Documentary Wedding Photography by Kristian Leven
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I was delighted to feature on Mark Carey’s new website The Street Photographer the other day, as I was interviewed about my time in India earlier this year, and on my all round approach to documentary travel photography. It’s an interesting read if I do say so myself
Feel free to read my thoughts on all things photography right here.
Epic epic wedding – Talya and Simon really know how to throw a party. I was photographing this alongside good friend Ben Moore, and split the coverage in half – he would photograph Talya getting ready, and I would spend the early afternoon with Simon. Which was quite good fortune, as it was at his parents house that I recognised a picture of his sister – the same sister who I was friend’s with at school! And then it conspired that I therefore went to school with Simon! It took me a minute to come to terms with this revelation, but it somehow made for a more intimate affair.
The ceremony and reception took place at The Royal Exchange – a truly stunning venue, and one that really comes into its own in the evening when the lights are down. The reception was a challenging affair, with its minimal lighting, and I’ve seen wedding photos there in the past where the photographer used a flash to capture the proceedings. For me though it’s a case of sticking to my principles and seeking the light out. I think you gain so much in atmosphere when you stick to the ambient lighting, plus the guests are hardly aware that they are being photographed, ensuring the photographs remain as natural as possible.
This being a Jewish wedding, there was a whole host of energetic dancing before Talya and Simon and their guests could sit down for food. This was without doubt the most enjoyable part of the evening for me – the music, the dancing, the energy – everywhere I looked there was a picture to be taken.
I really could go on, but this will end up being a few more paragraphs long. Let’s just show the photos:
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Lovely work Kristian. Really energetic dancing shots and great coverage of the speeches. Bet they were thrilled with this.
Great set of images Kristian! The venue is amazing and you show the sense of occasion perfectly
Great photos Kristian. Love the light effect on the evening ones
Love that last frame Kristian.
Wow, this looks like a fun wedding Kristian- your images look to really capture the day. Love the 2nd shot with the glass reflection. Really loving the ceremony shots too!
Lovely images Kristian!
Great work, my friend. Great work….
Before I headed off to India earlier this year, one of the things I really wanted to do was volunteer my services and photograph a charity or an NGO, and publicise the good work they’re doing. There were tonnes of options, but having worked at a special education needs school in the past the issue of disadvantaged children was close to my heart, which is how I came across the Salaam Baalak Trust, an Indian NGO that provides shelter, food, education and other support to Delhi’s homeless street children.
My brief was to photograph the children learning, socialising, and playing an active part in lessons, as well as photographing all the things the Trust does. I was to have access to the DMRC (the main boys shelter), Rose Home (the main girls shelter) and also a contact point, which is an impromptu set up usually located outside in a very disadvantaged area.
When I worked at Charlton School, I used to ‘gather evidence’, so this was all familiar territory. The hard part was keeping the kids focused! They were obviously all excited about having their picture taken ‘professionally’, and I tried my best to keep them concentrated on their work – no mean feat I might add.
Sadly this came at the start of the trip, when I was unsure of my overall itinerary, so I only managed to stay for three days. By the end of my time in India I realised I could’ve stayed double that. Regardless, it was a real joy to interact with the children, some of whom have had the most painful start to their young lives. The Trust is obviously working under limited resources, but with the hands-on help of the volunteers, as well as their financial help, the children have a much better chance of prospering and finding professional work in their adulthood.
And also one of the girls draw a picture of me. I have a very ginger beard.
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Fantastic images Kristian and what a great cause. My favourite is the girls jumping and dancing; so much energy!
Brilliant my friend…. you need to do more of this. The images look so honest and true. Great work.
These are fantastic Krisitian. I cannot say which ones are my favourite as the whole collection is just brilliant. I love what you have done here.
Kristian, you made so fantastic pictures of the most beautiful and loveliest children! It is just awesome! SBT will like it When I see all these children I just want to go back and play with them to make them smile like they did on the pics! Brilliant work
Love these mate. You have really captured the atmosphere and environment of the school.
Gorgeous photography, Kristian. Please post more! If teaching preschoolers has taught me one thing, it’s that everyone’s kids are your kids, and your kids are everyone’s kids.
We’re all in this together.
Amazing photography! Now I can imagine how Indian schools look like. Great work!
A couple week’s ago I was off to Tenterden in Kent for Ali & Mat’s wedding. Ali found me as I photographed Faye and Patrick’s wedding last year, where her sister Emma was the Bridesmaid, and she said she loved the natural way I photographed the wedding. I’ve said this many times before, and I’m not just saying this as I’m a documentary wedding photographer, but I can’t think of a better way to have a wedding photographed. The Bride and Groom can enjoy their day in the knowledge that their photographer will document all the important details.
I got to photograph at St Mildred’s Chruch again, like at Faye and Patrick’s wedding, but this time I had the flexibility to move around during the service, instead of being confined to the balcony for the entire service. I’ve touched on this in my last post so I won’t go into it again, but it does help with the coverage of the day to be able to move around the church, albeit in a sensitive and respectful way. After the ceremony it was off to Rolvenden Village Hall, for a nice, relaxed reception. There were pictures of Ali and Mat’s younger days shown on the two TVs for everyones amusement, and a fine selection of speeches. A really enjoyable day.
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Wow, great set of images kristian! Love the shots you’ve caught of grandma, especially the flower button hole shot- love it
This was a lovely wedding, Kristian!
A wonderful set of images as always!
lovely images, really show the emotion. nice one!
It may have been March, but it might as well have been the middle of June as London bathed in beautiful unseasonal warmth, which was perfect considering there was a certain boat ride after the ceremony. The wedding ceremony was held at St Raphael’s, in Kingston upon Thames, a wonderful recently renovated church. I’ve found that at certain churches there are barriers to where the photographer can and can’t photograph, and unfortunately this was the case here. It’s completely understandable though, as many wedding photographers can be incredibly insensitive during the ceremony, and unfortunately ruin it for the rest of us. But as someone who likes to remain unobtrusive, and specialises in reportage wedding photography, it didn’t hinder things too much, and just meant I had to work different angles.
It was onto the riverboat after the ceremony, as the wedding party relaxed in the warm sunshine to beats and beer (and wine), and the jolly sight of Martin trying to steer the boat. He did a pretty good job actually…As the sun began to set, the guests continued the party at the Carlton Mitre Hotel, near Hampton Court Palace.
I know I say this a lot, but Sam and Martin were just what you wanted from a couple on their wedding day – easy going, friendly and just let you get on with things. There was only six hours of coverage on the day, but I could’ve easily have stayed another six. Really enjoyed the company of the wedding party, and had good chats with the Best Men, one of whom is a wedding photographer himself! Alex Healy - great work. Here are some highlights from the day:
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Love the shot of the bride crossing the walkway onto the Turk.
super work kristian! love it…
Wonderful photos capturing the joy and magic of this amazing day!
Many thanks.
Great images kristian- you capture the day so well, and see things most photographers would miss! Especially love the ‘fist bump” shot and the signing of the register with the newlyweds looking at each other. Top work!
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mike - Congrats on the feature…reading!