LYNDSEY GODDARD
STORY BEHIND THE SHOT
IT’S RAINING CONFETTI
These wedding guests were about to climb the stairs for dinner when they were taken by surprise…
This photo was taken at the Institution of Civil Engineers, in London. I had just taken a large group photo from the upper balcony, looking down on all the guests, and everyone was turning around ready to head up the staircase to dinner. At that moment, one of the staff members from the venue, who was on the balcony across from me, tipped a basket of confetti over the guests! I was shooting with the 24-70mm f/2.8 and had taken the group shot wide to get everyone in. As soon as the confetti started to rain down, I zoomed in to 70mm and focused on the bride. It was lucky, and if it weren’t for the bride, Chloe, in the centre with her head turned towards me, eyes closed and such a joyful look on her face, I doubt it would have as much impact. It all came together and it’s ended up being one of my favourite images.
WEDDING photography isn’t what it used to be. Not so long ago, couples would book a professional photographer who would spend the day taking a list of formal poses of the bride and groom and their families, as well as the kisses and confetti. There was even a ‘wedding season’, with spring and summer being the peak time for couples tying the As for receiving bookings for overseas weddings, they were virtually unheard of. But the dawn of the Internet and digital age has seen this most traditional genre of photography undergo a major makeover as wedding photographers no longer occupy a broad church of conventional style and services. Today, the new niches of ‘destination’, ‘reportage’ and ‘documentary’ wedding photography are proving increasing popular and photographers are travelling further afield for their shoots. For Lyndsey Goddard, her clients are now global and the season never ends…
