be asking for his direct and personal attention.
3) He might not be normally that "into" pictures, but you'd be surprised how often grooms really amp it up on their wedding day. Think about it...they're happy, they're excited, they feel good, they look good, they have people they love around them, they're in a beautiful space, they feel important, and they've just married the girl of their dreams. All those endorphins have a way of energizing guys, and they often emote more readily, smile more genuinely, laugh more heartily, and play more enthusiastically.
4) Finally, be sure to get buy-in from your fiance during the planning process. If he's more of a "whatever you think" kinda guy, then just go ahead and plan for some fun activities for just him and the guys. If you think he'll be stiff and awkward having preparation photos done at the hotel, schedule him to meet the photographer somewhere cool. Tossing quarters over your head into a plastic fish's mouth hanging on the sign of Captain Tony's Bar will certainly make for some interesting pre-wedding photos!
 
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If location or logistics won't allow for an off-property activity, then think about the kinds of things your man is into (short round of touch football with the guys during cocktail hour?), or maybe a gift he is giving to his groomsmen. Something like custom-engraved flasks filled with a little "liquid courage" are a subtle but meaningful way to make the groom's photos unique and enjoyable to him.
It's very common for brides to express fear that their husbands-to-be will be cranky and uncooperative, but most of the time, that turns out to be a non-issue.
If you're working with a professional photographer who is organized, thoughtful, and creative, they will help you come up with some great options to make the experience enjoyable for your guy, and they will have a way of making everyone feel comfortable, including people who don't traditionally enjoy being photographed.
This in turn will translate into excellent images. You never know, your man might just surprise you with how photogenic he can really be!
(PUBLIC NOTICE: NO GROOMS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS BLOG POST)
By Karrie Porter