When April and Spencer first contacted photographer Jonas Seaman about photographing their downtown Seattle, Washington, wedding, they described themselves as reserved. “One of the issues they communicated upfront was that they don’t like being the center of attention,” says Seaman. “They were worried about how to act natural in front of the camera.”

Seaman continues: “More often than not I’ve found that a little bit of shyness is a concern for a lot of people when it comes to having their picture taken. Being sensitive to people is key in what we do. There’s a large amount of intuition and ‘reading the room’ that comes into play with wedding photography. Capturing great images of people is as much about creating a space for them to be themselves as it is about light and composition.”

For example, when Seaman and his wife and shooting partner, Mary, arrived at April and Spencer’s condo for the getting ready portion of their day, they spent a good half hour photographing only details and objects around the house. “Meanwhile, we made small talk as they got used to us being there. When we eventually started photographing them, they fell into the flow of it very naturally.”

This technique, says Seaman, works just as well with the wedding guests. “I’ll often introduce myself and photograph details around a person before I ever point my camera at them,” he explains. “I’ll also remark on their jewelry or clothing and ask if I can take a photo. It eases everybody into a more comfortable environment.”

Seaman adds that staying receptive to April and Spencer’s feelings and taking their time with the newlyweds ended up putting them even more at ease. “By the time we got to our portrait walk, it felt like we were hanging out with a couple of new friends. I remember stepping outside to look for a place to set up our first portrait. A little bit of rain had started falling and April was so happy. She ran out into the middle of the square and started dancing and twirling in her dress. A second later Spencer had joined in. I don’t think this rather reserved couple would have ever felt comfortable enough to do that (especially in front of our cameras) if we hadn’t worked at making a space for them to be themselves.”

And apparently, the photographer adds, “with the proper permits in Seattle you’re allowed to rope off a section of a downtown city block to use for your own small wedding ceremony. The results were pretty magical!”

GEAR OF THE DAY

Camera: Canon 5D Mark IV

Lenses: The Canon 35mm f/1.4L, 24mm f/1.4L, 45mm tilt-shift (Mary was shooting on a Mark IV with a Canon 50mm f/1.2L lens)

VENDOR CREDITS

Photographer: Jonas Seaman

Second Shooter: Mary Ellen Williamson

Reception Venue, Catering, and Floral: The London Plane

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