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Andrea Carlyle has made a big impact on the South African wedding scene with her amazing eye for detail and composition. Her work resists the usual cliche's surrounding wedding photography without artificially forcing the boundaries or jumping on the next bandwagon.

Interview

AIA - How long have you been involved in photography?

AC - My answer is always the same, as long as I can remember! I was always the one with the camera. About 10 years ago my mom bought me my first SLR and my interest moved into a "second stage" but it was only about three and a half years ago, when I bought my first digital SLR, that the "Photography" bug bit.....hook, line and sinker! I could play without the expense...I played so much that I wore out the shutter within a year, and had to replace it twice before moving onto a more professional camera.

AIA - Why wedding photography?

AC - What I love about wedding photography, is the combination of portrait, documentary, still life, architecture and landscape all in one shoot... just add a bit of pressure by including emotion and stress, a timeframe, it has to be captured in one day, and the expectation of great images...and I am now not sure why I love them so much!

Jokes aside, to me wedding photography is photographically challenging and rewarding, you have to work under the given circumstances...there is no time to moan how this or that isn't right. You have to just do it!

It's also extremely rewarding after handing over the edited work. The smile, the tears, the praise and the compliments on how you recorded their most precious day.

The business side of things ..that's another story. I would have never thought of myself as a wedding photographer, but a friend guided me down this path and now that I have had the courage to follow my passion, it's exciting, fun, and challenging! And with any luck and hard work it'll pay well, too!

AIA - How would you describe your style?

AC - These days "Photojournalistic" "Artistic" "Creative" "Fine Art" "Unobtrusive" and "Candid" have become standard buzzwords among competing wedding photographers. I would say I "document" the day. I combine a "photojournalistic" approach with creative session with the bridal couple I usually ask bridal couples to allocate 45 minutes to an hour for the creative photographs. For the rest of the day i.e. the ceremony, preparation and reception I take a "photojournalistic" approach where I record the day.

AIA - Which South African wedding photographers do you admire?

AC - Photography is very subjective, so it's not really right to say one photographer is better than another I would say that the SA photographers that I regularly watch or "stalk" their sites for inspiration are Dror Eyal, Mario Sales, Jules Morgan, Christopher Munton, Adam Hilton and Joe Dreyer.

AIA - Where is wedding photography in Africa going as a style? Do we have a style or do we just copy overseas trends?

AC - Wedding photographers in Africa. I won't go there! I recently had a client in Kenya show me what was available in Kenya ... NOT a pretty picture!

Wedding photographers in South Africa, a different cup of tea, I think there is a small group of photographers that follow the trends of the overseas market and adapt them to our own very unique landscapes, people and backdrops. In terms of "wedding photography" the South African market is just beginning to embrace the "photojournalistic" and untraditional approach to wedding photography.

In my opinion there is already a market for this new style of photography, people just do not know where to "find" these photographers as most of the media (bridal magazines and expos) feature mostly the "traditional" photographers.

Most of my clients are "creatives" and know exactly what they want, I always suggest that they send me links of wedding photography that they like. I am always impressed (or even intimidated!) at the level of the photographers selected. I would even be brave enough to say that some of my clients are more educated and aware of international photographers that local South African wedding photographers. I am not embarrassed to say that this practice has even opened up my knowledge of international photographers and trends.

AIA - What things would you look for in a photographer's portfolio if you were getting married?

AC - Most important to me would be their "style" of work, I realise that many people can't distinguish one photographers style from another, in the same way that I can not distinguish music very well but to me I think to myself "would I want that picture in my album?"

Another comment I heard from a client just the other day that really emphasised just how important the selection of photographer is, is that your photographer chooses, based on his/her style, how your day your day...and your memories are recorded.

As a photographer the most important thing to me is the "negatives". I personally am not interested in number of prints offered in the various packages, at about R2 a print I do not care how many jumbo prints are included in the "cookie-cutter platinum" package - I WANT the negatives! I may select 50 pics to feature in the album but the other pictures that did not make the album are just as important to me and still capture and reflect the day.

I would also make sure that there is "consistency" in the quality of work ... not just a one off award winning image.

Although not really part of the "portfolio" as such, but I would make sure that I get on with the person... For me as a photographer the most important thing is that the couple are comfortable with me, I will never get great images if I irritate them or if I am one of those "important" creatives that think it is all about me, myself and my portfolio.

AIA - How can someone you are photographing ensure that they are helping you get the best images of the day?

AC - First and foremost...Light, Light and more light! Make sure that when you plan the timings of the day you allocate enough time to the photographer after the ceremony, so that he/he can shoot the "creative portraits" using available light.

Provide all the details of your day ... tell your photographer everything ... the more the photographer knows the more he/she will know what to photograph, what is important and what might happen on the day!

Let the photographer know of other photographers style who you admire, pictures that you would really like etc.

AIA - What's the funniest/horrendous thing that happened to you at a wedding.

AC - In the days before I bought my "backpack" camera bag I had this "great" idea to use either the baby bag or a beer bag for my back up camera. The idea behind my "great" thinking was who would want to steal stinky nappies or a 6 pack of beer .... logical in my head. I opted for the beer bag as it was easier to carry around and has that insulation 'cooler' material so will keep the film at the right temprature...perfect I thought who needs a R1000 bag this will do the job just fine! Left the bag at the entrance to the church during the ceremony and ....surprise ... surprise ... the bag had gone missing after the service, not only did it have my back up camera, lens and film...but also my car keys!

We had the venue, the entire bridal party and all the guests looking for the bag with no luck. The next morning the bride called to say the venue found the bag..believe it or not everything was there. Someone had obviously saw the beer cooler bag and thought...great a 6 pack of beer took the bag and was rather disappointed with the camera equipment ... and keys to a VW beetle! Great Idea..should have gone with the nappy bag...no one has attempted to take that...shove in a couple of used nappies which could cushion the equipment and would send out a "whif" that would deter any oppportunist!

AIA - What is your favorite image and why?

AC - This is always a difficult one, in terms of my favorite image taken to date and something I am proud of, I would say an image of a model in a red dress, because it got nominated in a UK "international photo competition" and really made me feel like I had achieved something. In terms of my No. 1 best image... it is a "not so special photograph" I took of my husband and son. It was taken into the sun and I am sure that it has a number of "photographic faults"...but why is it so special?.... because it still hangs up in my passage and always brings a smile to my face when I see it.