Oh, the irony of it all...

PMCphotography wrote in post #12601538
Well, I think there is a somewhat incorrect perception that photographers who don't pose a lot don't pose because they lack the skill to do it. It's not always the case. Some us who use a more PJ approach prefer to get actual, spontaneous emotions and more natural body language from the couples.

I think the recipe for success is to play to your strengths- if you are better at not posing, you should be more PJ. If you're strength IS posing, you should mostly pose and not worry so much about candids and PJ stuff.

Just as There are couples who want posed, more fashion oriented photos and there are couples who want to be posed as little as possible, there are photographers who want to do the former or the latter.

Well said. I feel like a good mix of both is where I want to be, but I so prefer the candid, raw emotion in so many of our shots. But, like you said, depends on the client also.

Harder to get great candid, emotional photos than great posed photos, for me at least. I suppose a great posed photo shouldn't look posed.

I am among those photogs who prefer personally to do the PJ shots, just capture the moments; but what I want is to be able to do that plus pose people beautifully. I'm getting a little better but God I do hate doing the formals! Especially the large, family group shots, it takes me too long to get everyone where you can see them. And I always seem to have one or two elderly people or cranky old men who, the more I gently urge them to get in line with the others in front of them, look at me like they DARE me to say it again while doing nothing more than lifting their heads a little bit!

I just think that PJ photos "tell the story" of their day better than a handful of artificial, created photos do. So I do a more PJ centered approach.

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #12605286
I am among those photogs who prefer personally to do the PJ shots, just capture the moments; but what I want is to be able to do that plus pose people beautifully. I'm getting a little better but God I do hate doing the formals! Especially the large, family group shots, it takes me too long to get everyone where you can see them. And I always seem to have one or two elderly people or cranky old men who, the more I gently urge them to get in line with the others in front of them, look at me like they DARE me to say it again while doing nothing more than lifting their heads a little bit!

Ahh. Family formals. We've learned to get them done as fast as possible. That's never been an issue, it's more or less posing the bride and groom, I think, in my case.

PMCphotography wrote in post #12606025
I just think that PJ photos "tell the story" of their day better than a handful of artificial, created photos do. So I do a more PJ centered approach.

my approach is the same. and my clients usually choose me because my portfolio has those great candid moments.

but it seems from the time I book them and the actual wedding date that they start to have doubts about JUST letting me document the day and it never fails, we end up running around trying to get as many "posed" shots as we can. I don' necessarily have a problem with it but I always tell the brides, you're probably going to regret it because you're going to be exhausted and I can't photoshop that out.

but I think they're hugely influenced by magazines and websites here in the US that show alot of posed images, so they fall for it!

It's all in setting expectations. I tell the couples when I first meet with them I do a very low key, hands off approach and prefer to let the moments of the day speak for themselves, and keep the posing to a minimum. It's never happened that a bride has wanted a ton of posed shots on the day. Most brides hear from their friends who hired a douchey photog (or know of one) who can't keep from being underfoot, has made them late to the ceremony or reception so they "could get their shots" or have even interrupted the celebrant to reposition the couple.

In fact, a lot of times we get to have a break- the B&G have gone to the pub for a drink before heading to the reception. That's fun when they are that relaxed about things