Why bend the bride over backwards?

[Scott_Quier]

I see a lot of photogs posing the B&G with the G bending the G's back at a 45 degree angle - backwards.

This is not an attack, but a question - I'm trying to correct yet one more aspect of my ignorance....

Why is this pose done so often. The images are, technically, very very well done - no question there. The questions: Do they really sell? Are the B&G really liking this pose?

This may sound strange, but I find it demeaning and very un-graceful. Am I just that ignorant?

Opinions/advise/comment very much requested.

[jamiewexler]

You mean "the Dip"?

http://k53.pbase.com/o5/30/516430/1/68105154.QqdXDkMi.NicoleCarlosP14.JPG

It's a client favorite. This client ordered 8 8x10's of this shot.

[moviemaker]

HI Scott, just want to add to that. Again, not attacking, just out of curiosity,
I also see many with bridges and B&G feeding the odd wildlife (deer) etc.

But as Jamie has mentioned, if people want it then there's no arguing I suppose

[LeesaB]

Does it not stem from the victorian age...of "sexy"

[CyberPet]

The tango dip is popular, and my brides does it by themselves. I don't pose them.

[oldshooter]

The Dip is a fun shot to do and in this case worked best using a fill flash balancing the setting sun. BTW this is my 1st photo posted here, How fun!
Joe


http://www.abrideschoicephoto.com/images/photo%20album%20shots/KerryParksunset.jpg

[CyberPet]

Here's two "dips" that my last couple did - unposed by me.

http://petrahall.se/brudpar/maria_david/images/121024S.jpg

http://petrahall.se/brudpar/maria_david/images/122740G.jpg

[NBEast]

Wow, and nicely executed as well! The groom so often looks like some sort of vampire hunching over his victim, your's has that graceful Prince Charming pose. Cool!;)

Here's two "dips" that my last couple did - unposed by me.

http://petrahall.se/brudpar/maria_david/images/121024S.jpg

http://petrahall.se/brudpar/maria_david/images/122740G.jpg

[CyberPet]

LOL! Good analogy.... Vampire. :D :D :D

[Scott_Quier]

Yes, this is exactly what I meant. With the exception of the shot by Jamie, they all seem very extreme.

I guess if I have a B&G that want it and or pose themselves for it, I'll, of course, shoot it. The observation of it harkening back to the Victorian age may be at the root of my discomfort with it - I just see it as placing the bride in a submissive, uncomfortable, untenable position.

But, then again, I've never been dipped, so I really don't know!

[JaertX]

I think you'll find a lot of couples don't have a problem with dominant/submissive poses...very symbolic of the relationship, you know? Men have a lot of responsibility if they're going to take on that role and women put a lot of trust in them to do it. It works well for a lot of people...it's like the whole thing is a dance with each person having equally important but different roles to play. Not for everyone I suppose...I know a few couples that are pretty "unisex" in their dealings with each other...they're both just people without either taking a strictly male or female role.

Sure, in the dip pose the guy may be in a dominant position, but you can be sure if he dropped her his dominance would come to a screeching halt! :)

[CyberPet]

I don't even consider it being an issue of dominance and submission, as many loves to dance - and being a person who watch Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers on tv, we all know it looks very elegant when Fred dips Ginger at the end of the dance. The one leading the dance gets to dip the partner... female or male (although it's more common that the male is leading the dance as he also have stronger arms). :D

[motogeno]

I don't even consider it being an issue of dominance and submission, as many loves to dance - and being a person who watch Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers on tv, we all know it looks very elegant when Fred dips Ginger at the end of the dance. The one leading the dance gets to dip the partner... female or male (although it's more common that the male is leading the dance as he also have stronger arms). :D
I agree with you. I think people are reading entirely too much into this pose. It's a dip, just like they are dancing. If you are shooting the first dance at a wedding you are probably pretty likely to get the same shot without any posing.

[oldshooter]

Yes, this is exactly what I meant. With the exception of the shot by Jamie, they all seem very extreme.

I guess if I have a B&G that want it and or pose themselves for it, I'll, of course, shoot it. The observation of it harkening back to the Victorian age may be at the root of my discomfort with it - I just see it as placing the bride in a submissive, uncomfortable, untenable position.

But, then again, I've never been dipped, so I really don't know!

I see a lot of photogs posing the B&G with the G bending the G's back at a 45 degree angle - backwards.

This is not an attack, but a question - I'm trying to correct yet one more aspect of my ignorance....

Why is this pose done so often. The images are, technically, very very well done - no question there. The questions: Do they really sell? Are the B&G really liking this pose?

This may sound strange, but I find it demeaning and very un-graceful. Am I just that ignorant?

Opinions/advise/comment very much requested.

In my particular instance the B&G pre planned to shoot in this location right at sunset because it showed Seattle at it's best. The bride was from mainland China and wanted her parents to see Seattle. Went we arrived there was already a big crowd of people enjoying the sunset. I wanted to get so shots of them relaxed, and so I asked them to start dancing and in the process of that they just did the dip. Doing the dip is more like an athletic feat. A test of strength and balance, and projecting anything else into it is pure folley. "Dancing with the Star's" is one of the most popular programs on TV! I think that at almost every wedding during the 1st dance B&G do the dip. Maybe it is just a silly tradition. I think when well done is very gracefull like a swan bending in a tender embrace of pure love.

Yes they do sell, because most people view it as a romantic notion rather than all this "submissive", & vampire stuff...come on, lighten up and have some fun, or you will get old very fast!

Warm regards,
Joe

[xandria]

I don't even consider it being an issue of dominance and submission, as many loves to dance - and being a person who watch Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers on tv, we all know it looks very elegant when Fred dips Ginger at the end of the dance. The one leading the dance gets to dip the partner... female or male (although it's more common that the male is leading the dance as he also have stronger arms). :D

*applause* the dip isn't a submissive pose - it does not mean that a woman is being dominated, but rather thrilled :) swept off her feet - the tango dip was around LONG before the victorians were. I don't even see how the two are related????

[Noelle8818]

*applause* the dip isn't a submissive pose - it does not mean that a woman is being dominated, but rather thrilled :) swept off her feet - the tango dip was around LONG before the victorians were. I don't even see how the two are related????
I agree. To me the dip is a very graceful, romantic pose. How would one ever reach the argument it is a pose of domination???

[Lin-z]

Every photo I have of a couple in this position is always a viewer favorite. Brides love it. Sometimes they do it on their own sometimes I show them how and after I show them they keep doing it because its fun and flirty.

[Tiffany]

I love the dip! And I agree, I doubt most couples view it as anything other than romantic and fun! That said... I think the dip can tell a lot about the couple. If they are stiff and either nervous in front of the camera or something, the dip just won't look right. If they dance or have natural grace, it looks much better. I've found my best dips were from couples who obviously trusted each other completely.

[Scott_Quier]

Thanks all!

As was my goal, I have learned a lot from the many answers to this question!

[Wilt]

the tango dip was around LONG before the victorians were. I don't even see how the two are related????

Sorry, history says otherwise. The Victorian times started in 1837. The first piece of music written and published in Argentina describing itself as a tango appeared in 1857.

[xandria]

Sorry, history says otherwise. The Victorian times started in 1837. The first piece of music written and published in Argentina describing itself as a tango appeared in 1857.
My bad :p I was never good in history. But I'm guessing many a fellow has "dipped" a lover for a sweet kiss and it had nothing to do with the victorian age or the tango. :)