Andrew Niesen

This month's Vanity Fair features a fantastic Q&A interview with Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks Coffee.

Here is an excerpt from my favorite section of the interview:

Q: What is your most marked characteristic?
A: "The ability to dream more than others think practical and expect more than others think possible."

After being inspired by this quote, I did a quick google search for Howard Schultz, and found another gem:

"I think that sometimes the difference between success and failure, winning and losing, is a very fine line between those people who will continue to move forward. I have a history of people closing doors and me saying, 'No, it's still open.' "

This is sage advice for entrepreneurs. It reassures me that persistence, when combined with an unflappable sense of focus and a childlike ability to dream, yields high returns.

My wife, Rachel, is reading Henri-Cartier Bresson's The Mind's Eye and she came across a great quote about photojournalism:

"Manufactured or staged photography does not concern me. There are those who take photographs arranged beforehand, and those who go out to discover the image and seize it. For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant..."

After making the switch from shooting for newspapers and magazines to shooting weddings, I've made an observation: The definition of "photojournalism" varies greatly between the two industries.

As a student at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, I learned that photographing subjects using a reactive approach was fundamental to the art of storytelling. Manipulation of a subject by a photographer was no different than a reporter fabricating quotes. The credibility of our publication was always paramount. We were taught that photojournalists should strictly document reality, and should not stage or pose photos.

As a wedding photographer, my primary responsibility is no longer to preserve the integrity of journalism, but rather to create an experience for our clients that will enable them to re-live their wedding day through photographs.

I can't help but remember my roots in journalism as I shoot weddings. The "hands off" approach I adhered to in the journalism world suits my new career path.

I've noticed that the wedding photography industry often defines photojournalism by stylistic attributes: black-and-white, tilted frames, and photographs that exhibit motion.

For me, as a photojournalist who shoots weddings, it is not about the style of photography, but rather about the approach to shooting the story. My documentary photojournalism roots remind me to avoid manipulating situations. I prefer to allow the scene to unfold before my camera. I believe the result is powerful. Clients receive a portfolio of images that completely reflect reality, allowing them to re-experience what if felt like to be "in the moment" on their wedding day.

Overall images are important photos that "set the scene" in a wedding album. These images put the storytelling photographs in context.

Because overalls are about the space and less about the people in the image, little frozen people in these images often look funny. When in dark settings, you can shoot these images by using the tripod and setting your camera to the lowest ISO setting. Stop your aperture down until your shutter speed is greater than 15 seconds.

The result will be an image that de-emphasizes the people in the photograph and emphasizes the grandeur of the space.

LaCour photographers Mark Adams and Erin Reed were married yesterday on the beach in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. The rain stopped just long enough for the ceremony. Cameras nearly outnumbered the guests, as almost all their friends work with cameras for a living!

Mark and Erin are headed to the Carribean for their honeymoon. Rachel and I split the duties of being unofficial photographers and members of the wedding party. Shooting from the front makes great photos!

Congratulations, Mark and Erin!

Mark and Erin's wedding day has finally arrived. It seems strange to be on the other side of the camera.

Yesterday's rehearsal and rehearsal dinner was a lot of fun. I think there were more photographers in attendance than family. Check out some of the photos, shot by our friends, Eric Larson and Jen Sens:


Rehearsal on the beach
(Photos by Eric Larson and Jen Sens)

Andrew scoops Jen
(Photos by Eric Larson and Jen Sens)

Mark and Erin watch the Rehearsal Dinner Slideshow
(Photos by Eric Larson and Jen Sens)

Erin's Stepfather's "Toast" for Mark and Erin
(Photos by Eric Larson and Jen Sens)

Erin's Mom, left, and Mark's Mom
(Photos by Eric Larson and Jen Sens)