In the past year, photographers have increasingly been sharing behind-the-scenes footage of their work. While I understand the appeal of this content — it shows how we work, proves we’re the ones taking the photos, and gets more social media engagement than still images — I’m not a fan.
The most important reason is that during your photo session or wedding, the focus should be on you. Creating social media content would take away from your experience and limit the photos I can capture. This growing obsession with content creation has led to some concerning situations — wedding vendors delaying schedules, adding unnecessary “first looks” of venues and decor, and overstaying their welcome. Your wedding isn’t a styled photo shoot, and no one should pull you away just to create the perfect image or video for their social media.
Another significant reason is that I want to create a safe space while we work together. Having a video camera recording every moment of your session would interfere with that feeling of safety. When being filmed, people naturally filter their behaviour and limit what they’re willing to share. I experienced this firsthand during the pandemic while working as a chaplain and minister. Churches switched to streaming their services online — without asking if I wanted to be on the internet. This significantly changed how I wrote my sermons and prayers, as I didn’t want my personal beliefs and experiences broadcast across the internet. I won’t put you in that position just for the sake of likes and follows.
Finally, I want to be present in the moment with you, not worried about getting the perfect angle for my social media. The genuine connections and authentic moments we create together are what make the photos special. That’s what I’m here for — to capture your story, not to create content about capturing your story.
The photo above this article is one of very few exceptions, taken by fellow photographer Memories by Marleen.
