Last fall I had the luck of being assigned a space next to photographer Laura Billingham at a meet and greet. In the still moments between our "official business" we found ourselves stuck on the topic of kissing. It made sense of course, to interview her for my blog series devoted to the topic...
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| The "world spins madly on" kiss. Laura Billingham Photography. |
Q&A
Alisa Tongg:
What’s your philosophy when shooting a wedding/couple?
(Portraiture, photojournalism, story-telling, fine art, post-production
magic…?) How would you describe your style?
Laura Billingham: I think so many descriptors for wedding photography are
overused these days. They have no meaning anymore. True ‘photojournalism’ would be too objective and might mean
that everything about the story (even if it’s not flattering) would be captured
and delivered. ‘Fine art’ seems to me like it’s not real enough, not authentic
enough, to the clients—it’s the photographer’s style that takes center stage.
‘Story telling’ is probably the closest, but yet, if I just told the ‘story’
without documenting the classic family portraits, then the family history would
be incomplete…
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| Laura Billingham Photography |
I tell all my clients that my goal is to capture the
important moments and details that matter in an elegant and timeless way. When
they look at their photos 25 years from now, I hope they evoke the same
memories and emotions that they did the first time they saw them after the
wedding.
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| The "dance me to the end of love" kiss. Laura Billingham Photography. |
Photoshopping images to look vintage, add textures and sky,
etc. might look cool now, but it’s going to look as weird years from now as some
of our parents’ photos look to you today.
AT: Have you ever witnessed a moment at a wedding that’s made a
lasting impact on you? Can you share?
LB: Obviously, after 13 years plus of photographing weddings,
there have been so many! I’d be lying if I told you I never teared up at
weddings. I cry all the time. In fact, I think the day I don’t get a little
misty will be my last wedding…that’s when I’ll know it’s time to retire. But I can’t
imagine that happening any time soon!
There have been several that have really touched me. It’s
amazing how, corny as it sounds, weddings are part of the circle of life. At
many weddings, grief is still fresh after a loved one has passed away, or even
if it’s not recent, a wedding is another reminder that their loved one is no
longer here with them to share their joy.
One particularly poignant memory I have is of photographing
a bride just a few short months after her father had died after a brief
illness. I met her because instead of having the wedding she & her fiancé
planned to at an Irish castle (the groom was from Ireland), she had to relocate
the wedding last-minute to be close to her family home in Frenchtown, NJ.
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| Still moment in a Quaker Ceremony. Laura Billingham Photography. |
Their Quaker ceremony was just incredible. Friends and
family had the time and space to share both remembrances of her dad, and the
joy of the wedding. It was just so moving. In a Quaker ceremony everyone in the
congregation is allowed to speak as the Spirit moves them. Consequently, a
service may go on for a long time with lots of speaking; or it may have many
long silences in between each person’s sharing. It was quite beautiful to be
together in community in the silences in between.
AT: What’s the neatest unity ritual you’ve ever photographed?
LB:
One of the coolest things about weddings is how each couple
makes a wedding their own. Blended families coming together are always special.
It’s fun to see how parents help children play an important role in the wedding
ceremony and in symbolically signifying family unity.
Some fun unity rituals have included blending sand (bride,
groom, and children each have their own color), blending tea leaves that were then
shared with guests as favors so they could “brew” their love, and sending fire
lanterns into the sky at dusk.
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| Lantern Release |
I also love watching the congregation pass the couples’
rings during the ceremony. Then each and every guest has a chance to physically
and literally have a hand in the marriage.
AT: In your opinion, what are the attributes of an amazing
photograph of a kiss?
LB: It’s pretty simple really. When the couple forgets that I’m
there and the kiss is just about their passion, tenderness, and joy for each
other and not the audience, the kiss is amazing. It’s authentic.
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| The "sun bursts in my heart" kiss. Laura Billingham Photography. |
AT: When it comes to your personal style: Eyes open or closed?
LB: Closed, of course!
AT: Long after the wedding, when your couples have their final
photographs, what type of photo would you say is
consistently the most beloved?
LB: Here’s a dirty little secret. The “first kiss” is
over-rated. Nerves are still in full effect. There’s an audience. It’s awkward.
In certain religious ceremonies, depending on the officiant, depending on the
schedule of the service, sometimes couples don’t know when they’re supposed to
kiss. Obviously that would never happen at a ceremony that you officiated,
Alisa! But it happens more than you would think.
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| Laura Billingham Photography. |
I think the most magical photos – the ones that couples
consistently adore -- are the shots I take away from the crowd. Before the
wedding I let couples know that I’ll need them for about 15 minutes during the
reception right around sunset. It usually works perfectly because all the
guests have greeted them, and everyone is seated enjoying the first course. We
sneak away from the chaos of the reception, just the 3 of us. That is the
moment when they really have their first time alone together as a married couple.
I let them get ahead of me and have space to themselves. They have the time to
breathe and bask in the reality that they’re married. My best advice: ignore
me. Works every time
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| Laura Billingham |
Laura Billingham is based out of Frenchtown, NJ and captures timeless moments at the most important celebrations for her clients.
Laura Billingham Photography
Sue: "Hey Alisa, What's your book borrowing policy?" 
