Posing ideas

[GeologyROCKS]

I have a wedding coming up this summer and the bride is in a wheelchair (paralyzed from the waist down after an auto accident), and I just wanted to see if anyone has ever done a wedding session w/ the client in a wheelchair or if anyone has any creative ideas. They are both auto fanatics, so I plan do do something special with the both of them and their vehicles, but any additional input would be greatly appreciated.

[Karl Johnston]

That's a difficult one, i'd suggest shoots theming around wheels but that may be taken as too offensive. Talk with them about what they want, that's the safest way to go about it.

[dngrCharlie]

I'm going to suggest that, for some people in this situation, making the pictures as "normal" as possible will be most appreciated. Some people embrace their special needs and have no problem making that part of them prominent but a lot of people don't, especially if the accident was recent.

[moeronn]

Definitely talk to the B&G about how they want to deal with it. As mentioned above, it could go either way. Some people would be offended if you tried to hide part of their current identity, while others might rather try and avoid showing it at all.

[GeologyROCKS]

I'm going to suggest that, for some people in this situation, making the pictures as "normal" as possible will be most appreciated. Some people embrace their special needs and have no problem making that part of them prominent but a lot of people don't, especially if the accident was recent.


She definately embraces it, the B&G are both good friends of mine and she doesn't let her accident slow her down at all (accident happened about 10 years ago). She drives a lowered f-150, finished college w/ a degree in education and is extremely self sufficient and loves her truck and going to car shows, etc. Which is why I want to do something involving both of their vehicles.

I will be sitting down with them sometime soon and going over everything and hasing out the detail.

[4Bucks]

Looking forward to the results of your shoot with them.
Rob

[Dennis_Hammer]

I would get her out of the wheel chair and into an appropiate regular chair (appropiate to the setting of the formals). Have a matching chair for the groom and have the bridal party stand semi-circle behind them. Do B&G with her sitting Groom standing. Groom sitting on the floor and Bride leaning onto his shoulders from behind etc etc. Think out of the box, not wedding photos more like portrait styles.

[AdrianeCale]

If she embraces the chair, then you should too. I've never done a wedding with this situation, but I've seen weddings where they've got to the extent of decorating the chair to match the gown. Do a mix if the traditional "everyone standing at the altar" shots, and then bring everyone down to her level for some more informal shots (sitting on the altar steps, or outside somewhere in the grass or something). If he's able to hold her, have some shots of him cradling her in his arms, that's always cute.

[RandyMN]

She'll probably be wearing a dress, have her hair done and makeup all perfect, and they fellow most likely in a tux, so treat it just like any other wedding while working around the limitations.

I personally think the hardest aspect will be to keep the wheelchair from distracting from other more important elements in the photo's. That will be a challenge, but not as great as the challenge she has faced living with the disability from one day to the next. Now you share in her challenges.

Unfortunately t here are not many photo's out there that can be viewed to get idea's in arranging the wedding party for formals. Just use the chair as part of the composition and pull the wedding dress out front and the train behind just like you do for your typical bride.

You can also concentrate on waist upward for portraits as long as you don't leave out the full length shots altogether.

[Yola]

Awesome challenge .....I am proud of you .

In todays day and age a wheelchair .. is not just a wheeler . Many have motility lever changes .

Find out of she has a auto lever, rider .......she can even play basketball { this a with on a lite note } ... since Idont know .

Also , treat the wedding as a regular shoot ! Most likly you will have too center her and her hubby ....the family bridesmaids and grooms will have too wrap the pic .

Get , as much info upon her travels .. you know she will be fancily dressed and perfect .
What a wonderous challege .