How I shoot Caucasian and Chinese weddings differently–Vancouver wedding photographer
by snow on May.14, 2010, under blog
Most of my wedding photography clients are Caucasian and Chinese. Needless to say, there are many differences in the cultural wedding traditions. However, today, I would like to talk about the stylistic preferences of the two groups.
When I ask, “What style of images would you like for your pre-wedding or wedding day photography?”, without exception, all my Chinese clients use the N word–Natural. After that, there may be some variations on the theme. Some prefer playful, other romantic, other classical. However, Chinese couples seem to have a phobia of looking “unnatural” in photographs. As a photographer, I understand that most of them are worried that they would look too posed, thus looking quasi-over-the-top. Indeed, I have yet met a Chinese bride who told me she wants to look like a fashion model in a magazine. They prefer to let their love shine through quiet gestures such as holding hands, or smiles that look like they’re cloned. Recently, a bride-to-be told me they didn’t choose their favourite portrait as the enlargement because “she doesn’t want all her relatives to see so much of her legs.”
On the other hand, I find that Caucasian clients are more receptive to a more dramatic flair. Think bride’s hand on hip, and looking slightly up. There! The indispensible family and wedding party shots are important, but they hope that their family and wedding party portraits will look different from everything else they’ve seen. In general, I also find that the location of the wedding venue is more important to Caucasian clients than to my Chinese clients. My Caucasian clients always stress what they like about their chosen venue, and what they would like featured in the photographs. I really enjoy shooting these environmental portraits.
Another univsersal theme among Chinese brides, even though they don’t want to look like a fashion model in their portraits, they all want to be that 80-pound model. Thus, if the bride is a size 8, she wants to look like a size 2 in the portraits. If the bride is a size 2, she wants to look like a size -4 in the portraits.
These are only what I have found in my own clientele. This information is not meant to describe all Caucasian and Chinese couples. I attract a certain group of engaged couples, and that narrows the pool of findings. These are just some amusing observations I have made in the course of my career.
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Michelle Kuen Suet Fung 馮捲雪
Intricate, delicate and very cute drawings and paintings by Chinese Canadian artist Michelle Kuen Suet Fung.
馮捲雪利用介乎成人與童年世界的視覺空間，以細膩的筆觸,時而幽默、時而深沉的心情勾畫出她對這世界的種種問題。她的創作風格揉合了兒童插畫、日本漫畫和西方傳統版畫的影響。一幅幅作品滲透着東方細膩精美的韻味，同時也綻放西方大膽直接的光芒。
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May 30th, 2010 on 12:19 pm
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for sending me wonderful pictures of Salt Spring Island, not only are you good with portraits, your landscapes are stunning too!
My brother is having his pre-wedding photos taken without me! I always wonder how you would take photos with them!
Thanks again, your photos and artwork are amazing. And most importantly, progressing!!
May 31st, 2010 on 11:22 am
Thanks James for the excellicious weekend on Salt Spring. Every pre-wedding photography project is unique. It’s very fun to chat with each couple and find out their personalities and stories.
And thank you for your comments re: my works. It’s a creative act for an artist to balance between her commerical projects and her own artistic babies. I really love making artworks. It means a lot that someone is paying attention to my journey!
June 5th, 2010 on 12:17 am
Hey Michelle,
After reading your Article, I can feel that you really love your work and did it so great.
I love that you pay attention for your Client, that y u can find out their different. You know, most of them who provide per – wedding photo shooting service, they just like “formulation” their “product”.
As you said, balance between you commerical projects and you own artistic babies. That hard to do so in this commercial world.
Good that you still have passion for you work. Keep going!Should be more ” Masterpiece ” will coming! ^^
June 5th, 2010 on 9:50 am
Thank you so much Andrea. It always means so much to me when someone actually cares and takes the time to appreciate my work.
I completely agree that customizing for each client is not only critical to delivering the perfect final product, but it is also essential to providing them with the most enjoyable experience. That is equally, if not more, important!
Do check the blog and facebook where I update my works more often.
September 26th, 2010 on 6:08 pm
Interesting read here in regards to Chinese weddings and what they look for.
I have recently returned to my passion “photography”, and am starting to network in the chinese community for opportunities to do B&W wedding work only. I have done many weddings in the past and found I truly enjoyed just being there as a secondary photographer to capture those special moments in black and white.
Will be interesting to see how receptive this will be.
Cheers…